Category: High Performance Sport

• 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

  April 26, 2020

  Australian Sports Commission, Author – Greg Blood, Government Policy, High Performance Sport, History, Participation, Physical Activity

• 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

  April 26, 2020

  Athletes, Author – Greg Blood, High Performance Sport, Professional Sports, Talent Development

• 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

  April 26, 2020

  Athletes, Australian Olympic Committee, Australian Sports Commission, Author – Greg Blood, Evaluation and Review, High Performance Sport, Olympic Games

• 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

  April 26, 2020

  Australian Institute of Sport, Australian Sports Commission, Evaluation and Review, Government Policy, High Performance Sport, History, Participation, Politics

• 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

  April 26, 2020

  Cycling, Funding, High Performance Sport

• 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

  April 26, 2020

  Athletes, Australian Institute of Sport, Author – Greg Blood, Coaching, Football, High Performance Sport, Talent Development

• 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

  April 26, 2020

  Athletes, Author – Greg Blood, High Performance Sport, Professional Sports

• 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

  April 26, 2020

  Athletics, Australian Institute of Sport, Author – Greg Blood, Coaching, High Performance Sport, History, Olympic Games, Talent Development

• Are the Commonwealth Games still relevant?

  By Greg Blood. Originally published in The Roar, 15 March 2017. The 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games baton has just left London, with Australia hosting the event for the fifth time. But are the Games are still relevant in an increasing congested calendar? The Commonwealth Games particularly for many Olympic athletes, has been an important stepping stone.…

  australiansportreflections

  April 26, 2020

  Author – Greg Blood, Commonwealth Games, Commonwealth Games Australia, High Performance Sport, History, Talent Development

• Why the professionalisation of women’s sport in Australia could put Olympic performances under threat

  Originally published in The Roar, 6 October 2016. There are many positive developments happening in women’s sport in Australia but some of these developments may have a negative impact on Australian performances at the Olympics. The Hockeyroos, Opals and the Stingers have been medal performers since the 1990’s but none of these teams medalled at…

  australiansportreflections

  April 26, 2020

  Author – Greg Blood, High Performance Sport, Olympic Games, Professional Sports, Talent Development, Women