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The Price of Australian Gold Soars
Going for Gold but at what cost?
Taxpayers have forked out $16.7 million through direct federal grants for each of the 13 gold medals won by Australia's Olympic team in Beijing.
For a country of 20 odd million people who bitch about taxes, petrol prices and Government waste at every opportunity, we seem more than willing to fork out a lot of money for an Olympic Gold Medal.
The individual and team performances are incredible and deserve generous support. However it's also valid to ask where the dollar pissing competition ends.
2 comments
It's only going to get worse, GB's ascent on the medal table is a direct result of core investment in facilities. Countries will no doubt be upping the stakes over the next four years.
Personally, I think that as long as there are benefits to the community at large such investment is good. The Manchester velodrome where all Britain's gold medal cyclists are trained is a top notch facility for the public as well as being part of a wider investment in the community. It shouldn't be about putting money in the athletes' pockets, there's an opportunity to promote health and exercise nationwide.
In England a lot of that money, the majority of it, came from the National Lottery, which is a direct tax on the clueless.
Australia is, rightly or wrongly, known as a sporting nation. I don't know where the millions of dollars went to but I would hope they had a wider effect.
Personally, I think that as long as there are benefits to the community at large such investment is good. The Manchester velodrome where all Britain's gold medal cyclists are trained is a top notch facility for the public as well as being part of a wider investment in the community. It shouldn't be about putting money in the athletes' pockets, there's an opportunity to promote health and exercise nationwide.
In England a lot of that money, the majority of it, came from the National Lottery, which is a direct tax on the clueless.
Australia is, rightly or wrongly, known as a sporting nation. I don't know where the millions of dollars went to but I would hope they had a wider effect.
Kevin Rudd is tinkering with the idea of a Olympic Lottery based on the UK model as well.
The Sydney Games left us with a Stadium that's almost a white elephant but was a fun town to be in while the games were on.
Sports Administration is going through a shake up to get rid of duplicated Federal and State admins etc.
I really like what I hear about the London Games and the "spread it around town" idea for the opening celebrations.
The Sydney Games left us with a Stadium that's almost a white elephant but was a fun town to be in while the games were on.
Sports Administration is going through a shake up to get rid of duplicated Federal and State admins etc.
I really like what I hear about the London Games and the "spread it around town" idea for the opening celebrations.
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