Crawford Report on Olympic funding.

[rcon]

Anyone read much commentary on this?

I have to say, I completely agree what the report proposes myself (haven't actually read report, only commentary).

I know we've had this discussion before and I was completely against government funding for high level sports, and I was rebutted with the whole "trickle down effect" (particularly from our country brethren). But if we're going to be spending tax payer $$'s on sport, it should be in areas where there will be some public good otherwise not being filled, and I just don't see this being the case with elite Olympic sports. Anyone disagree?

[bennymacca]

spending money on sport in general is definitely in the public good.

but spending it on cricket rather than water polo is definitely the way to go.

you can't have a trickle down effect if noone actually plays the sport.

mainstream olympic sports like swimming, and a lesser extent athletics, i think need to supported still. but other sports that in some cases are basically just a participation sport for the athletes, like water polo, imho dont really have a place in australian sporting landscape. i would much rather see this funding go into other areas of sport.

[maccatak11]

But what about rowing or sailing? Sports that you CAN say are a large part of the Australian Sporting landscape, and that do have large participation rates. Money at the top end DOES count. If there is no clear pathway to elite levels then kids simply won't play the sport. Its not like money is ONLY being cut from Olympic athletes. If the AOC cut funding from say pole vault for example, then sports institutes like SASI (while it still exists) won't be able to afford such programs for elite athletes, which will certainly harm junior programs run by these institutes.

And its not like athletes like Steve Hooker were being paid millions of dollars, simply enough that they didn't have to work full-time as well as train full time.

[bennymacca]

as far as i know, no sport is getting reduced funding from what they already get.

but the aoc chairman was gunning for 100 million extra, but it looks like he wont get it. basically the report was saying that if any extra money was being spent, then it should be spent on sport that has a high participation.