Category: Governance
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Power of understanding political processes and lobbying in Australian sport – insights from Greg Hartung’s career in sport administration
By Greg Blood Greg Hartung’s career in journalism and then in sport administration highlights the need for senior Australian sport leaders to understand political processes to obtain the desired outcomes for their organisation and sport. This is important for both big and small national sports organisations (NSO) as they rely heavily on Australian Government funding…
australiansportreflections
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Revisiting Olympic Athlete Program & Paralympic Preparation Program (1994-2000)
By Greg Blood It is worthwhile revisiting the Olympic Athlete Program (OAP) and Paralympic Preparation Program (PPP) with the strong likelihood of Brisbane and South East Queensland hosting the 2032 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. These Australian Government funding programs led to Australia having its most successful Summer Olympics and Paralympics to date. Besides the Australia’s…
australiansportreflections
Australian Institute of Sport, Australian Olympic Committee, Australian Sports Commission, Author – Greg Blood, Coaching, Evaluation and Review, Funding, Governance, Government Policy, High Performance Sport, History, Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Paralympics Australia, Politics, Sport Science, Sports Medicine, Talent Development -
Australian Sport in 2020 – ‘Unprecedented’ Year for Sport Administrators
by Greg Blood Australian sport administrators have been under enormous stress during 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other issues. It is worthwhile to briefly document the many challenges managed during this ‘unprecedented’ year’. Sports Rorts The year started with the Australian National Audit Office report into Sport Australia’s Community Sport Infrastructure Program that…
australiansportreflections
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Vale Don Talbot AO OBE – reflecting on his contribution to the Australian Institute of Sport and high performance sport
by Greg Blood You will see many wonderful and deserving tributes on the late Don Talbot’s swimming coaching career but I would like to focus on his contribution to high performance sport in Australia, particularly the development of the Australian Institute of Sport. Many will know that John Bloomfield’s 1973 report The Role, Scope and Development of…
australiansportreflections
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Contribution of Australian sport administrators to international sport
By Greg Blood Australian sport administrators have filled significant positions in international sport. John Coates has often argued that Australian sport administrators need to hold significant Australian positions particularly President/Chair for several years before standing for positions on international sports federations. I recently researched Ray Godkin’s sport administration career for his Wikipedia article and it…
australiansportreflections
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Vale Peter Bowman – ‘Unsung’ Pioneer AIS Administrator
By Greg Blood With the recent death of Peter Bowman, the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) lost one of its founding staff. I have great memories of Bowman’s 20 years at the AIS and this includes the first time I met him – my interview in early 1983 for the librarian position at the AIS…
australiansportreflections
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What is the future of ‘Sport 2030’ in the post COVID19 world?
By Greg Blood In May 2018, I published the article How long can the proposed National Sports Plan survive? It is worthwhile to revisit Sport 2030 , known as the National Sports Plan, due to changes in Australian sport leadership, undetermined Australian Government decisions and significant impact of COVID-19 on sport as well as other parts…
australiansportreflections
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Leaders in Australian Sport 1980-2020
By Greg Blood Recently Ian Hanson, swimming journalist and historian, published an article on James Taylor CBE who in 1920 was the inaugural President of the Australian Olympic Council and held the position until his death in 1944. It reminded me that in early part of 20th century Australian sport there were many long term…
australiansportreflections
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Who should succeed John Coates in 2021 as AOC President?
By Greg Blood. Originally published in The Roar, 6 May 2017. In the lead up to the 2017 Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) President election, John Coates indicated that this would be his last term. Coates bemoaned that he had difficulty in finding a successor as one reason why he still sought re-election. Mind you I’m…
australiansportreflections
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Note to Australia: Winning isn’t everything
Originally published in The Roar, 18 October 2016 Thankfully the Essendon Football Club sports supplements saga has come to an end, but it was just another major example of poor governance at a professional sporting club. The Essendon Football Club is far from alone. In recent years there have been numerous examples of poor governance…
australiansportreflections