Calls For More Funding For Our Athletes (LINK)
August 24th 2008 09:06
It is absolutely appalling the discussions taking place to consider increasing the amount of funding for our Australian athletes after a disappointing haul of gold medals at Beijing. We have so many Australians struggling to make ends meet and yet while people are homeless, struggling to feed themselves and their families, we are talking about increasing the funding to pay for athletes who want to compete in a sport. And not all athletes, for example, our netballers are obviously not considered elite sportswomen because netball is not included in the Olympics. Yet BMX riding is included and so is table tennis etc. Australia we need to get our priorities right. I would love to represent my country in the Olympics but I don't have the funds to do so and I don't expect hard-working Australians to pay for my way. Are our Olympians going to pay for my hobbies and for me to have less time at work so I can develop my sporting skills? It is absolutely absurd that millions of dollars are spent on the Olympics.
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Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
Comment by Anonymous
As an elite athlete i have to starve myself to make ends meet.
Comment by Jeff Musall
Secular Humanity
Of course, I am well aware that my country is far more responsible for the misplaced priorities than others. Still, the basic ideas can be applied everywhere.
As for athletics, what are the options? Don't bother with them? Or let the games become the playground of the rich and those who can afford it? Wouldn't we rather live in a world where the biggest contests are athletics and not wars?
Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
I believe in public funding too but that's just not fair. That 4.8 million came at the expense of our educational institutions and our artists and our healthcare system.
Comment by Jeff Musall
Secular Humanity
Comment by RebeccaB
Political World
Anonymous - I agree the funding is not distributed fairly and swimmers do get a big chunk. What sport do you play?
Jeff - I agree with you that money should be spent on the Olympics, the arts, and other entertainment items but it's unjust the amount of money being spent per gold medal when we have Australians dying because they can't access proper healthcare or school students denied the best opportunities in life because their parents are unable to afford all their education expenses. It is sad to see this happening and yet their are millionaires out there.
Comment by Anonymous
Swimming is so overrated, barely anyone in america knows who michael phelps is.
Its more of a sellout sport, would they be doing it if the money wasnt there?
Of course not! Most elite athletes have to work and break there back just to fund themselves