Category: History
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The Winning Diet : Australian Institute of Sport’s Nutrition Dept. Contribution to Australian Sport
By Greg Blood. I have recently reflected on the fact that the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) has had several long-term leaders that have made significant contributions to their professional discipline and to Australian sport. Professor Louise Burke is one of them. This article will outline from my perspective the reasons why AIS Nutrition lead…
australiansportreflections
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Commemoration of Athletes and Racing Animals in Regional and Rural Australia
By Greg Blood. Orginally published in the Australian Society for Sports History Bulletin No. 71 , February 2020. Sport plays a significant role in rural and regional Australia. Cashman stated that ‘Bush sport, like city sport, is a way of emphasising community and locality but the former can also be a gesture of defiance against…
australiansportreflections
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The Relationship between the Australian Olympic Committee and the Australian Sports Commission
By Greg Blood. Orginally published in Sporting Traditions, V35 (1) May 2018 Since the 2016 Rio Olympics, the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) and Australian Sports Commission (ASC) have had several very public disagreements regarding the funding and direction of high performance sport. In 1980, the Fraser Government requested the then Australian Olympic Federation to boycott…
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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
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Sports Rorts II – A case of very bad politics not good policy
By Greg Blood. Originally published in The Footy Almanac, 12 February 2020. I have observed closely the last two Federal elections from a sporting perspective and found that both the Coalition and Labor have used ‘sport’ to promote their case for election to particularly marginal or contestable electorates. From the data I collected from the…
australiansportreflections
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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
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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
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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…
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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
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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