The new restructure of the Australian Institute of Sport is a joke. Over 400 scholarships have been axed, 200-plus jobs are in limbo, multi-million dollar sporting facilities are becoming dust collectors and juniors with the dreams of attending a worldwide-known institute have been crushed.
All because of a less than stellar performance (mainly by the swim team) at the London Olympics.
The AIS was established in 1980 (officially opened Australia day 1981) due to poor performances by Australia at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games.
The following Olympic Games, Los Angeles 1984, saw Australia win 24 medals, seven coming from AIS athletes.
The following years (not including London) have seen AIS athletes win 978 Olympic (summer and winter), Paralympic and Commonwealth medals, proving a very successful relationship had been formed.
On the 30th of November 2012, Australian Sports Commission Chairman, John Wylie, dismantled that successful AIS/athlete relationship by launching Australia’s newest high performance plan, Australia’s Winning Edge 2012–2022.
Australia’s Winning Edge makes individual sporting organisations take full responsibility of their performances, finances, governance and programs.
This means each governing body gets to decide which athletes get funding to help them pursue their sporting dreams – if you’re number one in the world, you’re going to get what you want. If you’re not within the top 15 in the world, go get a day job.
If you’re a junior with a lot of raw, undiscovered talent, stay in school.
The AIS were excellent at giving budding athletes who came from very little an opportunity to succeed. This was the case for track and field Athlete with a Disability, Scott Reardon.
Reardon is a leg amputee (T42) who had been on scholarship for three and a half years. When he started, he did not have a lot of athletics experience and no proper running leg but, due to the support, belief and determination of AIS coach Iryna Dvoskina, he was given a chance.
“I worry the next person that comes along will not be given the opportunity to succeed like I was,” Reardon said.
With the guidance of his coach and the Institute, Reardon has become a Paralympic medallist, Australian champion and a world record holder.
In an occupation that can be lonely, the AIS created a family. Under 18s eagerly packed their bags and moved hundreds of kilometres away from home because they knew they would be at the best facilities in the country and constantly be supported once they got there.
What under 18 wants to do that now? Especially rural kids.
Only time will tell if tearing apart an important, proven, well-known Australian icon was worth it, but without a talent identifying and development program, where will the future generations of Australian champions come from?
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