By Paul
May 31st 2008 @ 2:32am
Loading ...Australia should clean up its backyard before hosting major sporting events
There would be few in Australia who would argue today that it was not a wonderful thing for Sydney to host the Olympic games in 2000.
I attended some events in Sydney and was there enjoying the atmosphere with hundreds of thousands of other Australians, alongside international visitors.
I had the pleasure of having my photo taken with a gold medalist. I was there in the main Olympic stadium cheering on our athletes towards the prize of a medal. I was there in Darling Harbour with 5,000 others watching Cathy Freeman win the 400m gold, and in tears knew that this was a great moment for reconciliation between Indigenous and European Australia.
But still there were some noises from the international media about Australia having human rights issues, because of the conditions that many indigenous Australians live in.
Some sports followers despise the connection of politics with sport. But to be a sports lover and to ignore politics is wrong. We can not enjoy ourselves while our brothers and sisters are suffering around us.
Once again, in an Olympic year, the issue of human rights has hit the headlines.
Chinese oppression of Tibetan monks and freedom protesters has caused a lot of controversy around the world. Olympic torch relays have been interrupted. Meanwhile, China has mostly deflected the international criticism and told the world to stay out of their internal matters. Effectively, we, the international community, have been told to “mind our own business.”
Many in Australia have joined the protest call for Tibetans to be given their democratic rights and choose their own path in the world. This point of view is the overwhelmingly correct political path to take. And I agree with this point of view.
But how is it, that we in Australia also managed to deflect much of the international criticism handed our way during the Sydney Olympics? Now it appears that the world doesn’t bother us too much, we are allowed to go our own way, for better or worse.
Quality of life for indigenous Australians has to be among our highest priorities in Australia.
We enjoy our sport in Australia and love nothing more than hosting a major international tournament. But what happens, the next time we host a major international sports tournament, such as a Football World Cup, and the life expectancy of indigenous Australians is still 17 years less than the rest of the population? The rest of the world will look on Australia again and call to attention our human rights problems.
Am I being pessimistic to say that the situation will not have improved by then? Time will tell, but money thrown at a problem does not usually solve it.
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(21)
NUFCMVFC said | May 31st 2008 @ 8:21am | Report comment
No problems with the Rugby or Cricket World Cups or Commonwelath Games eh Paul? Just the football World Cup….So now it has morphed from Rudd being bad for giving money to football and not throwing money into AFL in indiginous communities into Australia being bad for hosting the World Cup because there may still be challenges regarding trying to improve the situation regarding parts of the indigious population….I wonder what rubbish yand blackmailing tactic ou are going to try and come up with next in trying to discourage/stop investment in football and initiatives to host major football tournaments?
In all seriousness it would be an issue if we were trying to orchestrate their plight but even if it is slightly misguided or misaligned policy in some peoples views, at least we are trying to do something about it.
And besides, if there are issues still, it isn’t so bad having our imperfections shown, will prevent a “out of sight out of mind type attitude” and motivate the country to try and deal with it more
If anything, having someone like Jade North not only taking part ion a World Cup, but in a World Cup in Australia it can be argued could be a big motivational force for the indigionus population and a moment of reconciliation like Freeman winning was for many people
This is more about you not wanting there to be recognition and embracing of Football in this country, about you not wanting Football in Australia and the Australian Football community to flourish. THis happening would not be the death of AFL or anything. Deal with it.
Paul said | May 31st 2008 @ 9:24am | Report comment
NUFCMVFC
“Australian Football” is the name of a game codified in 1859. Your sport is called Soccer in this country. You may be able to get away with calling football, but you can not call it “Australian Football”, the name is already taken.
Who said I was ok with the Commonwealth Games or Rugby World Cup?
It is correct of the Rudd government to make strong steps towards healing indigenous communities. But remember the Rudd government came in with a large surplus, so even $718 millions is not very much money, and money itself is not the solution, actual policy and law changes, such as promoting indigenous language programs, promoting indigenous sporting programs etc will make a bigger difference.
It was all very convenient for the Federal government to come out with a big number and not actually tell us what they would do to solve the problems. The current Federal government are all talk and no solid action.
Kevin Rudd did not even know who Harry Kewell was, he just wants Australia to have a world cup, so that we will be noticed by the world, how despicable. So I argue that if we really want to be noticed by the world, it should be for reconciliation with Indigenous Australia, not for yet another major sporting tournament. How have any of the previous sporting tournaments helped indigenous Australia?
It seems to me that you spend too much time worshipping your precious football, and you would be in despair if Australia doesn’t get the world cup.
Is that all you care about?
Trevor said | May 31st 2008 @ 10:14am | Report comment
Sporting events and politics have always been odd bedfellows. Politicians always seem to align themselves with a prticular sporting club or code, for obvious reasons.
Personally I feel major sporting events show what can be achieved between races. You only have to look locally at our AFL and notice the respect our Indiginous players receive on and off the field, carrying themselves as well and in many cases better than any other player. Sure there are still racial slurs thrown around but when brought to the attention of the governing bodies are dealt with in a very public manner showing the disdain we hold for this kind of behaviour.
Surely any spotlight on this country, with the huge fan bases many international sporting events provide, can only be good for all.
“We Are One” and the sooner we all realise this the better off we’ll all be in sports and in everyday life.
Cpaaa said | May 31st 2008 @ 10:21am | Report comment
http://www.motherteresa.org/layout.html
dear paul,
i feel you have touched on something close to all our hearts and something we all think about regulary and not just when football is discussed. so i have attached a few links for you in order to help you decide for which charity or programm best suits you in order to get involved. After all, we can not always rely on gvernment funding to get what we want.
Great things are normally started by ordinary people that echo their voice thru others. Please refer to the motherteresa link above, I hope this lady gives you the inspiration for your humanitarian mission.
Cheers and glad to help
(you also have the name of a saint)
Cpaaa
http://www.footballnsw.com.au/index.php?id=92
http://www.rugbyleague.com.au/arl/community/indigenous.php
http://www.theage.com.au/news/Soccer/Game-woos-Aborigines/2004/12/18/1103312785145.html?from=moreStories
http://www.reconciliation.org.au/donate/
http://www.wunan.org.au
http://www.sistersofcharity.org.au/ministries/aboriginal.html
http://www.kirinari-acas.com.au/
http://www.aboriginalfund.riotinto.com/youth.aspx?ID=2-0&SID=2-3
Paul said | May 31st 2008 @ 10:29am | Report comment
Trevor,
I would surely hope that we can be One, as you say, so I agree with your sentiment. But until the facts line up and agree we have a lot of hard work to do. I don’t believe that pouring that effort into bidding for world cups is where Kevin Rudd should be placing his attention. He should be out visiting indigenous communities, without the media in tow, just like he said he would do. I get the impression that he just wants a media circus. Would he do anything if a camera wasn’t watching?
Once we have cleaned up our act and sought true reconciliation then we can truly aim higher for such goals as World Cups and Olympics together as One. But I can’t see how we can honestly do this before hand. It is time to be serious and stop the inequity.
Dave said | May 31st 2008 @ 12:25pm | Report comment
Paul
“I don’t believe that pouring that effort into bidding for world cups is where Kevin Rudd should be placing his attention. He should be out visiting indigenous communities, without the media in tow”
So a Federal Govt has time to deal with one issue at a time only?? Err dont they deal with a myriad of issues on a daily basis? You may argue how well do they deal with them but surely a country that espouses to be a world player can have more than one issue on its plate.
A WC in Australia may well be the vehicle where Indigenous Australians receive greater acknowledgement in a sporting sense with one (Jade North) and perhaps others in the squad. I think that is your real problem with having the WC in Oz. It may take some of the attention away from the indigenous game and show Indigenous Australians that there are opportunities to play a different brand of football, one which is played around the world. To highlight the world game to them in a way they have never seen (in person). Some may actually like what they see.
Joe O'Sullivan said | May 31st 2008 @ 12:49pm | Report comment
Paul I suspect you more than most understand that sin has entered the world & none of us are immune from it. Australia like every other country must wrestle with injustice & inequality. However this should never prevent us from seeking to host the world whether it be a sporting, cultural or humanties event. As someone once said to me – we are never going to think our way into a new way of living, we must live our way into a new way of thinking.
Paul said | May 31st 2008 @ 1:10pm | Report comment
Dave,
You talk like indigenous Australians have somehow had less opportunity to hear about soccer than you have. Why would that be?
Aboriginal people have tvs too, they know about the world. It sounds a little like you are saying “if only Aboriginal people were educated properly, then they would have the choice to play soccer too, it’s only fair, they deserve the chance.”
I am arguing that white Australia has allowed Aboriginal cultures to be oppressed for 200 years now, and that it should be the HIGHEST priority on all governments’ agendas to work hand in hand with Aboriginal community leaders to bring about reconciliation, spiritual and physical healing.
And yes I am saying, no to a cricket world cup, no to any new international sporting events that require bidding, until the solutions have been found and worked through. I have given up my desire for a cricket world cup, will you give up your desire for a football world cup?
The effort needed to bid for a world cup will be immense, Kevin Rudd has said as much, “we need to put our shoulder to the wheel”….. “This will be a marathon of all marathons, it is going to be tough as hell”….. “We’ve got a huge challenge ahead which is to get behind soccer for the 2018 World Cup.”
We don’t hear the same sentiment from Kevin Rudd on the issues facing Aboriginal communities, “this will be the marathon of marathons”. If Kevin Rudd had called the “Close the Gap” policy program the “marathon of marathons” and the bid for the world cup a “very long race” then perhaps I might agree with you more. But Rudd has used superlatives to talk about his desire to see soccer succeed (i.e “to take this code through the roof”) but never done the same for Indigenous communities. He has simply thrown money at the situation and walked away.
A Prime Minister needs to be working on the MOST important of issues. If he left the world cup to the sports ministers that would be one thing, but instead he is putting his personal efforts into the world cup and leaving Indigenous Affairs to Jenny Macklin. It should be the other way around, he should be working hand in hand with Jenny Macklin and contributing the baulk of his attention to Indigenous Affairs whilst leaving soccer to cabinet ministers such as Simon Crean, the minister for Trade or Stephen Smith, minister of foreign affairs, or a committee of sports ministers from the states.
Rudd’s sentiments speak of the world cup being far too high on his list of priorities and Indigenous affairs too low.
Paul said | May 31st 2008 @ 1:44pm | Report comment
Cpaaa and Joe Sullivan,
Thanks for both of your comments, I really appreciate them. As I have spent time on this website I have debated with lots of people and come to see other’s perspectives more and more. I have had to acknowledge to myself that of course people have as much right to enjoy soccer or Aussie rules or cricket or any other sport. In many ways, sporting activities are neutral. I have enjoyed some of the debating and detested some of it. Some people are more willing to open their minds up than others.
I guess I paint a black and white picture at times, and of course there are often greys. But I like to shock people by pointing out the contrast and problems that exist.
I ask myself, would I prefer my government to spend hundreds of millions or indeed billions on hosting another sporting event that the world will forget about a few weeks after it happens? Am I happy that my Prime Minister is spending so much of his time on another major event? We all know that Australia has hosted way more than its share of major sporting events in the world. We also know that we probably spend too much money on Olympic sporting events so that we can have lots of gold medals to be proud of. But all of these sporting accolades are temporal and secondary to the very real needs of the roughly 200 indigenous nations of Australia.
I would like to put aside my own desires for these major events. (It’s a little late in that we have recently hosted the Olympics, Commonwealth Games and a Rugby World Cup.) It seems that the FIFA World Cup is the last event that we have not hosted- and that as we are so sporting mad in Australia we want to have our cake and eat it too. But this is all a little greedy. Perhaps as Australians we are placing our love for “spectating sport” over far more important priorities.
I am not suggesting that we give up sport. In fact, we would probably all do better if we played a little more sport than watched.
I am suggesting that we as a nation take a “cultural fast” from bidding for major sporting events, especially considering that we have had more than our fair share in the last ten years, even to a gluttunous level.
“Is this not the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the wanderer with shelter-
when you see the naked, to clothe them
and not turn away from your own flesh and blood?
….
If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noon day.
The Lord will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.”
-the prophet Isaiah
This text above is not a threat, that if we do the wrong thing, that calamity will befall us. It is the opposite. It is a promise, that if we do the right thing, then our “sun scorched land” of Australia will become “like a well watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”
If I have to choose between a world cup and setting the oppressed free, I know what I will choose.
Some may not see this as a choice at all, fair enough. I guess I see things a little differently. I do see it as a choice. Why? Because, our country in many ways is still behaving the way we always have. Sport is our god in Australia.
It’s time for a change.
NUFCMVFC said | May 31st 2008 @ 1:48pm | Report comment
Paul
No of course it isn’t the only thing I care about, Governments often have to do many things, putting everything down just to focus on one issue is not practical, best case scenario is that they continue to find effective solutions helping the inigenous population overcome their current challenges while facilitating the interests of Australia in other regards as well
I think, as your repeated articles trying to find excuses not to host the FOOTBALL World Cup is more reflective of the fact that one of the only things you seem to care about is Australia NOT hosting the World Cup because of a despicable attitude you have where Australia remains isolationist and there can continue to be a xenophobic disregard to our sport, you are even willing to stopp towards using the unfortunate plight of the indigenous population towards this argument
It is called Football in the world, including other countries and teams who we are in the same competitive competitions as and you have to respect that, if you want to distinguish use Association or International Rules football and Australian Rules football
The first thing that Rudd did was the apology, that to me obviously signifies that Aboriginal Affaris is a high priority, this is more about you wanting “Soccer” to continue to be some kind of minority sport or after thought which is usually delegated off to some minor Minister at best and continues to be ignored because of your prejudice, it is more about the fact that you can’t hack the fact it is now mainstream and now an importance facet for the nation, as symbolised by the Prime Ministers involvement in significant announcements and initiatives etc because you want it to be like the old days and you see Football emergence as some kind of threat to AFL, oh of course, putting all thes AFL facilities will be the big saviour of the indiginous population and the Govt shoudl be doing this instead of putting money into a World Cup. World Cup and Football is important for the local community as much abotu international recognition. Funny how you have somehow said you are against all international comps, yet it is the FIFA World CUp bid that has got you writing articles, if it was an AFL World Cup you wouldn’t be writing about it, if AFL was able to hold such things…
Paul said | May 31st 2008 @ 1:57pm | Report comment
NUFCMVFC
Currently I am living in Siberia, which is a heck of a lot less comfortable than Australia, working to reduce the oppression of Siberian indigenous peoples. I do have a deep concern for indigenous peoples the world round and I am not using indigenous issues, I am “highlighting” them.
What do you think about my premise that perhaps we have already had more than our share of major world sporting events?
Joe O'Sullivan said | May 31st 2008 @ 2:28pm | Report comment
Paul
thanks for the passage from Isaiah – not the usual text to be found on Roar. Perhaps I could suggest that Govts & nations can promote sport & justice at the same time i.e. it need not be a case of one or the other. Certainly we must make every effort to get our priorities right, especially when it comes to allocating funds. What we do is important – but what is more important are the reasons we do them.
Cpaaa said | May 31st 2008 @ 3:01pm | Report comment
paul
i think maybe you should write a letter to Andrew Dimitriou and ask,
” now that the kangaroos said no to 100mil to play on another field in australia, maybe he can contribute some change into a humanitarian mission. ”
paul im not saying you dont have a point, there is suffering all over the world and it dosnt just happen in indigenous areas.
you as a person could do a lot more then bark at federal governments via a sporting website. you could have posted the same article via an afl site regarding 100million dollars rejected by the roos to relocate. where is the madness…
i think you are just looking for a way to upset fans of the world game, thats not cool especially when afl is talking of a billion dollar tv deal. that makes australias indigenous game sitting pretty rosy.
Michael C said | May 31st 2008 @ 10:41pm | Report comment
I often felt during the Apartheid era that Australia was a tad lucky to avoid scrutiny. At least in Sth Africa, the racist system was legistlated – - it was a little more ‘honest’ to the world. It was – for want of a better phrase : ‘Black and white’.
Austraila – - we were guilt of ignoring our indigenous population, of ignoring their plight, their issues and assuming that giving them the vote was good enough.
I’ve heard an indigenous acedemic point out that becoming ‘citizens’ was actually bad, because it provided access to welfare for doing nothing, and that was the start of the rot.
I’d like to think we’ve come a fair way since the 70s when the likes of Graeme Pollock and Clive Rice were forced into a cricketing wilderness – - whilst the Chappells forged themselves into cricketing imortality.
And – - even as then, I always prefer sports to be above politics – - and, hope that actually by – for example – playing in Zimbabwe – that in doing so, the awareness (over the length of a tour) that is created is more beneficial than a quick debate and decision NOT to go.
Paul said | June 1st 2008 @ 12:58am | Report comment
Cpaaa, Joe Sullivan, Michael C,
The more I discuss with people on this website the more I understand the broad scope of public opinion. I can hold my opinions, but I need to be able to find a way to communicate them in such a way as people understand them. Now some people may become offended by me on here, so be it. But it is far better that I understand the broad scope of opinions before I go to talk to people like the AFL or MPs and make a fool of myself. Through robust debate on here it gives me a chance to refine my thoughts and focus on the points that people will identify with. Like I said, I have painted a very black and white picture, but am fully aware that the solutions are in shades of grey.
I appreciate your willingness to dialogue with me. It is far better to discuss these topics than not. It still does amuse me to a point though, how much of a “sacred cow” soccer is to some people. I tend to think that is a little unhealthy though. But hey, I am continually getting a better perspective of how people think.
Thanks,
Paul.
Lazza said | June 2nd 2008 @ 5:37pm | Report comment
Paul,
Rugby League people call their sport Footie as well, can become quite confusing. The ‘Australian Rules’ name doesn’t appeal to me either. Why don’t we just call it “Australian Football” like American Football and Gaelic Football.
Soccer isn’t a “sacred cow”, we are passionate sports fans who just want to see our country succeed in the biggest comp on the planet. I thought it was a no-brainer but some people just don’t care and I respect their opinion.
A lot of working people in this country have come to believe that their problems stem from those worse off than themselves, refugees, welfare recipients and aboriginals getting everything. Sounds crazy but most most radio stations and current affairs shows would go out of business if they didn’t pander to that ignorant attitude.
We’ll have to change people’s hearts before we can change their minds.
Paul said | June 2nd 2008 @ 10:08pm | Report comment
Lazza,
The problem I have with “wanting to see our country succeed in the biggest comp in the planet” is that we as Australians draw too much of our self esteem from what we perceive the rest of the world thinks of us. It is very important to Australia that the rest of the world notices us, we hate being left out at the end of the world. So we have this belief that we can make the world notice us by performing well at sporting events. This is why we spend so much money on Olympic athletes. But the problem is that the world still doesn’t notice us, even when we win.
The soccer (it is not unreasonable to call it soccer, as it is simply an abbreviation of the word Association) world cup, is the next big mountain that we see in front of us. But what happens when we win the world cup? (I do actually think Australia is quite capable of winning, it’s how we approach our sport). Does that then mean that mountain will be enough? Will we have to actually come first at the Olympics over all for the world to notice us? (Will they still even care less?) Or will we have to take up ice hockey or baseball so we can win those games too?
I honestly think that we have an inferiority complex as the nation of Australia. Our country struggles with self esteem issues. For the longest time, people have not been interested in soccer. But when people think there is a chance of going further in the world cup, the interest levels rise. I wonder if we would have the self esteem to not care?
Mark my words, when we win the soccer world cup, there will still be a void, it won’t be enough.
Paul said | June 2nd 2008 @ 10:12pm | Report comment
P.S Lazza,
Rugby people call their sport footy because it is the local code of dominance. If soccer is ever the dominant football code in Australia, then it will have earnt the title of football. But until then to save confusion preference goes to the dominant local code. This means that Aussie Rules can not be generically called footy in Sydney.
Michael C said | June 3rd 2008 @ 5:59am | Report comment
Lazza -
the official law book is “The laws of Australian Football”,
the game is “Australian Football”,
the major league, appropriately is “The Australian Football League”
alas, for poor misguided or ignorant souls – - “Aussie Rules” has become a bit of a recogniseable nickname – - a bit like soccer.
And, fair enough, ‘football’ is a generic term.
We just don’t like soccer folk coming along claiming they represent the ‘australian football community’. They don’t. And it’s rude and arrogant to for them to NOT consider the issue properly.
And, so many soccerheads have claimed that ’soccer’ is an Americanism designed to repress the game……..quite clearly false. We know ’soccer’ is a Brits own invention to refer to Assocation Football by a simpler name, in the same manner as ‘Rugger’.
The fact that one of the most respected soccer magazines in Britain (just ask Les Murray what he thinks of his 1st edition copy – seemingly one of his most prized possessions) – - ‘World Soccer’. So – - there’s been a whole lot of bluff and bluster as either ignorant or agenda driven soccerphiles endeavour to claim the word ‘football’ for themselves in the Australian context.
Recently, I did a quick and random survey of newspaper websites from places such as US, Canada, NZ, Ireland, Scotland, England, Australia – - -and,overwhelmingly, in the English speaking world, these newspapers had ’soccer’ as the tab header in their sports sections. Why? Because, especially where there are multiple codes of ‘football’, then, ‘football’ is a too ambiguous and generic term.
I’ve often wondered if Sydney folk call RL ‘footy’ to either distinguish it from Union – - or, to attempt to have a VFL/AFL equivalent, as, most Rugby people I’ve known don’t really call it ‘footy’, and are quite happy calling it ‘Rugby’, but, most of those people are Union people first.
Paul said | June 3rd 2008 @ 7:16pm | Report comment
Michael C,
And we get accused of gross bias and arrogance.
david said | June 25th 2008 @ 3:44pm | Report comment
Sorry… but what is the link between NOT hosting such a sporting event and the improvement in indigenous lives?
It also seems to me that you can point to any country and find a multitude of issues that face various groups. As such, not holding an event on this basis would appear to be spurious reasoning.
Finally, I might add that it appears only sport is ever a target for this type of campaigning. Why is this? Taking your arguments further, should the world chess championships not be held in Russia because of the suffering of the Siberian Indigneous?
PS I have been to Siberia and will say that only russians could screw up something so pristine.