No favourite among Wimbledon finalists
AS John X said today, we are now having to choose who we least dislike to win at Wimbledon on Sunday.
Now, I don’t care.
Stewart Edwards Mount Stuart
SPEND ON PARTICIPATION
THE proposal for a $750 million stadium seating a large crowd to observe the physical activity of 36 individuals needs to be seen in the context of the choices we can make on how to spend public money.
The proposal to build a stadium should not be a choice to spend more on either the health budget or a stadium, but a choice between how we spend money on grassroots sport to reduce future health budgets.
“Health”, or rather disease treatment, already devours one-third of the total budget. Instead of AFL infrastructure, $750m could be spent on getting people, especially young people, active for life.
We should build and improve sporting facilities and make them freely accessible by eliminating charges and fees. For example, it costs $1500 per annum for a child to swim with a squad in Launceston, plus swim meet charges – hardly a fee that makes swimming widely accessible, despite Ariarne Titmus’s inspiration.
Some councils already provide free or subsidised access to sports facilities. This should be the norm, not the exception. We should provide training and support for people to get active habits.
Physical activity, especially with groups, has time and again been shown to make people happier and healthier and reduce public health costs.
So yes, let’s spend the money on sport, but not on sedentary observation. Spend it on active participation.
Malcolm Cowan West Launceston
FOOTBALL TOO TOP-HEAVY
GRASSROOTS football is suffering while millions of dollars are being promised and spent on stadiums, consultants and plans for a new Tasmanian football team to compete on a national stage.
The crowds at the local competitions is just one of the indicators that should be registering concern to the decisionmakers and those who have the power to make a difference to the way football is administered in Tasmania.
Another indicator that should raise concerns is the disparity between clubs at all levels in regard to fielding teams in all grades, with Glenorchy as an example. The scoreboard numbers at the end of each game across all grades should raise red flags to administrators.
The score difference in a recent mammoth record-breaking drubbing of the once powerhouse Glenorchy Club highlights a major concern that no one seems to be addressing.
Focusing on a new state team and million-dollar stadiums will not fix the grassroots issues that should be front of mind to the decision-makers and administrators of the under-resourced and volunteer-based football clubs in Tasmania.
The strategy used by the other sporting groups such as soccer and basketball are examples that are working well and are tried and proven.
The investment in these sports at the junior and grassroots levels has seen growth in participation, and with administration that is exceptional. If it can be done with these sports, why cannot the same be done for football?
Some football clubs are struggling financially, the volunteer numbers are diminishing, and to keep the enthusiasm up for players to attend training and playing when the team is beaten each week is an uphill battle
A major reset in the way football is managed in Tasmania is needed to be undertaken as a matter of urgency, as without a major injection of funds, expertise and a clear strategy that focuses on junior-level participation then we will see more of a decline in player numbers as they move to other sports that offer the support and conditions that are required.
Steve Balmforth New Norfolk
BACKING HEARTLANDS
WHAT an exceptionally well-presented article and open letter to AFL CEO Gil McLachlan by Bill Handbury in his Talking Point “Giving Tassie its own stand-alone AFL team is in best interests of the game” (Mercury, July 6).
If I may also add to Bill’s rationale and state if the 19th licence is an issue in terms of rostering, then issuing a 20th licence to the Northern Territory makes much sense and could be an absolute game-changer.
Given the proliferation of highly talented Aussie Rules players within the Indigenous community, this could take the game to another competitive level within the AFL. But ultimately if push comes to shove and a 19th licence gets the thumbs-up, the most deserving of all jurisdictions has got to be Tasmania. Chris Davey
Lindisfarne
SUN SETS ON GAMES
AFTER 92 years the sun is finally setting on the Empire/Commonwealth Games. Once the home for former imperial colonies to display their athletic prowess, these 2022 Games will be the last. In future they will revert to regional games with little status.
With the second Elizabethan era coming to an end, perhaps it’s time for Australia to withdraw and choose to participate in the next Asian Games. Harry Quick
Berriedale