Let’s get along

Fewer people who occupy this grand planet of ours are more misguided and wrong than those who believe that sport and politics don’t mix.

Every Olympics and every world cup is intrinsically political; whether it’s linked to tourism, social factors or, indeed, money.

Car racing was one of the first sports to chase and incorporate financial sponsorship into its space. That has morphed into the curious balance we have today, where one driver with more talent will get ignored in the wake of another driver whose dad just happens to own an oil company.

Earlier this week over the ditch, Brad Jones Racing unveiled the new paint scheme for Nick Percat’s Supercars Championship Holden Commodore that’s racing at the Australian Grand Prix this weekend. The livery was topped with a big Holden logo and the phrase: “Supporting equality.”

And boy oh boy didn’t it prompt a storm. Social media effectively became a write- off that afternoon, as attackers and defenders converged into one big hearty gumbo of half- formed arguments and hatred.

“Keep politics out of my sport” many said. Yet it is easy to recite a list of examples that drive against that loaded statement. Even then, I’m not sure this qualifies as politics. It’s sad; when the act of caring about friends, family, people is weighed down by such a complex term.