Dear Saul,

You are on the right track. It's all about "give them bread and circuses." These are the modern Roman Empire's gladiator fights. Politicians love events like the Olympics because it distracts the common people from the ruin politicians visit on the country.

I disagree there is nothing wrong with public funding of (professional) sport. It is a disgrace. It is worthy of criminal charges when there is wastage of billions of dollars of public funds on useless circuses like the Olympics and other pro sports.

Media moguls also like sport, because they agree with the principle of "give them bread and circuses" (corporate purchasing of politicians is a goal) and it's dirt cheap. They don't need to spend money on any real journalism or TV broadcasting.

When Australia lost ashes it prompted me to think about the role that sport plays in Australia and particularly how we project ourselves onto the international scene. I agree with Saul in that I am a sports fan, but should we continue to seek world domination in sport? We have spent a lot of money and got a lot in return; however, that does not mean that if we double the amount spent we will get double the results, the law of diminishing returns must set in. Also if England really want to they could dominate cricket, rugby or netball, they have more people and money than us. For that matter so could India.
I feel that last Century we have used cricket to inflict some power over England, we could not do it diplomatically and in the two world Wars our forces were usually under British Control. The same with the USA, they dominated our War effort in WW2 and dominate our current foreign policy but we used to get back at them through tennis and sailing; although the Europeans have taken those over in recent times.
Over the next 50 years Australia must focus on excellence in other spheres, education,science and industry. We are not world leaders in these areas, but will need to be or somewhere near it.
In the movie the "fog of war" RS McNamara said that "none of our allies supported us in Vietnam" I was surprised as I thought that Australia did, but it occured to me that we are not a US ally we are a client State. To be a real ally will take committment on a number of fronts. Sport won't do it.

When as many people tune in to watch opera as watched the AFL grand final or the NRL grand final or the Olympics, then maybe you might get some funding.

Till then, try climbing down from your ivory towers, taking the silver spoons out of your mouths and joining the rest of us in the real world.

This article is typical of the latte sipping Left and why they fa il to connect with real people at elections.

Surely the most logical and fair thing to do would be to eliminate all taxpayer funding of both sport and the arts. Leave it all to the market.

Being realistic, neither sport nor art is as critical to our daily lives as transport, water, communications, electricity etc., are they? But we happily encourage the government to donate to the private sector our birthright in roads, airports, telephone lines and power suppliers, don't we?

Let's have a little consistency here, people. Cut funding to sport and the arts, build some dams and roads, why don't we?

Market-driven sport will in any event be pretty much as we see it now, with the difference that the minor sports (read: uncommercial) will become even more marginalized, and have to be funded entirely by the participants themselves. There will be a tad more product placement and a tad less personal involvement, but otherwise, business as usual.

And the arts... what will happen to them?

The big events such as opera, symphony concerts and to some extent theatre will continue, but perhaps a little leaner and meaner. Oddball projects will pretty well disappear, except those that can be gathered together under the banner of a sponsored "culture festival".

Let's face it, the biggest difference of all will be that the masses of hangers-on, who currently have their little snouts firmly in the seemingly bottomless trough of our money, will disappear. Armies of administrators and consultants will fade into the unemployable queue, leaving the field open for the real sportspeople, and the real artists. Abolishing the Arts Council would be a highly productive start.

Bring it on.

'The latte sipping left'
Haha, I love this guy!

I think you've got the cart before the horse, Brent. With more funding and more visibility, various arts would get a lot more attention.

If you picture the opera when you picture 'the arts', then you have a very close minded view on the subject. Did you know (gasp) that the arts include things like TV dramas and comedy??

Who do you think, seriously, over history, has contributed more to society? Artists or sportspeople? Remember, artists include, but are not limited to: painters, writers, directors, musicians (and drummers), actors, comedians, sculptures, poets, dancers and photographers.

Artists create philosophies, politics, develop cultural ideals, and so on.

Sportspeople hawk deodorant.

Ok, a few artists lend their name to a product too, but they don't count as artists once they've done that. That's a different issue. Am I rambling? I'm bored. Night everybody.

spendocrat, etc , please don't dismiss sport, it's uplifting and exciting for red blooded Australians and healthy for kids and most participants . those public funded role models can make a positive difference .
A possible gold medal for Rupert and the VB ceo , you are joking ! how much untied money have they given to sport and the health of our nation ??