The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) will make a direct appeal to ABC chairwoman Ita Buttrose after the national broadcaster elected not to provide live coverage of next year's Olympic Games in Tokyo, a move the AOC has branded "monumentally short-sighted".

The ABC confirmed on Monday that it would not buy the non-commercial rights to the Games, meaning there would be no live broadcast for the first time since 1952. The ABC said "budget pressures and the changing broadcast environment" was behind the decision.

Kyle Chalmers celebrates gold in the 100m freestyle at the last Olympics in Rio. Credit:AP

It shocked ABC sports staff, many of whom pride themselves on their Olympic coverage, and sent a shockwave through the AOC, with chief executive Matt Carroll saying the ABC should think again before opting out of its Tokyo live coverage.

"The ABC should reconsider this decision. The AOC is prepared to put this case to the chair of the ABC directly, on behalf of the 8 million Australians who participate in Olympic sports," Carroll said.