The Australian Olympic Committee has slammed the ABC's decision to end 67 years of broadcasting the Olympics live on radio.
The national broadcaster has cited budgetary pressures in making the decision and will not seek radio broadcast rights to the 2020 Tokyo Games.
The AOC called the decision "monumentally short-sighted" and chief executive Matt Carroll said the ABC must reconsider its position because it was contrary to its charter.
"The AOC believes the decision is monumentally short-sighted and a great let down to Australians who rely on their national broadcaster - from the smallest of communities to our suburbs," Mr Carroll said on Monday.
"The Olympics can inspire Australians to embrace something valuable and as the ABC's charter indicates: to contribute to a sense of national identity.
"There's no bigger event in the world to fulfil this ambition."
The ABC said it was an "incredibly tough decision" to break with the long-standing tradition as the official non-commercial radio broadcaster.
"Due to competing budget priorities, coupled with the fact Australians can access Olympic Games coverage in many other ways, we have chosen not to pursue rights in 2020," an ABC spokesman told AAP on Monday.
The decision was dubbed a "national shame" by long-time sports broadcaster Quentin Hull, who tweeted: "The ABC will lose part of its DNA by not being at the Tokyo Olympics.
"The coverage has always shed a light on amazing stories of not only Australians but human achievement the world over."
ABC Grandstand commentator Alister Nicholson also expressed disappointment.
"It's an absolutely flat feeling walking in to work this morning ... it makes me feel empty in the stomach," he said.
ABC Friends national president Margaret Reynolds asked Australians concerned by the decision to write to their federal members or senators and ask for more funding for the ABC.
"Unfortunately the federal government has reduced its budget over several years now, yet the ABC is expected to do more with less resources," Ms Reynolds said.
"No doubt many people will be disappointed with the decision ... but budget constraints mean the ABC has to make such choices."
The ABC still intends to provide daily Olympic updates on ABC News and ABC Grandstand.
Australian Associated Press
