Category: High Performance Sport
-
The Australian Institute of Sport Story 1981-2013
By Greg Blood. Originally published Clyde Street Blog, 15 May 2018. In December 2012, the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), as we know it, changed when the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) under Chair John Wylie launched its Australia’s Winning Edge 2012-2022 strategy. A major plank of the strategy was for the AIS to no longer directly manage…
australiansportreflections
-
Should Governments fund AFL and NRL high performance centres?
By Greg Blood. Originally published in The Footy Almanac, 16 April 2019. Note – this article has been updated in February 2024. The recent Morrison Federal Government budget announced $60m in funding for three AFL clubs (Brisbane, Carlton, Richmond) and one NRL club (North Queensland). This was followed up by the Morrison Government election announcement…
australiansportreflections
-
A critique of the national sport plan
By Greg Blood. Originally published in The Roar, 3 August 2018. The long-awaited national sport plan Sport 2030 has been released and has an ambitious vision for Australia “to be the world’s most active and healthy sporting nation, known for its integrity and sporting success”. I believe that with this vision it should have be called ‘National Sport…
australiansportreflections
-
The impact of Sudanese-Australian athletes on the sporting landscape
By Greg Blood. Originally published in The Roar, 1 August 2018. Last week, Joseph Deng, a former Sudanese refugee, broke the Australian 800 metres record, set by Ralph Doubell in winning gold in at the 1968 Mexico Olympics. This feat made me reflect on the impact Sudanese athletes are now having on Australian sport. These…
australiansportreflections
-
How should we judge funding of Australian Olympic athletes and teams?
By Greg Blood. Originally published in The Roar, 13 June 2018. Currently there is an interesting conundrum in Australian Olympic sport. The failure of the Australian Olympic team to achieve its target of the top five on the medal table at the Rio Olympics has raised questions about the suitability of medal targets. This failure…
australiansportreflections
-
How long can the proposed National Sports Plan survive?
By Greg Blood. Originally published in The Roar, 13 May 2018 The Australian Government is due to release the long awaited first official National Sports Plan in the next few months. I have concerns about the future of the plan and not necessarily its direction. Why? The increasing political instability in Australian Governments and the…
australiansportreflections
-
Are Australian track cyclists more important than road cyclists?
By Greg Blood. Originally published in The Roar, 20 November 2017. Australian performances in major road cycling events in 2017 have made me reflect on the future development and importance of road cycle racing in Australia. Canberra’s Michael Matthews had a stellar year, winning the green jersey in the Tour de France and a gold…
australiansportreflections
-
Remembering the contributions of AIS Men’s football to the Socceroos
By Greg Blood. Originally published in The Roar, 27 April 2017. The Football Federation of Australia (FFA) has announced that it will be closing its Centre of Excellence (originally AIS Men’s Football) at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra at the end of the year. It is worth reflecting on the contribution of the…
australiansportreflections
-
Clubs are playing Russian roulette with long-term contracts
By Greg Blood. Originally published in The Roar, 5 April 2017. worrying development in professional sport in Australia has been athletes signing long-term contracts, which could lead to the financial ruin of some clubs. Recent reports indicate that Greater Westerns Sydney Giants player Josh Kelly is being offered a nine-year, $9 million deal with North Melbourne Kangaroos.…
australiansportreflections
-
Development of an Olympic gold medallist: A study of Jared Tallent
By Greg Blood. Originally published in The Roar, 6 July 2016. Updated March 2021 on Tallent’s official retirement. In watching Australian athletes at the 2016 Rio Games, I urge viewers to take time to reflect on where they are at in their Olympics/Paralympics journey – gaining experience or strong contender for a medal. This a…
australiansportreflections