Crean backs funding for medals

18 Nov 2009, 1:25 pm   -   Source: AAP
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The long-awaited Crawford report into Australian sports has encouraged the government to reject the AOC's request for an extra $108 million a year. (File EPA)

The long-awaited Crawford report into Australian sports has encouraged the government to reject the AOC's request for an extra $108 million a year. (File EPA)

Federal minister Simon Crean has backed a bid to reclaim 'top five' status at the 2012 Games, labelled 'unrealistic' by an independent panel.

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A senior federal government minister has backed the Australian Olympics Committee's bid to reclaim 'top five' status at the 2012 London Games, despite advice the goal is unrealistic.

The long-awaited Crawford report into Australian sports has urged a review of the funding bias towards Olympic sports and encouraged the government to reject the AOC's request for an extra $108 million a year.

It also criticises the AOC's quest to return to the top five in the medal count at the London Olympics, saying the target is not sensible, nor an appropriate measure of Australia's sporting success.

Crean dismisses Crawford findings

But Trade Minister Simon Crean disputes the notion.

"No I think we've got to continue to aim for the top. You see I think this is too narrow a view of sport," he told ABC Television on Wednesday.

Mr Crean said sport was a "huge industry" which Australia should be exporting.

More funding for community sports

The Crawford report suggests more funding should flow to mass participation sports such as cricket, tennis, golf and bowls, rather than Olympic sports that comparatively few people play such as archery, water polo and wrestling.

Crean wants funding for elite and community sports

Mr Crean said there was no reason why more funding could not be directed towards elite sports as well as those which encouraged children to participate.

"We've put lots of money into programs that are designed to improve the health and wellbeing of Australia, but Australia's prowess in sport is a fundamental part of the Australian brand," he said.

"If what we start doing is saying we're going to walk away, we're going to settle for second best, I think we're missing out on a great opportunity to reinforce the fact that whatever we do is quality, that we punch above our weight."

The whole concept behind branding Australia was very much what performance and achievement in sport was also about, Mr Crean said.

AOC president John Coates has slammed the report, saying that settling for second best was "un-Australian".

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Your Comments

Efficient spending?

Michael - from Perf, 3 years ago

So the theory is; spend money on athletes to win medals, so international companies will invest in australia, and people will visit more as tourists?? Is this the logic?? Because it would seem more efficient to directly spend that sports-funding money on promoting australia as an investment or tourist destination.... Maybe along the way give every kid in the country a free footy, basketball, cricket bat and tennis ball, and we'd still be saving money.

Raises the point..

Michael - from Perth, 3 years ago

Why not axe ALL funding spent on sport, maybe for a decade, until we can sort our crap out.

LETS BE NUMBER 1 IN RENEWABLE ENERGY

Jay - from Taringa, 4 years ago

Why waste money on climbing a few places in the sporting medal tally? First there are better things for the Australian community like clean energy which will have an ongoing value through time. Second lets not forget that athletes who win can sign lucrative sponsorship and media commentary deals later so they benefit privately while society gets a temporary feelgood buzz for a couple of weeks around olympics time and that is about it>

Grow up

Simon - from Dubai, 4 years ago

Australia sport is a marketing tool the sucess at the Olympic and other sporting event enhances our rep as wins and achievers. Business and companys buy hire on our aussie spirit and grit. We i was a boy nothing got me into sport more than seeing Aussie winning gold or kick the poms at some sport. Spend Spend Spend lets stop thinking where second best! We have so much to be proud of we are the best country in the world! And sport is how we show it..

Crean is pathetic

Mez - from Canberra, 4 years ago

Crean's backing of the top five bid is disgusting... he obviously thinks that would be a popular move, and it may well be. he's playing politics at the expense of the well-being of the nation... i.e.: behaving like all politicians do.

Elite athletes are a waste of money.

Russell - from Warragul, 4 years ago

The production of elite Olympic athletes is an enormous waste of public money,those people who think that success in some ridiculous sport somehow improves national prestige should use their own money, not the taxpayers.

Elitism does not work

BG - from Brisbane, 4 years ago

As an Australian rep athlete who has received part-funding for attending international competition, I agree with the Crawford report. Fund grassroots-level sport, get kids involved, get adults involved, build a good base of talent. I am against the ugliness of winning at all costs, and firmly believe in teamwork, good sportsmanship and doing your best. These qualities are not really present in many elite sports any more, especially the Olympics: the world's largest tv rights-selling exercise.

participation is australian

Evan Williams - from Sydney, 4 years ago

I find participation to be a signicant part of the 'australian' brand. in school i was told to just 'give it a go' in regard to sports CONSTANTLY. i feel like its a bit more american to just constantly aim on 'winning' and being the 'best'. participation has much more wide-reaching positive effects.....eg: it means that less people will be completely alienated by sport and its unnecessary competitive nature.

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