Is Sport Still a Focus of Australia's Culture and Identity?

GG57 on 13/01/2021 - 09:43

This question came to mind, partly as I saw this other forum post about the Australian Tennis Open https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/597546#comment-9943336
I also read this morning a report quoting an Australian Olympic swimmer as saying that Olympic athletes should be provided with the COVID vaccine as a priority to allow them to participate in Tokyo later this year (particularly if vaccination is a pre-requisite). It would only be 500 doses.
That athlete is reported as saying that "I think athletes have sacrificed a lot to represent Australia and if we look back on the year, I think we can appreciate how much sport brings to Australia. It's part of our culture and our identity."

But is it?
I have certainly stopped watching men's cricket as I don't like the win-at-all cost culture in the national team. And a lot of Australian Rules football is not attractive to me (I probably only watch one game a week, at the most). Some individual sports are of personal interest, but tennis isn't one of those for me. I watch some of the Olympics but don't get too engaged. And the Commonwealth Games seem pointless to me.

My own focus on sport has diminished over recent years, and I wondered if it is the same for others?

Sports & Outdoors

Comments

  • MS Paint on 13/01/2021 - 09:52
    +4

    I prefer 'try not to laugh' videos on YouTube than sport.

  • SF3 on 13/01/2021 - 09:54
    +3

    I blame it on video games, video streaming, social(ising) media and constantly being on OzB :D

    • GG57 on 13/01/2021 - 10:11

      I'm not blaming anything; in my view, it is a shift in the culture of Australia away from sports.

    • pharkurnell on 13/01/2021 - 10:37
      +1

      Yep I agree… so many gaming consoles, hand helds, phones to game on, no kids ever need to leave the house.
      Rarely see kids outside playing anymore anywhere. I know clubs that no longer have full age groups of kids in footy or cricket as they didnt have enough kids interested

  • Seraphin7 on 13/01/2021 - 10:37
    +6

    If you consider that the top watched program in Australia each year is more often than not a sports broadcast, then yes, it would seem sport is still is "part of our culture and our identity".

    • GG57 on 13/01/2021 - 10:58

      Thanks for that info.
      But, it could be argued that those are one-off 'special events' rather than a cultural focus.

      A bit like the AFL Grand Final always had a sell-out crowd (pre-COVID), but most of those attending had not been to a game all year.
      I wonder how many who watched the ARL State of Origin games had watched the weekly club games (either live or on tv)?
      Or how many that tune in for the Australian Open tennis, or the Melbourne Grand Prix, even watch other tennis or F1 events during the year?

    • petry on 13/01/2021 - 13:17
      +2

      naw its just TV is so bad..

  • Okayy on 13/01/2021 - 11:44
    +1

    Identity of Australia from my childhood was sports and Steve.

  • Almost Banned on 13/01/2021 - 12:16
    +1

    I agree that the sports culture is lessening, but I still think its important.
    As far as giving Olympic athletes priority for vaccines - I think their risk levels are very low, and I don't think their services are particularly essential.

    • GG57 on 13/01/2021 - 12:21

      Thanks.
      I suppose that is partly my point; what is the 'service' or 'benefit' that athletes/sport provide to us, to make us think that it is important?

      • DashCam AKA Rolts on 13/01/2021 - 13:10
        +2

        It's the old bread and circuses strategy. Longtime favourite of ruling groups.

  • orangetrain on 13/01/2021 - 13:15
    +1

    Are we talking elite sports or grassroots sports?

    The Federal and State governments are throwing billions and billions at elite sports every year vs at grassroots, it has to be for cultural identity. Otherwise why else the multi billion spending?

    • petry on 13/01/2021 - 13:16
      +1

      very funny nothing to do with buying votes then…

  • petry on 13/01/2021 - 13:20
    +2

    the trouble with sport these days is bent officiating, drug hypocrisy, cheating being justified , and its everyday use by fascists.

    apart from that its great…

    example

    love the new zealand cricket team -great sports team, love Lynny - hand eye co-ordination at its best, but umpiring has never been so deliberately bad - killed the bash

  • Seaword on 13/01/2021 - 13:36
    +1

    There is too much money spent on professional sports by governments in Australia. I think as the money has gone up in sport, it has become less appealing. Cricket is dying with the exception of BB, AFL is full of betting adds, and I have not loved the discussion around olympic athletes in the last year. Plenty of people in much harder positions. As far as giving them vaccines, they should be way down the list.

  • [Deactivated] on 13/01/2021 - 18:55

    Sports have become so commercialised. Of itself that's not necessarily a bad thing - but it means you have to pay to enjoy. Whilst user pays isn't necessarily wrong it does put it outside the reach of some people. And it splits society into those willing to pay and those who would want something else for the money. So does that mean sports isn't a fundamental property of Australian culture?

    Then there's the increasing politicisation of sports organisations. The treatment of Israel Folau because of his religious beliefs and expression could not have made that any clearer. Regardless of what you think of his beliefs the fact remains that Australia no longer worships outstanding performers on the field, they care more about what they think and say.

    Finally we have government funding and exceptions made for sports and sportspeople. We've seen Australia resist banning Italians from entering the country while Covid was running rampant in Italy - because the Ferrari F1 team would have been unhappy. Countless sports stars have been given exceptions to quarantine. Then there's so much funding for sports at a time when Australian citizens are being blocked from re-entering their own country. That suggests sports is a far higher priority than basic rights of ordinary Australians. But does that mean sports is intrinsic to Australian culture?

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