Two thirds of Australians now want the “divisive and insulting” welcome to country nonsense banned at sporting events, according to a poll (Dynata).

63% of respondents want it axed. Similar result to Albanese's Voice.

72% of 18-24 year olds want it gone.

64% of respondents agree that all sporting disciplines are too Woke. That's a 3% increase since 2022. And the same 18-24 year olds (80% of them) think that professional sports people are wrong to use their positions to trumpet their personal politics.

It seems that recent claims that that generation is conservative might be true. What a blow for the ageing lefties. Particularly as 81% of the 18-24 year olds said players who refuse to sing the national anthem should not be allowed in national sporting teams.

And yes, this information comes from the right-wing demons in the Institute of Public Affairs.

The malicious aura is along the same lines of being seen to clap loudly for your great leader or else. Also a bit like the McCarthy era in the US. Nasty and coercive.

I regularly go to sporting events, primarily AFL. There's little doubt the crowd are completely over the whole scam.

They trot the obligatory 'ABBAriginal; out to welcome everyone to 'our' country. But the crowd just ignores it, cheering the team, taking the opportunity before the game starts to visit the toilets of the pie shop. Few pay any attention.

My impression is that even the obligatory 'ABBAriginal' is bored by the whole charade and just goes through the motions in order to get the paycheck which is what its all about.

Fortunately I have never been subjected to the insult of being welcomed to my own country; and I would not put myself in a position where I would. It's easy for me. I've never been into mass entertainment, which means I can do what I believe is now necessary in this post-sanity country: avoid the nasty bits.

Their must be a lot of gritted teeth among those people who enjoy spectator sports. They dare not say anything. A couple of days ago, a person was arrested and charged for booing the "welcome". Who says the UK experience is not here already!

It's OK to boo an umpire or the opposing team. But you can't do it to some old abo muttering bullsh.t that was invented in 1970, and getting paid a couple of grand for doing it.

ttbn

Some think it wonderful, some hate it, but that is not the point. Like the Nazi salute, it is the authoritarian treatment of it that is insidious and revolting. The assumption of its enforcers is that everyone loves it, so what's your problem? Like the Nazi salute, if you don't tow the line there can be consequences for you.

Fester

It all comes back to the sameness of our politicians. We live in drab, meaningless times, with little hope of change.