It is strange to read a newspaper and see a government official openly supporting football in this country. I am much more used to reading about how ethnic violence runs rampant in our sport. It seems though that football is suddenly becoming acceptable in the mainstream as Kevin Rudd appears to have adopted football as his sport of choice.
Of course throwing your support behind a popular sport is nothing new for our Prime Ministers. John Howard was a Rugby and Cricket tragic and both of these sports were in their hey day during his time in office. They benefited greatly from government support (especially rugby) during this period. The sight of our former Prime Minister power walking in his Australian tracksuit will be forever etched in my memories.
Then there was Bob Hawke, a true sport tragic. Perhaps his most famous moment was the euphoric "anyone who sacks a bloke because he doesn't turn up for work today is a bum" line after the 1983 America's Cup win. I was sitting there watching it all live on TV and although only in school at that time took the day off the next day as per my PMs instructions.
Kevin Rudd can obviously see a good thing when it pops up and spits in his eye and so has jumped aboard the good ship World Cup 2018 with enthusiasm. The government also recently handed the FFA 32 Million over four years to further develop the game within this country with special emphasis being placed on the participation in grassroots football and introduction of a national women’s competition.
All this government attention makes me dizzy with anticipation. The more we see the mainstream media promoting football the more likely that the media is to publish the next article and the next. Exposure in the media can sometimes be a self fulfilling prophecy, too long football has been relegated to a single paragraph hidden in the middle pages.
With the FFA also bidding for the World Club Cup these are exciting times.
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Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Rudd Sweet On Football
Posted by againstthecrossbar at 9:24 PM
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3 comments:
Yes Brendan, great to see this type of support - lets hope it's genuine and not just for political gain.
I think the ball is rolling for football in Aus, you need innocent bystanders to take notice - like the PM - for it to become mainstream.
Once the media realize that there is some recognition of Football as a mainstream sport we will start to get the analysis and respect that we all long for. The print media is still hedging their bets, the first to really go after it like fox sports (TV) have will reap the rewards.
"lets hope it's genuine and not just for political gain."
Oh I am sure its for political gain but that is what makes it so great, a leader political figure in our country now reconizes that their is political gain to be made from associating with our sport.
"Once the media realize that there is some recognition of Football as a mainstream sport we will start to get the analysis and respect that we all long for."
I think you are spot on..its a chicken and egg thing. To be seen as a nmainstream sport you need the media but the media don't want to know you unless you are seen as a mainstream sport.
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