Blog: Whose gold medal? The real cost of sport

27 Jul 2012, 11:39 am   -   Source: Andy Park, SBS
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"It's not new to say there's money in sports. But the wheels wouldn't fall off if those significant commercial and broadcasting entities were left to fund it"

With preparation bonuses and commercial sponsorship deals, Olympic athletes can no longer cry poor. Just because you want to jump high doesn't mean the taxpayer should fund it, writes Andy Park.

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Australia is facing a blow out in the cost per medal at this year’s London 2012 Olympics (if I am allowed to use that term without copyright approval) to somewhere in the region of $49 million per medal.

In the lead up to this year’s games, The Australian Sports Commission has funnelled more than 588 million dollars into this year's games.

And although the Australian Olympic Committee itself does not directly take federal funding, its expectations for this year's games are to place in the top five nations.

You don’t have to be a sports nut to see that we aren’t going to reach the Athens medal tally reached eight years ago.

The AOC funding guidelines say they have put $15 million into the 2012 Olympic team, with the IOC and the London Olympic Games Organising Committee putting a further $1.3 million.

Plus the AIS received another $11 million funding boost last November.

It all begs the question: should the taxpayer foot the bill if you choose to get really good at playing games?

Before you get incensed about a the profound meaning of sport in Australian culture, or like the government, talk about grass-roots trickle down or the effect sports funding has on childhood obesity, think about this:

If you won a gold medal in, say badminton, at any “major international competition” last year, the AOC would give you $20,000. Tax free. No strings attached.

The money comes from a $4.86 million dollar adidas Medal Incentive Funding program and is designed to help prepare athletes for the games.

All olympic-level athletes, all sports, all medals: paid between $10,000 and $20,000 paid by the AOC, without athletes beholden to advertise the fact.

Before we all get taken by that image of a lone Australian sportsperson training on a empty regional oval, enduring financial hardships and crying poor over this valiant attempts to further our sporting mythology, let's also consider the significant commercial contact athletes are able to attract in the lead up to an olympic year.

It’s not new to say there’s money in sports. But would the wheels fall off if those significant commercial and broadcasting entities were left to fund it?

Whatever the cost to the taxpayer, if we can’t better the Brits in a medal tally, at least it’s costing them more.

And that's what sport is really about, right?

London 2012 Olympic Games

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Your Comments

Olympians are priceless

Fred - from Victoria, 10 months ago

The economy is shared belief that in translation has no visible or substantial value. Money in its self isn't anything but metal and paper without the purpose we give it as a collective. However a worlds class sportsman that has trained for years on end to be built to be faster stronger or more skillful then any other Human being on the planet, most defiantly presents clear and purposeful value that could never be put a price on. Their is way less important things that our nation wastes it's tax money on, write and article on something that deserves a debate.

Stop the madness

Peter - from Perth, 10 months ago

This madness must be stopped. The hospital and education systems are in ruins. Taxes are high and increasing, and yet most people are struggling more than 5 years ago. Political parties and voters alike must say 'Stop, we like our sport but it really doesnt matter if we win, spend the money on a compassionate and clever society not on a sporting one'! Come on everyone, stop sports funding and save the country.

Dreams of Children

Frankie Boy - from Brisbane , 10 months ago

When young kids watch these sporting heroes they grow up aspiring to be something great. That's something you can't put a price on.

You Have to be kidding Andy Park

Reg Cooper - from Port Macquarie, 10 months ago

Any athlete who shows great promise, is assisted by sports institutes and some incentives, very few reach a pinnicle of success whereby they make a fortune, those that do, pay taxes don't they ? The others struggle and work hard like any one else, to represent their country, many need to have part time jobs to get by. I think that this article demeans the efforts of sporting people relative to the rest of society. I would also like to remind the Captain, that smokers pay very large tax.

Sports are the least of it.

the captain - from St Kilda, 10 months ago

It's a slippery slope - taxpayers money being appropriated for dubious purposes. Publicly funded health care for people who choose to smoke their whole lives. Funding for arcane art exhibitions and performances for 'cultures sake'. Subsidies so more fossil fuels are extracted and sprayed around. Funding for buildings that are a 'bit old' or 'need a facelift'. The shopping list goes on and on. All in the name of GROWTH and ECONOMY. Don't question the great SYTEM...or we'll send someone around.

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