The most important trophy to Australia is …

 
The Crowd Roar Pro

By old goalie, 10 Aug 2008 The Crowd is a Roar Pro

Tagged:
 , , , , , , , , ,

677 Have your say

Related coverage



As a tax payer for some time now I believe I’m entitled to a say in where my tax dollars are being spent in terms of sport funding.

According to the Athletics Australia website: “in the financial year 2006/2007, the Australian Government had committed an unprecedented amount – $204.549 million – to the Australian Sports Commission.”

That’s a lot of moolah.

It also says: “Of this figure, a total of $125.457 million was committed to high performance sport in 2006/2007.”

Now I think I’m okay with $125 million being directed at high performance sport. I’m hoping that means sports most of us participate in, watch and play it.

What worries me is that $125 million is going to non high-performance sport. What in blazes does that mean?

I’m funding walkers? Or archers? Or the redevelopment of Brookvale Oval?

So if I’m going to have my say in where my money, and your money is being spent, I think it should go to the trophies most important to Australia.

But what are the most important trophies to Australia?

I’ve made a quick list and divided them into trophies we don’t have (and therefore are the highest priority) and trophies we have won but must retain regularly.

Let’s start with those we’ve won.

The Ashes is obvious, but it’s safely within our grasp for the foreseeable future, bar the occasional and unlikely upset. Maybe a little bit to fund the original urn’s travel to Australia, and a little ornate building to house it in, somewhere in the Botanical Gardens.

The Bledisloe Cup is one trophy which has to be won and also retained for extended periods. Some money would be well directed with the aim of retention. While the Rugby World Cup is arguably more prestigious, the winning of it doesn’t quite match the feeling of beating the Kiwis at the game they define themselves by.

All four tennis Grand Slam trophies must be a high priority – in particular the Australian Open – as well as the four Golf Majors, starting with the Masters.

Olympic track and field Gold Medals, especially a Men’s 100 metre sprint Gold Medal, is worth a go.

A men’s or women’s Marathon Gold is achievable.

A men’s heavyweight boxing Gold Medal would also look good in the national pool room.

But the trophy we should go after the hardest, and direct most of our resources to, has to be the Football World Cup.

The Jules Rimet Trophy is undoubtedly the most prestigious trophy in the world, and the winning of it should be our nation’s top priority.

About one hundred million a year should do it.

And then whatever is left over goes to the kiddies.

Love this article? Nominate it for The Roar’s Armchair Sports Writer Award. Or vote now for this week’s nominated articles.

Enjoy sports? Enjoy a bargain? All Sports Online has your favourite sporting brands at up to 70% off. Online only, premium quality sporting goods and merchandise at discounted prices. Get a deal now.

Get a daily other sports email

Our daily emails are only sent if there is content for the sport. You can subscribe to multiple daily emails; or get the daily Roar email with all our content in it.

We value privacy. More.