(Statement by Todd Deacon, General Manager, Sweeney Sports)
Almost half of all Australians support extra government funding of Olympic sports if it results in more gold medals being won.
And more than 40% believe that reduced government funding is being reflected in our athletes’ performances.
These results, from Sweeney Sports’ 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Report, give weight to comments last weekend by Australia’s head swimming coach, Alan Thompson, that swimming is in “dire straits” because of a lack of funding and that he is to hold crisis talks with Swimming Australia’s board.
The Report, widely regarded as Australia’s most authoritative Olympic sports and sponsorship survey, also shows that six of every ten people (63%) consider that good performances at the Olympics are important for Australia’s “sense of optimism”. Only one of every ten people (9%) doesn’t agree, one of every three (28%) having a neutral view.
The results, if applied to sport generally, indicate that although the current economic crisis makes the provision of extra funds for sport a difficult choice for governments, it could be an important step in boosting national morale.
Further, almost half (45%) agree that “the success of the Australian Olympic team really matters to me” with less than one in five (18%) disagreeing, about one of every four (37%) being uncommitted.
More government funding to achieve the success needed to meet the desire of more gold medals is supported by 49% of people, although more than one of every five (29%) oppose the opening of the public coffer to help our Olympic endeavours. The remainder – 29% - were uncommitted.
In other results from the post-Olympic survey:
- one of every four people (39%) supports more government funding if it means winning more medals than arch foe Great Britain at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
- four of every ten people (41%) agree that reduced funding is being reflected in performance, the same proportion being unsure with only 18% disagreeing.
- fewer than one third of the population (30%) agree that Olympic success motivates them to exercise – but a quarter (25%) say it does not.
To read more about this press release, please download the PDF by clicking on the link below.
For information about the Sweeney Sports Report, please contact Todd Deacon on todd.deacon@sweeneyresearch.com.au
