I think the world needs some sort of regular event like the Olympics that raises people's sights a bit and gets them interested in improving themselves. I very much agree with the idea of athletes paying back their government-funded sponsorships (just the like HECS scheme) when they reach a certain income threshold. If it's good enough for students, it's good enough for athletes.

But, for mine, the funding of Olympians and elite athletes in general gets back to fairness. Is it fair that an elite sportsman like Tiger Woods, say, gets paid $3 million for essentially coming here and living out his hobby for a week? An ordinary worker that has never been interested in elite sports not only would have to spend a lifetime working to amass $3 million, but his taxes are being used to subsidise the elite sportsmen for simply making an appearance in an activity that he (the worker) has never been interested in! It's an obvious and much-asked question, but where's the justice in that??

It's pretty sad that we even have to ask the question.

The Olympic movement was for many years open only to amateurs. That is, they didn't get paid to compete. This set them apart from professional sportspeople, who were in fact a branch of the entertainment industry, and paid as such.

Governments began to get involved when it became clear back in the Cold War years that the USSR. East Germany etc. provided their athletes with facilities, state-sponsored coaches etc., effectively turning them into professionals, that gave them an advantage.

Typically, instead of insisting that this was contrary to the Olympic spirit, all the other countries clambered onto the same bandwagon, and the entire operation became driven by money.

Once that had been assimilated into the fabric, it simply became a competition between sports, how much they were able to milk from the taxpayer to achieve their own personal goals.

And at that point they, too, became just another TV show.

And the gravy train, once in motion, took on a life of its own.

I noticed on the news that even archery, of all sports, has the same cargo-cult mentality, complaining that they would be unable to bring home Olympic bacon without a massive injection of our money.

For heaven's sake. All you need is a field, a target, and a bleedin' bow and arrow.

A couple of meat trays down the pub should cover it.

So ave atque vale, Olympic Games. I hope our government sticks to its guns, and puts every cent into the grass roots of the sports in question, and gives not a cent to an aspiring television star - errr, Olympic competitor.

The questions we need to ask ourselves -
is what's important to us as a nation?
Naational Pride? Being part of the global
scene? Having an international reputation
as a sporting nation?

I was under the impression that for all
athletes the highest achievment was winning
gold at the Olympics. This was considered
the pinnacle - the reason they went into
the sport in the first place - to compete
and be the best that they could be.

If countries like Korea, Spain, and others, that
aren't noted for their wealth, can
take pride in being able to host the Olympics.
We have to decide if we want to compete on the
international level and give our athletes something
to aim for - or not. And, if we seriously think
that it's all a waste of money - then perhaps
entire corporate sponsorships may be an avenue - we
could look into.

It is the reporting by the Oz (so, so Oz) media that is wrong with the Olympics. If I never, ever, hear the 'Ozzie, Ozzie, Oi, Oi, Oi' again it will be too soon.

Thank goodness that Norman May, the inventor of the phrase 'winning gold' in lieu of 'winning gold medals' is long gone.

There needs to be public pressure for the wretched Oz media to lift their game and the first thing they might do is sack all of those ex-racing commentators who drag the cameras to the boxing and swimming.

I used to think they were one-eyed reporting only Australian wins, but now I reckon a lot of it is laziness and saving bucks - which is also why the 'crikit' goes on and on and on for hour after gloomy hour - cheap reporting.

I agree that there's benefit in maintaining the tradition of a global sporting competition like the Olympics, even though I never watch it myself. It unites all nations, if briefly, and it's an opportunity to showcase the hosting country to the rest of the world.

I'm all for some government support of Olympian standard athletes, but I agree with the report just out that the amount of money needs to be scaled back. I think I heard at the time of the last Olympics that one gold medal cost Australian taxpayers $17 000 000, but I might have that wrong. The figure whatever it was would be higher now.

I also like the idea of athletes paying back the money, as with HECS, once their earnings reach a certain level.

Taxpayer support of sport should be spread widely, and aimed at maximising participation amongst the general population, with an eye to the health and social benefits to be derived for all, rather than funnelling it into the ever improved performance of a small elite.

Australia should be able to participate in the Olympics without having to beat our medal count every year. We are a small nation after all and we do have a lot of other needs for that funding.

For the record I have played sport (if rugby's a sport) competitively. even played in district 'A' grade final albeit one game and as a last minute sub. Also a pretty fair cross country runner.
Sorry Hasbeen, more leaping prejudices.

IMO competitive sport is ritualised violence and not worth worth the effort.
Two of our four children carry life time injuries due to being encouraged at school to stretch beyond their abilities to win some momentary victory. A little research has shown that they're fate isn't that uncommon.

NB. Callisthenics, fun are one thing but go to a school sport final and watch the 'Animalised' parents lose the plot. Not the one or two but in large numbers.

Listen to some of the parents perform after their child loses. "You'll have to train harder ... put your heart into it ....when I was your age I...I.." Bollocks.

Or the half-time pep talk "get out there and CRUSH the opposition....kill them ..its for the honour of the school" and Bollocks again.

Do you really want your children to emulate footy boys? I encouraged them to look to the real achievers scientists etc.

What you don't hear about are the life time injuries most suffer, for what I ask.

What's so great about watching your child having the crap out of them or they doing it to someone else's child. A few days of fame for a probable lifetime of pain or perhaps brain damage ?

Explain to me how sports persons change overseas opinions of us. Put us on their map....nah. It's only when we put an Olympics on that that happens. And most host's recently have finished up with a financial hangover.

Sorry foxy, I remain unconvinced that the $120million+ of TAX PAYERS money couldn't be better spent on them.

Clearly if you want to watch it then pay for it. Fair enough but don't use my tax contribution I'd rather it is used to he solve a national problem the Murray Darling etc. or the homeless.
Business is business, Elite sport is business and govt. should NOT be involved.