Australian Sports Policy - Elite Sport and Sports Pathways - Essay Example

Sports Policy Analyses Student’s Name Institution Sports Policy Analyses Elite Sport and Sport Pathways Adoption of the elite sports policy implementation has been a major challenge to several countries. It requires initiatives from the governmental and non-governmental agencies to ensure growth in elite sports and monitoring sports pathways (Hoye, Smith, Nicholson, & Stewart, 2015). People appreciate the sport in various ways and for different reasons including maintaining a healthy and active life. Some love competing with friends while others aim at winning medals for their country. Whatever the motivation that individuals choose to be their pathways, sporting events have been encouraged by the Australian government. The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) has managed to come up with a framework that captures the different pathways more so for athlete development (Nicholson, Hoye, & Houlihan, 2010). It is referred to as FTEM (Foundations, Talent, Elite, and Mastery). FTEM integrates majorly three-sport participation outcomes including sports excellence, active lifestyle, and sports participation (Stewart, Nicholson, Smith, & Westerbeek, 2004). Therefore, it offers a practical way of assisting the sports stakeholders in constructing a more functional athlete as well as sports development system. The government had established the National Elite Sports Council (NESC) in 1993 that was to grant a platform for addressing issues of administration, communication, and state program harmonization in the entire national high-performance sports sector (Nicholson et al., 2010). NESC comprises of Australia’s key State Directors, National and Territory Institutes as well as Academies. The Australian government ensures that this policy is implemented through NESC, which offers daily training and creates a high-performance sporting environment for the athletes. It does provide financial support and contributes to building and maintenance of sports-related infrastructure (Jackson & Haigh, 2013). The government also liaises with other sporting organizations in the delivery of sport in the sector. It has incorporated the sporting activities in the calendar of schools and universities. It also supports peak sports bodies, participants, and advocacy groups that contribute immensely to the world of sports hence promote elite sports as well as sports pathways (Stewart et al., 2004). Sports Participation and Junior Sport The Australian sporting structure has been focusing on the high-performance success especially on the international platform though it has been confronted with numerous challenges as well. It has been difficult keeping up the momentum as time passes by since the participants become of age hence the need to encourage junior sporting events. The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) has been in the forefront pushing for more youth participation in the sporting events. It is a way of making sure that there will be continuity in the sports arena (Nicholson et al., 2010). Strategies developed include increasing the effectiveness and role of sport in the schools that will help in boosting the children participation in sports. National Sporting Organizations (NSOs) are required to focus on ways of engaging the ASC to provide funding to community clubs hence growing grassroots participation (Stewart et al., 2004). The government has empowered ASC to introduce measures that may address the factors hindering women participation, leadership, and advancement in sport. The government understands that the best move to increase participation of the Australian population in sports is by creating more opportunities for the children to take part in physical activity and sports (Stewart et al., 2004). There had been a national requirement for institutions to provide the allocation of a minimum of two hours for physical activity. There have been plans to provide NSOs with funds to improve participation at the community level as well as improving the participation outcomes. ASC has to work closely with all the relevant government sectors to ensure social inclusion and to increase opportunities for the Australians to participate in the sporting events including the disadvantaged and the marginalized (Nicholson et al., 2010). The strategy focuses on the supporting initiatives and activities, which maximizes the participation of all the Australians in sports irrespective of their religion, gender, ethnicity, or sexuality. Sport Betting Sports betting have taken the sector by storm hence the need to control the activities involved in betting. Australia Sports Betting (ASB) has come up with means of providing data, tools, news, and resources for the sport-betting enthusiasts (Hoye et al., 2015). The Australian betting market has grown significantly, and this growth is associated with the rise in the use of mobile phones and the internet as ways of placing bets. The faster growth including the pervasive adverts for sport betting services and products has made some games to be broadly associated with gambling (Jackson & Haigh, 2013). It has considerably increased the risks to the integrity of these events with the implications that results can be manipulated to generate money from the wagers. It has created the need to regulate the sports betting at both the state and federal level. Regulations on sports betting in Australia have been in practice since the passing of the Gambling Regulations Act in 2003 (Stewart et al., 2004). Gambling and Racing Legislation Amendment Act of 2007 has helped in approval of bet offers deemed to be appropriate only (Jackson & Haigh, 2013). It has assisted in curbing offers that are offensive, or pose integrity risk that would be unmanageable contrary to the public interest. The government together with the Australian sporting bodies has agreements with the operational betting agencies to reduce possibilities of corruption in the sporting contests. The sport controlling bodies and betting providers have to agree to help in safeguarding the integrity of the sporting contests (Hoye et al., 2015). Therefore, they are in a position to punish or prevent those who might influence the process to generate a winning bet. The government has taken steps in regulating betting activities with the intention of preserving the interests of the betting enthusiasts. Those of particular relevance include making sure that there is neutrality in all methods of betting, for instance, phones or the internet. There is a prohibition of micro-bets, and national sports bodies have been enabled to play a central role in ensuring the bets minimize the threat to sporting integrity. Sport Broadcasting Media coverage of the sporting events often helps in reaching out to several groups that could not have made it to the venues (Nicholson et al., 2010). It is a platform that should be used with care since it can market the country's sports or tarnish the image of the nation if the events are broadcasted in a bad light. Television coverage more so for women’s sport in Australia has been poor as compared to that of men. The Australian government has been in the forefront in ensuring that the women sports are improved. It has thus increased resources and funding to enhance media coverage of the Australian women’s sport. Relatively low cost and multiple entry points in the digital communications environment have helped sporting organizations to engage and reach a wider audience. A section of the Australian sporting organizations derives income through the sale of the sports media broadcast rights (Stewart et al., 2004). The government policy provides for licensing of such groups so that they also gain from increased public exposure, lucrative sponsorship, high levels of brand recognition and merchandise licensing opportunities. The ability of the sporting organization to attract or produce regular constructive mainstream media exposure is a key strategy for driving revenue and growth (Hoye et al., 2015). The government has been able to make sports programming a highly attractive service to the public as well as commercial broadcasters since it can offer mass audiences. Sports on pay television, free-to-air, and other on-line channels as well as a variety of mobile offer sports the chance to sell broadcast rights to other media organizations under license. Sports content have to be aligned with the interests of the viewers, and the government works closely with the licensing board to ensure all broadcasting groups abide by the agreed laws. The groups have to broadcast only those areas that they have rights, and any violation of the agreement is dealt with by the law. Drugs in Sport There is always pressure from the local and international sports bodies to do away with drugs in sports. The most affected sporting activity is athletics, and the Australian government is committed to offering the athletes with an even playground by fighting drugs in sports. The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) has been useful in implementing the anti-doping plans by coordinating as well as harmonizing the anti-doping initiatives (Stewart et al., 2004). It does this with the support from states, national sporting organizations, and territories. Prevention Action Plan and National Education were endorsed by the Australian National Council on Drugs and had helped in providing a comprehensive approach recognizing the significance of education, detection, prevention, and rehabilitation in successfully dealing with illicit drug use in the broader community and sports (Hoye et al., 2015). Those seeking to cheat in games by enhancing their performance using drugs can be sanctioned and barred from taking part in the sporting activities. Prohibited drugs are determined by following some provisions including its ability to enhance performance in sport, risk the health of an athlete, or the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) declares it violates the spirit of sport (Nicholson et al., 2010). The Australian government often allocates funds for anti-doping research in particular through the Anti-Doping Research Program to assist in identifying those breaking the set rules. It has been helpful in creating awareness among people in ensuring that a fair sports stage is enhanced throughout the country. ASADA has been working closely with WADA to help in curbing the spread of drug use among sportsmen (Stewart et al., 2004). It has helped in decreasing the number of doping cases in Australia, and further improvements are yet to be noted. Australia’s image has been improving after being embroiled in significant doping cases in sporting issues and controversies. Therefore, it has become crucial in championing the anti-doping slogan to other countries. Stadia and Events Sporting events have always to be planned in regards to the available stadiums. Facility management has to be regulated by the government to avoid conflicting event organization. Australian government came up with the Major Sports Facilities Authority, now commonly known as Stadiums Queensland (Nicholson et al., 2010). The body oversees and promotes the major events of the state as well as leisure facilities. Its establishment created uncertainty on who would lead the negotiations for stadium events. Australia being a sports-loving country, there are plenty of stadiums, sports, and entertainment venues such as Allianz Stadium, the Gabba, Manuka Oval, Adelaide Oval, and Canberra Stadium among others (Stewart et al., 2004). The sporting activities including tennis, cricket, rugby, soccer, as well as athletics, are displayed throughout the year at sporting venues in various parts of the country. The investments made by the government in sports are an indication that the returns are quite significant. ASC has the mandate of checking how the public funds are used to support sports facilities and events (Stewart et al., 2004). The government ensures to invest much in the sporting activities with the hope that it would gain more from the fees paid by those visiting the venues to watch the games. Sporting venues and events have been the major sources of tourism that to large extent contribute to the government revenue (Jackson & Haigh, 2013). The Australian government thus works with the tourism board to market the country. Individuals and groups visit Australia to see the historic rugby playing field used to host the Rugby World Cup. Australia became the first nation to come up with government owned events and agencies having highly trained staff who could identify, bid, and secure significant international events. It has been successful in hosting major world events including Commonwealth Games, Rugby World Cup, and Olympic Games (Stewart et al., 2004). The government has set its goals to develop and support games that will be able to generate substantial economic activities and raise the profile of Australia locally and abroad. Harassment and Discrimination Discrimination and harassment are at times experienced in sports majorly based on sexual harassment and racial discrimination. It is undesirable to subject a group or individuals to discrimination by treating them unfairly. Sporting activities do not require any form of unequal treatment so that the participants do not feel to be subjected to different conditions in the same competition (Hoye et al., 2015). Australia has laws that are aimed at protecting people from any form of discrimination at a State, Federal, and Territory level. The government understands that discrimination is iniquitous if it can lead to unfair treatment of players, participants, and other members in sport and recreation. The Australian government recognizes the role played by the state and national sports organizations, which enhance social inclusion thus benefitting all community members. The government also focuses on improving the opportunities for the physically challenged irrespective of their disability to take part in the grassroots and high-performance levels (Jackson & Haigh, 2013). It has been part of the Australian Paralympics Committee (APC) thus assisting the athletes with a disability to partake in the international competitions (Stewart et al., 2004). It has been increasing funding for identification of talents and exploring measures that will help the physically challenged to access sports pathways. The government has been focusing on women’s sports by establishing Women in Sports Awards, which recognizes the women who have shown exemplary performance in games (Stewart et al., 2004). There are efforts directed towards achieving positive outcomes for the locals both off and on the sports sector. It captures the interests of all the Australian inhabitants who can then choose the sporting activities to take part in at whatever level (Nicholson et al., 2010). The move has been helpful in enhancing national integration since all groups feel incorporated in sporting events. Those found to encourage discrimination or any form of harassment is held culpable and face charges of their action. Synthesis (Conclusion) Australian sports policy has been essential in growing the sports sector by encouraging participation, promoting elite sports, regulations of sports betting, sports broadcasting, stadiums, and events, eliminating drugs in sport, as well as discouraging harassment and discrimination. The seven policy areas form the basis for Australian sports policies that have seen a significant improvement in sports development. Elite sporting saw a surge in the number of people taking part in the sporting activities more so the youths enabling the government to adopt an incremental policy. Integrating sporting events in the educational calendar has made it possible to have pupils being groomed for the future sports activities. The growth in sporting events has enabled the gambling individuals to start investing in sports through betting. It is an indication that its influence is spreading everywhere. However, strict rules have to be put in place to regulate the betting process to avoid fraud and maintaining the integrity of the sporting activities; hence, the government’s transformative policy has had significant impacts. Media coverage is essential in advertising the sporting events, and the government has to encourage broadcasting of the activities to market it globally. The use of drugs has been creating a hurdle to the sports organizers, especially in athletics since it creates unfairness in the competition. It is thus appropriate to adopt strict rules to prevent the use of drugs in sports for those who want to gain a competitive edge. The Australian government is also in control of the stadiums and in so doing, it ensures equal opportunities are availed to all participants without harassment or discrimination. The most essential of all the policy problems is the use of drugs in sports. The field has attracted the attention of the international bodies. When the issues are dealt with, the country's reputation will be much better globally, and it would earn the sporting organizations a competitive edge. Australia will be respected on the global stage after its efforts towards eradicating drug use in sports are noted, and improvement realized. References Hoye, R., Smith, A. C., Nicholson, M., & Stewart, B. (2015). Sport management: principles and applications. London: Routledge. Jackson, S. J., & Haigh, S. (2013). Sport and foreign policy in a globalizing world. Oxford, UK: Routledge. Nicholson, M., Hoye, R., & Houlihan, B. (2010). Participation in sport: international policy perspectives. Oxford, UK: Routledge. Stewart, B., Nicholson, M., Smith, A. & Westerbeek, H. (2004). Australian sport: Better by design? The evolution of Australian sport policy. London, UK: Psychology Press. Read More