The Crawford report has succeeded, at the very least, in opening up for debate whether the government gets “value” out of the money spent on sports programs, writes John Orchard.
Crawford Review of Australian Sport
Coates: Australia should not strive for mediocrity
AOC President John Coates argues against the findings of the Crawford Review in today’s Oz: Australians won’t settle for second (or tenth) best: we need and want our elite athletes.
Australia’s Olympic scam
Australia spends an outrageous amount of money on the Olympics, purely to assuage our international inferiority complex, says Derek Barry. Crawford is correct: the dollars can be better spent.
The Crawford Report: a dull dud spiced by a big no to John Coates
The Crawford Report is page after page of banalities and findings of the ‘no shit sherlock’ varieties, with all the tough issues ducked, says Trevor Cook. It’s really just a way to help the hapless Kate Ellis reject the insistent John Coates.
Olympic establishment mobilises to shout down Crawford Report
It didn’t take long for the Olympic establishment to respond to the clear and present threat posed by yesterday’s Crawford Report. Behold the fury of a parasitic industry facing the threat that taxpayers might stop handing them money.
Any sport in a storm: Coates and Co cop a reality check
At a moment when we’ve just emerged from recession, when childhood obesity in Australia is at an all-time high and when some state schools have little or no sporting equipment — let alone PE teachers — David Crawford’s report into Olympic funding couldn’t have come at a better time.
The Crawford Review: Have your say
Is the Crawford Review a refreshing change in thinking from the relentless and costly pursuit of Olympic gold, or is international sporting success a vital part of our national identity? Have your say on our Crikey Sports blog.
Penberthy: Olympic glory isn’t about gold medals
The Crawford Review heralds an important national debate about how we measure our sporting success, says David Penberthy. Australians don’t need the guarantee of a gold medal to paint their faces green and gold and scream “oi oi oi” like loons: we love it no matter what.
Stuff the medals: sport is for all
The Crawford Review is damning, says Greg Baum: Australia is burning millions in an Olympic race against much bigger rivals we can’t possibly compete with. Let’s put that money back in the grassroots.
Don’t shatter our Olympic dreams
Australia’s Olympic prowess is an important part of our national identity, says Wally Mason, and every Australian deserves a chance to strive for gold. The Crawford Review’s recommendations would rob them of that chance.
Australia’s health is more important than Olympic glory
The Crawford Review’s recommendation to unshackle the government-funded sports sector from the gold-medal-thirsty Olympic movement is right on the money, says Richard Hinds.
Get professional or get out
The Crawford Review’s assumption than any sporting organisation can become an AFL clone — competing for funding and sponsorship with the big boys — is misguided, says Jacquelin Magnay.
Sport funding torn between going for gold and going for guts
The long-awaited Crawford Review of Australian sport has called the bluff of successive Australian governments and proposed a re-weighting of sports funding away from elite Olympic sports toward grassroots participation.
