Category: High Performance Sport
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From Sporting Cripples to Powerful Advocates – How the Paralympic Movement Arrived at its Alcott Moment.
By Greg Blood and Tony Naar The announcement of Dylan Alcott as 2022 Australian of the Year is a significant milestone. Alcott became the first Australian with a visible disability to be awarded this honour. Not only that, but Alcott is a Paralympian, the first to be honoured as Australian of the Year in the…
australiansportreflections
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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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Toyko Olympics: Medals, Personal Bests, Athlete & Team Journeys and Camaraderie
By Greg Blood Prior to the Tokyo Olympics, I detailed the support that the Australian Government through the AIS provided to the Australian Olympic and Paralympic teams. It is worthwhile examining the results and outcomes of Tokyo Olympics and how improvements can be made for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. I was so pleased the Olympics…
australiansportreflections
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Coaches of Australian 2020 Summer Olympic Medallists
By Greg Blood At the end of the Tokyo Olympics it is important to recognise the coaches of Australia’s medallists. Listed are the individual or team coaches where they are known for Australia’s 46 medallists – 17 gold, 7 silver and 22 bronze. The list highlights the majority of medallists had Australian born coaches or…
australiansportreflections
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Australian Government’s Contribution to Australian Olympic and Paralympic Teams at Tokyo 2021 through the AIS
By Greg Blood With the upcoming Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, it is worthwhile examining the contribution of the Australian Government through the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) to Australian Olympic and Paralympic team preparation from 2016 to 2021. These teams have also been supported by Australian Olympic Committee, Paralympics Australia, state institute/academies of sport, national…
australiansportreflections
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Reflections on the 2021/22 Commonwealth Government Budget for Sport
By Greg Blood ASC Budget Accountability Up until 2015/16 Commonwealth Government budget, the public had some idea about the division of Australian Sports Commission (or Sport Australia) funding between high performance and participation/sports organisations management. Budget papers stated appropriations for two ASC outcomes: Outcome 1 – Improved participation in structured physical activity, particularly organised sport,…
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 -
Further reflections on the Australian Institute of Sport – a national ‘living’ icon.
By Ron Harvey CVO AM – 3rd Director of the AIS (1987-1989) My recent article AIS – a national living icon and recent reflections by early AIS staff and athletes made me look back to Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser’s comments when he opened the AIS in 1981- “Coaches and athletes working together through this institute,…
australiansportreflections