Issues in sport

Prof Leigh Robinson

Presentation content

• The sport industry• Commercialisation• Popularity of sport• Integration into the health agenda• Engaging youth• Funding elite sport• Sporting legacy• Drugs and doping• Security

The sport industry

• Highly competitive• ‘Closed’ pool of customers• Little opportunity for differentiation

• A discretionary industry

Sport is a business….

• ‘Bosman’ ruling• Fina’s decision to consider costumes as technical

equipment• Competition for world events• Australia to sue FIFA if World

Cup date changes• Australia have a ‘fast track’ visa system for potential

medal winners

Commercialisation

The popularity of sport

• If it is to be played or watched sport will have to be popular

– The televising of the sport– Access to facilities and equipment– The duration of the event– The competition – the ‘event’!

Integration into the health agenda

• To receive money sport will have to be associated with the ‘health

agenda’– Declining participation– Increase in desire to spectate– Physical activity – NOT sport

Engaging young people

• There is a generation of youth who have become disenfranchised from organised sport or who are physically illiterate– ‘Youth’ sports– Opportunities for activity– Mentor and role models

Funding elite sport

• Given the rising costs of elite sport there will be a number of challenges to its continued funding

Sporting legacy

• The impact of sport events in terms of legacy will drop from the agenda of politicians and sporting providers

Doping and drug culture

• Anti-doping is an expensive process

• Yet if sport is to retain its high moral ground it has to continue to invest in detection and to take a strong unwavering stance against drugs– Should this just be competitive sport?

Security

• Sport events are the perfect vehicle for terrorist action as it is often uncontrolled, brings crowds of people and often happens in a public place

Summary

• Sport is a fantastic industry to work in, now matter what you do. However, it changes and is changing rapidly and we will always have to adapt!

Summary

• THANK YOU…AND ANY QUESTIONS?