Panoramic image of the Melbourne Cricket Ground during a friendly international football game between Australia and Greece on 25 May 2006. Wikicommons
Long-term Plan for Major Sports Facilities in Canberra – Time to Stop the Band-aid Approach
By Greg Blood Canberra is at a critical time in relation to the future planning and investment in major sports facilities. A great deal of media and public discussion and several reports have been narrowly focussed on an outdoor stadium in the city. But there is also lobbying for housing at Thoroughbred Park, possible development…
It’s Time for Participation to Receive its Fair Share of the Sports Funding Pie
Greg Blood The cost-of-living crisis in Australia has the likelihood of decreasing participation in sport and fitness activities. This follows on from the impact of COVID on sport participation. Traditionally Federal Government funding has been directed more heavily towards high performance i.e., success of Australian athletes and teams on the international sporting arena. Is it…
Australian Sports Commission Historical Budget Information
By Greg Blood The Australian Government’s funding to sport since 1985/86 has primarily been through allocations to the Australian Sports Commission (ASC). This compilation will assist those interested the Australian Government’s investment in sport. The Australian Government also allocates funding to Sport Integrity Australia and the Office of Sport located in the Federal Dept responsible…
Stocktake of Australian sport CEO’s 2000-2023 – Updated 2 May 2023
By Greg Blood The departures of CEO’s in 2020 from significant Australian sports organisations – ASC, cricket, rugby union, rugby league, golf and equestrian – has made me reflect on the level of turnover of CEO’s since 2000. Part 1 will list CEO changes within national sports organisations during this period. The information listed in…
My career in sport information and sport history: reflecting on the AIS and ASC’s long-time support for the provision of access to sport knowledge to the Australian sport sector.
Greg Blood My induction into the University of Canberra Sport Walk of Fame has made me reflect on the long-time support of the Australian Institute of Sport and Australian Sports Commission to sport information in Australia. Like many children growing up in Australia, I developed an early interest in sport and tried many sports before…
Vale Bob Ellicott AC KC – Fraser Government Minister Responsible for Establishing the Australian Institute of Sport
By Greg Blood Prime Minister Malcom Fraser in late 1978 transferred the sport function to the Dept of Home Affairs under Minister Bob Ellicott. Fraser told Ellicott to “do something about sport” after Australia’s poor performances at the 1976 Olympics and 1978 Commonwealth Games. Greg Hartung in reviewing Ellicott’s period as minister stated he “left…
History of Elite Australian Coaches Working Overseas
By Greg Blood After the 2000 Olympics and Paralympics, there was some anxiety in the Australian sport system concerning the brain drain of elite Australian coaches. In 2006, it was reported that the AIS would spend “almost $5 million over the next four years to fend off international poachers intent on cherry-picking Australia’s best coaches”.…
Short History of Australian Elite Coaches Transitioning to High Performance Management
By Greg Blood The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) prior to the cessation of sports programs in 2013 frequently facilitated AIS coaches in transferring into its high performance management areas. It should be remembered that the inaugural AIS Director Don Talbot had an extensive swimming coaching career in Australia, Canada and the United States prior…
Vale Professor John Bloomfield AO – Gentle Giant of the Australian Sport System
By Greg Blood Professor John Bloomfield AO was one of the main architects and drivers of the modern Australian sport system. Bob Ellicott, the Minister for Sport responsible for establishing the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), gave enormous credit to Bloomfield for his strategy and development of sports and recreation reports in the lead up…
Sport and Federal Politics – Importance of Relationship Building by National Sports Organisations
By Greg Blood With a new Federal Parliament under way, it is important that national sports organisations educate and lobby existing and new Parliamentarians regarding their sport and its needs. It is not enough to just work with the Federal Government’s primary sport agency – Australian Sports Commission. The 47th Federal Parliament commenced on 26…
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