Paralympics 2012: Australia's Sports Minister Kate Lundy Loses A Bet

What Happened When Australia's Sports Minister Lost A Bet

Australia's Minister for Sport today carried out an embarrassing forfeit after losing an Olympics bet - which saw her forced to wear a Team GB kit.

Senator Kate Lundy wore the shirt as she rowed the Paralympic course at Eton Dorney, in Berkshire.

She had wagered a high stakes bet on the outcome of the medal tally at the London Olympics but lost when Team GB gained 65 medals, including 29 gold, while Australia took home 35 medals in total with seven gold.

Kate Lundy in her Team GB kit with Hugh Robertson

As the Sport Minster from the nation with the lowest gold medal count, she took to the water following today's Paralympic rowing regatta.

Crowds cheered her on as she used Australian blades that had a Union Flag sticker on them.

John Farnham's The Voice was played at the start and then Land Of Hope And Glory followed by Rule Britannia as she made her way down the 1000m course.

UK Sport and Olympics Minister Hugh Robertson stood at the end of the course and popped the champagne cork after she crossed the finish line.

Ms Lundy said: "It's a fantastic opportunity. I'm very grateful to the minister for suggesting this should be my ritual humiliation."

Commenting on the bet, Mr Robertson added: "I'd rather not use the word humiliation. There was a bet and a forfeit and we both wanted to pick a sport we were familiar with."

Had Britain fallen short in the medal stakes Mr Robertson had promised to wear an Australian field hockey uniform and dribble a ball around Australia House - the official government residence in London.

The pair are now looking to the next big sporting event, with Ms Lundy saying: "It will be interesting to see what happens on the Lions tour.

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