The Olympic Legacy

Senate Adjournment Debate
3 October 2000
Australian Federal Parliament

I rise tonight to talk about the wonderful and inspiring events of the past few weeks - and the equally inspiring events we will see when the Paralympics begin on September 18.

The Olympic Games are more than just a sporting event.

The nation’s focus on Cathy Freeman, on the moving closing ceremony, and on the spirit and generosity conveyed by all those involved in the Games demonstrates that the Olympics transcend mere sporting competition.

It is not about medal tallies, although that is a measure of the success of our elite sporting programs.

The Olympics represent an opportunity for nations to showcase their cultural, political, economic, social and sporting achievements - and in almost every respect Australia showed world-class performances in these areas.

There are particular features of the Olympics that stand out for special mention.

First, the many generous and spirited Australians whose absolutely magnificent efforts as volunteers - cheerfully and helpfully providing friendly information and assistance - ensured that Sydney staged the ‘best ever’ Olympic Games. Without these volunteers, many of whom will be back for the Paralympics, the Games could not have operated so perfectly.

Second, the New South Wales Government and SOCOG, who despite some pre-Games problems, delivered a near perfect Games. As with many other interstate spectators, I was very impressed with the transport system and slickness of operations which, given the problems of Atlanta, is testament to an epic planning and operational plan.

Third, the officials and administrators who created a seamless environment in which world class athletic competition thrived.

Fourth, the Australian Sports Commission and the Australian Institute of Sport who initiated a successful winning formula that has seen Australia reach unparalleled achievements in international sport.

The AIS has done a truly fantastic job.

Over 80 per cent of medallists were in sports where AIS programs exist.

Almost 30 of our medals won were by current or former AIS scholarship holders.

And lastly, but by no means the least important, is the athletes involved in representing Australia.

For me, the most important part of the Olympics was the way in which our athletes embodied the ideals and values of Australia society.

And it is important to remember that not every elite athlete is able to represent their country, or reach the medal round. Nevertheless, we publicly recognise their contribution and involvement in our Olympic efforts.

Now that the first part of the Olympic Games are over, it is time to reflect on the Olympic legacy we will be left with.

The Opposition has given bi-partisan support to the Government’s expenditure on the Sydney Olympics. We welcomed their continuation of Labor’s policies on drugs in sport and Labor’s commitment to elite sport  funding.

There are areas, such as Paralympic, Indigenous and Women’s sport, where Labor believes a greater emphasis should be placed. But in overall terms, we believe that funding for elite sport is justified given the phenomenal success of the Sydney Games.

However, what concerns the Opposition is what happens now that the Olympics are over.

We are concerned that, rather than creating a long-term legacy, the Howard Government is content with a one-off show. This is a short-sighted approach.

Many Olympic sports are facing the difficult task of dealing with cutbacks to their programs because there is no Olympic funding in place from the end of the year.

This perverse situation has arisen because the Government has not committed itself to extend the Olympic Athlete Program (or OAP) beyond 31 December.

OAP funding was initiated by the Labor Government in 1993 and provided $135 million for both Olympic and Paralympic sport for the Atlanta and Sydney Games. Each year, approximately $25 million has been available for Olympic preparations.

At Atlanta we won 42 medals.

In Sydney, we won 58 medals. But we also finished 4th in 16 other events; finished in the Top 8 in 125 sports and in the Top 16 in 187 sports.

These are the achievements Labor wants to build on. Not just because we want to win more medals, but because the whole community benefits from national and international achievements - be it in sport, the arts, science, IT or education.

That is why we have been critical of the cuts imposed by the Coalition.

At the last round of senate estimates, the Australian Sports Commission revealed that once the $25 million OAP program concludes later this year, there will be a reduction in funding for all sports.

The Sports Commission instructed all sports not to enter into contractual arrangements that rely on OAP funding beyond 31 December. This means that unless continued funding is provided, many Olympic coaches and athletes will head overseas.

Minister Kelly refuses to acknowledge that coaches, sports scientists and experts are being headhunted by overseas sporting organisations.

I recently visited the Western Australian Institute of Sport, where the effects of sports funding cuts are being felt already.

The WA Institute of Sport has already lost their cycling and hockey coaches and 40 per cent of their sports scientists because there is no funding left to pay them.

And on the 7.30 Report last night both Rowing Australia and Shooting Australia confirmed that their coaches are looking for work elsewhere because of funding cuts to elite sport - and in the case of Shooting Australia, that their coaches’ contracts were terminated on September 5 this year.

Even the West Australian Minister for Sport is critical of his Federal Liberal counterpart for not continuing funding. Here’s what Mr Norman Moore, the WA Sport Minister, said:

"It would be a great tragedy and a folly if the Commonwealth pulled out completely [from OAP funding] because it would mean the structure was built for only one event. We’re going to have to prepare athletes for future Olympics. And there will be high public expectations for Australia in the Goodwill Games in 2001 and the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne."

Mr Moore is, on this occasion, totally right.

Because National Sporting Organisations have already set their budgets for the year based on the loss of the Olympic Athlete Program, we are already seeing the expertise that helped make Sydney our most successful international event ever, being lost overseas.

The Confederation of Australian Sport has also weighed into the sports funding issue. The Chief Executive of the Confederation, Mr Steve Haynes, said that: "there are a number of Olympic sports in this country that wouldn’t survive severe federal government funding cuts."

What this Government doesn’t understand is that the Olympics should not be just a one-off event. The massive investment in both infrastructure and human resources should ensure that Sydney 2000 provides long-term structural and social benefits across the nation.

It is therefore critically important to have both community-based and elite funding in place immediately.

In the first place, sports funding delivers immeasurable benefits in terms of national identity and national pride.

It provides a career path for athletes, coaches, and administrators. We are in an era of professional sport and if we want Australians to continue to compete in international events, then we must invest in our athletes and sporting programs.

The Prime Minister has been keen to bask in the glory of our Olympic success, however under the Howard Government, there have been massive cuts to the sports budget and the axing of 23 sports from the AIS.

What Mr Howard doesn’t understand is that you cannot simply manufacture elite athletes in a vacuum.

There is clear evidence that shows a direct relationship between sporting success and government investment. Great Britain demonstrated this at the Sydney Olympics, where increased investment by the Blair Government in both elite and community sport has reaped rewards both in terms of medals, international prestige, national identity and community-based sport.

There is no point in reaching the pinnacle of world sport if you do not use that achievement to build and create a lasting legacy that inspires and benefits the nation.

Yet we may face the perverse situation where Australians have achieved personal bests and won medals in Olympic sports which the Australian Sports Commission will have to cut-back or reduce because of lack of funds from this government.

Unlike the Coalition, the Labor Party believes that investing in both elite and community-based sport is of essential long-term benefit to Australia.

We have a proud record in sports funding and infrastructure. It was Labor that established ASDA, and it was Labor that created the current elite sports infrastructure that has overwhelmingly enhanced sport in this country. And it is the Labor Party that is committed to redressing the balance between elite and community sport that Minister Kelly has ignored.

There will be no Olympic legacy without continued investment in athletes, coaches, administrators and support staff.