Category: Australian Institute of Sport
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Vale Bob Hobson: Significant AIS / ASC Leader 1984 to 2000.
By Greg Blood Robert ‘Bob” Hobson played a significant role in the development of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) from 1984 to 2000. During this period, he led the corporate and business services of both organisations through momentous changes and controversies. Hobson grew up in Canberra and attended…
australiansportreflections
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Federal and State Governments funding of AFL and NRL High Performance Training Centres – Updated 28 May 2025
By Greg Blood This is an update of research originally published in April 2019. It highlights how the majority of professional AFL and NRL clubs have now received substantial federal and state government funding to develop their high-performance training centres. The 2019 federal election was a high-water mark in funding commitments – a period where…
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Sport and the 2025 Australian Federal Election – Final
By Greg Blood This article follows 2019 and 2022 reviews on sport issues and commitments related to Australian federal elections. Previous Australian federal elections reviewed highlighted the significant number of sport facility commitments made by the ALP and Coalition. Many of these related to improving sports facilities for girls and women. Going into the 2025…
australiansportreflections
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Reflecting on David Crawford’s Contribution to the Australian Sport System
By Greg Blood The recent passing of David Crawford AO made me reflect on four sport reviews that he authored or chaired that have impacted on sport in Australia. For many of those that worked in sports administration from 1990 to 2011, the name David Crawford became synonymous with sport governance and the organisation of…
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Characteristics of the 2024 Australian Olympic Team: age, gender, experience, longevity, location, education, indigenous, family and direct athlete support
By Greg Blood This article endeavours to provide insights into the 2024 Australian Olympic Team. Olympian characteristics provide insights into the Olympian “runway”, their likely period in competing at the highest level and their likely employment post their Olympic athletic career. With Brisbane being selected to host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we frequently…
australiansportreflections
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Review of Australian Team Sports at the Olympics and Paralympics 1908-2024 – Updated
By Greg Blood The 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be another test of the strength of Australia’s Olympic and Paralympic team sports. Since 2012, there has been a decline in the medals won by Australian Olympic and Paralympic teams sports. From 1996 to 2012, team sports won more than one medal at the Games.…
australiansportreflections
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Albanese Government Endorses the Independent Review into the Australian Institute of Sport.
By Greg Blood The Independent Review Report highlights the reasons for the 249.7 million investment into the “spine of Australian sport – the AIS in Canberra. The last major investment into AIS facilities in Canberra was in the 2002 Howard Government budget where $65 million was allocated over six years for the development of –…
australiansportreflections
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Can we finally have the future of the AIS in Canberra settled?
By Greg Blood The Albanese government has announced an independent review to determine the future of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra. Since Australia’s Winning Edge 2012-2022, the AIS in Canberra has been in limbo – that’s ten years. The review apparently will be finished by the end of the year. It is…
australiansportreflections
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Why does the Australian Government invest in sport ? One answer is national pride.
By Greg Blood Why does the Australian Government invest in sport? There are many reasons but the Maltidas performances at the home FIFA Women’s World Cup is an example of sport and its impact on nationalism or national pride. I’m currently researching Australian prime ministers and sport and found that most of them understood that…
australiansportreflections
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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…
australiansportreflections