Australian sport may be on the cusp of change

The Independent Sport Panel Report, set up to look into sports funding, was published in Australia last week, prompting debate and speculation for the future of sport in the country. Many in the sector believe the report will prompt changes in the way sport is funded and administered in Australia.

John Coates, President of the Australian Olympic Committee, criticised the report, and several elite sports people have joined Coates' calls for sustained funding to Olympic level sport. Other commentators have welcomed the recommendations, challenging commonly held beliefs that Australians benefit from funding high performance athletes. Such positions call for more resourcing of sport at a participation level rather than performance level.

Key recommendation areas in the report are:

Defining Australia's national sports vision

Reforming the Australian Sports Commission to lead the sports system

Merging Australia's institutes of sport

Building the capacity of Australia's national sporting organisations

Putting sport and physical activity back into education

Building community sport with people and places

Ensuring Australia's sports system is open to all

Sustaining the funding base for sport

Australians now await a Government response to the recommendations.