Author: australiansportreflections
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Our Sport System Shapes Up: Politics, Programs and Progress – Tracking the Evolution of Australian Sport Policy
History of Australian Sport Series: Part 7 By Greg Hartung AO Mixed Fortunes The deliberations of the Australian Sports Council through the 1970s and the developmental work of the Department under Minister Stewart defined the core elements of what was emerging as the Australian sports system. Our sporting organisation architecture and program delivery was taking…
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Sport Policy Plays Catch-up: The Australian Sports Council
History of Australian Sport Series: Part 6 By Greg Hartung AO In the early years of the 1970s, there was a rush to get things done: sport policy had languished as a policy afterthought but now there was the political energy, and will, to make a difference. In 1973, Australia’s first Sport Minister, Frank Stewart…
australiansportreflections
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2000 Sydney Olympic and Paralympic Games Power Brokers: Why to Expect Many Changes in 2032 Brisbane’s Journey
By Greg Blood It is just over ten years until the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Brisbane and South East Queensland. If the 2000 Sydney Games are any guide, there will be significant turnover of political and administrative power brokers over this period. Documented are the power broker changes during the lead up – 1993…
australiansportreflections
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The ‘nitty gritty’ years from Kevin Newman to Bob Ellicott: Australia Sport Policy 1975-1980
History of Australian Sport Policy: Part Five By Greg Hartung AO The harbinger of the eventual demise of the Whitlam Labor government was the Tasmanian BAS by-election in June 1975. The seat was won with a spectacular swing of 17 percent to Kevin Newman for the Liberal Party. Though by elections rarely favor the incumbent…
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Swings and Roundabouts: Different Political Philosophies
History of Australian Sport Policy Series: Part 4 By Greg Hartung AO The 1970s was a decade of change and policy experimentation for Australian sport and recreation. It was a decade in which the fundamental political ‘arm wrestle’ – ie whether the Commonwealth Government had any significant and integral role to play in leading policy…
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Sport Policy Takes Shape: Malcolm Fraser’s Impact
History of Australian Sport Policy Series: Part 3 By Greg Hartung AO Flip the coin…sport goes forwards then backwards Sports organisations had become accustomed to positive support from the Federal Government – but this was about to change with the election in December 1975 of a new federal government and the demise of the former…
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Australian Paralympic Mob at Tokyo 2020: Review of Performances, Funding and Contribution to Sport and Society
By Greg Blood Australian Paralympic Mob’s successful but extremely challenging Tokyo campaign has finished. Their journeys were well told by the media during the Games. It is worthwhile reflecting on their performances, funding and future development. In a previous article, I outlined the Australian Government’s contribution to Tokyo 2020 Australian Olympic and Paralympic Teams. Funding…
australiansportreflections
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Importance of the Paralympic Games: Highlighting the Journeys of Athletes with a Disability
By Greg Blood During the next two weeks we will hear or read about the journeys of many Paralympic athletes. These journeys about striving for excellence in their sport and overcoming challenges along the way. I worked at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) for nearly thirty years and during this period, I realised that…
australiansportreflections
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The Golden Oldies: Champions of Emerging Sports Policy
History of Australian Sport Policy Series: Part 2 By Greg Hartung AO Preamble Many people – many of them barely remembered — have had a profound influence on the evolution of Australian sports policy. It is important that we are reminded not only of who these people are, but also of the debates and arguments they…
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Australian Officials at Tokyo Olympics & Paralympics: Pinnacle of Their Careers
By Greg Blood Updated – 12 August 2021 Many of us know about the athletes and in some cases the coaches at the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics but little is known about the Australian officials selected. Listed are Australian officials who in many cases the Olympics and Paralympics is the pinnacle of their officiating career.…
australiansportreflections