Joint push for more cash

Tag : joint bearing

A KEY player in the fight for Australian sport to receive moremoney from the Government before the 2012 London Olympics andParalympics believes the benefits of beating the increasinglypowerful British at their home Games would mirror the upliftingcontribution to the national psyche of Don Bradman during thedepression.
Australian Paralympic Committee president and Australian SportsCommission deputy president Greg Hartung, who has joined AustralianOlympic Committee supremo John Coates in lobbying for more cash, isadamant that funding sports success is in the national interest.
"Sport should be considered as a very wise government investment,"Hartung said. "Can you tell me any other major areas whereAustralia's reputation, identity, our connectivity within our owncommunity and the international community is more profound than insport?
"Would any reasonable person not see value for money in thedividends we would get from more support? Great Britain have beenexciting themselves about beating Australia for the last 10 years.In Beijing, they've done it — twice."
Hartung estimated the government's input to sport of $220 million ayear was less than .1 of 1% of its annual revenue.
"Sport is a wonderfully uplifting thing," Hartung said. "Look atBradman. His great reputation was built during a period ofconflict; during a period of depression in Australia. The wholecountry benefited from what he did for Australia on a cricketfield.
"Sport has a huge bearing on Australian life. I don't think thecynics really get that. I think everyone, including the primeminister, accepts that funding must increase. There are significantchallenges ahead."
Britain's Olympic and Paralympic athletes, who both beat Australiafor gold medals at the Beijing Games, receive nearly double theamount given to Australian athletes each year.
"The sporting world has changed radically," Hartung said. "Theinvestment that the taxpayers have put in is relatively small andinsignificant in the context of our global national expenditure.
"This is to do with seeking excellence. This is to do withAustralia's role, reputation and prestige in the world. GreatBritain want to beat us at the Olympics. There would be immensesatisfaction for Australia if we beat them in their own backyard."
Hartung and Coates are about to lobby hard for increased governmentsupport.
"Arguments about money being better spent in other areas willalways emerge," Hartung said. "I think the days of asking ourartists and sports people to starve in a garret have long gone."