Sportswatch Spring 2016

What’s Inside

From the QSport Offi ce Page 3

84 Olympic Gold Medallist refl ects on RIO 16 Page 5

Thinking of volunteering for the Commonwealth Games Australia’s Chris Bond pushes down the court as USA’s Josh Brewer reaches for the ball during an epic gold medal match Page 6 to fi nish the Rio 2016 wheelchair rugby tournament. Photo credit: CWSA/Kevin Bogetti-Smith. ©

Challenges ahead for state level sport Our man Bond Page 7 stars in Rio Rio Ramblings Sport and recreation organisation staff in Brisbane’s Sports House at Milton by Karl deKroo were as proud as punch on the closing day of the Rio Paralympics when Page 10 co-worker Chris Bond OAM won gold in the fi nal of the wheelchair rugby tournament.

His team, Australia’s Steelers, went back to back after lifting gold in London Sport Awards 2012 to defeat the USA in double overtime 59-58 in front of a packed Rio Date Claimer stadium. Page 14 Bond, who works out of the QSport Offi ce on average three days a week for the Australian Sports Foundation (ASF), was pivotal in the win, scoring Australian Sports with less than two seconds left to send the match into double overtime and Foundation Snapshot later safely inbounding the ball to team-mate Ryley Batt to run down the remaining seconds for a famous and well-earned victory. Page 15 Well done, Chris. You’re a champion.

More on Rio 2016 and the ASF inside.

Sportswatch is a quarterly publication of QSport which is an independent collective of State sporting organisations established to enhance the development of sport in Queensland. Sportswatch aims to inform readers and views expressed in Sportswatch are not necessarily those of QSport. No responsibility is accepted by QSport for consequences emanating from actions or failures to act on material within this publication. For contributions, advertisements and enquiries, contact the QSport Office at Sports House, Cnr Castlemaine and Caxton Streets MILTON Q 4064 Telephone 07 3369 8955 Facsimile 07 3369 8977 Email [email protected] 2 Sportswatch - Spring 2016 From the

By the time this edition of Sportswatch is up and What happens next in the Olympics landscape will out, we’ll be well past Rio 2016 and the major be interesting, as the focus moves from athletes football code competition Grand Finals, with competing in Rio to the backrooms of sport politics. spring well and truly sprung. The Australian Olympic Committee and indeed the In this edition, we look back on Rio 2016 through IOC will conduct their own reviews of Rio ’16 while the eyes of two well credentialed onlookers in the Australian Sports Commission has already 1984 Olympic gold medal winner in athletics moved to reaffi rm its Winning Edge program and Glynis Nunn OAM, who like most of us watched foreshadow more governance reform for at least these Olympics via Channel 7’s coverage and Olympic national sporting organisations. News Queensland’s Head of Sport Karl deKroo The Australian State Government sport agency who was in Rio before and during the Games. dominated Committee of Australian Sport and There are diff erences between the 2016 Olympics Recreation Offi cials will continue to look at and Paralympics and sad to say, it includes negativity developing a better understanding of major issues that was directed towards our Olympians when the aff ecting the sport and recreation sectors that team didn’t fi nish top fi ve that comes to mind. have a close intersection with government.

It is disappointing and does us no great credit. And post the Xmas / New Year break, it will be interesting to see if the Federal Minister for Sport While there are undoubtedly some errors in sees the need for the traditional from time to time judgement here and there that with the benefi t inquiry into the future of Australian sport, a la of hindsight, could have been eliminated, does Crawford, Oakley et al over the past 20 years since anyone seriously believe that our athletes weren’t Atlanta. trying to do their best? Probably not, one would hope, given the track Isn’t that all that we should ask of and want for record of what happens to the outcomes of such these mostly young people who put so much of time consuming, expensive exercises. themselves into it for their and our enjoyment. Locally here in Queensland and particularly in the And if you’re beaten on the day, it’s just that. They south east, the notion of an Olympics / Paralympics accept it for what it is and if the chance can exist in this part of the world in 2028 or 2032 is gathering again, they try again. pace and it’s that question that increasingly will People in high and not so high places reminding consume locals as a feasibility study rolls on. us how much the Australian taxpayer contributed Finally, refl ecting on non-Olympic sport on the is handy, as if it was wasted because we didn’t weekend of the AFL and NRL premiership deciders, end up higher up an Olympics medals ladder, as was there a greater contrast in Australian sport if taxpayers aren’t contributing to non-Olympic this year than the respective ladder positions sports. of AFL wooden spooner Essendon and the NRL Sport is about competing and when I look at the Grand Finalist Cronulla? sportspeople who actually compete, I’m forever reminded that they’re having a go, participating, winning and losing and they and we are all the Peter Cummiskey better for it. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Sportswatch - Spring 2016 3 4 Sportswatch - Spring 2016 84 Olympic Gold Medallist reflects on Rio 16

Glynis Nunn- Cearns OAM who entertained decisions to be made well before the upcoming QSport members and guests at the 4 July major international event as the frustration of annual QSport Luncheon opens up on how many who had worked so hard for so many years the Gold Coast Academy of Sport Executive would be overwhelming. It is necessary to appeal to the intelligence of the collective sport leadership Director saw Rio 2016. so they can analyse, consciously the facts and motivations which led to the IOC decision. For THE OLYMPIC GAMES - RIO – exciting, eventful, months and months prior to the Games, the defining, memorable, disappointments, difficulties, fire smouldered with numerous warnings to the stunning, frightening and WOW. These are some authorities of the International Federations. words I have used to describe the greatest athletic show on earth. At a time where sport is battling With these collective problems, I continue to for its very identity it is wonderful to have our lives question why countries who are struggling to filled with extraordinary performances. From the feed and house their increasing population get gladiatorial heights of Bolt and Phelps, to the lesser the nod of approval to hold such expensive known athletes from smaller countries who attend multi-sport celebrations. The Olympic movement for the experience, the Games hold pressures and seems to be ‘operate’ in a bubble away from the expectations and a lifetime of memories. day to day existence of real life. From my position in my chair watching the Games at the Gold Coast, in Australia, Brazil seems to be But outside the bubble of the Olympics - there a country of contrast – from over the top opulence were empty seats at venues, an issue, especially to inequality and poverty. What a backdrop - with in sports like beach volleyball which is so popular Christ the Redeemer looking over everything from in Brazil. Again from watching on TV, the Brazilians the sporting arenas to the poverty-stricken favelas. have been vibrant, vocal and, in some cases, As with all Olympics there were always problems slightly hostile to opposition athletes. We haven’t to overcome - issues such as doping concerns, seen many of the daily problematic issues, we have country participation, security, accommodation, been shown the beautiful scenery on Guanabara venues readiness, falling cameras, water quality Bay and the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas and many (pools turning green) and the weather. Some were stories show the personality of the country, not able to be controlled, others not. the day to day struggles of transport, security and food queues and the issue as Jess Fox stated, of Before the Games started we had the issue of remembering not to flush toilet paper. whether Russia would be there. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided to leave it to When competition started it was exactly what each of the International Sport Federations ruling Rio needed. Athletic performances provided a bodies to take the major and difficult decision break from the doom, gloom and controversy. It regarding excluding cheats within their respective provided us a reminder of why we watch sport. disciplines. What the Games needed was a few gold medals to be won and some outstanding performance to It was the collective sanction originally put forward forget about all the problems. that affected many innocent athletes in many sports. In future, it would be great for these Some outstanding performances have come

Sportswatch - Spring 2016 5 from Brazilians. None quite so exciting as the That is Rio. Some great performances, some young pole vaulter Thiago Braz da Silva who beat absolutely amazing performances and some the renowned Frenchman. Of course you can’t disappointing feats. It remains an unenviable job go past Brazil’s national sport - SOCCER - yes, a for the coach and athlete - to time the ultimate GOLD. Gold to the men’s beach volleyball team, peaking on the day that counts. gold went to female judo athlete Rafaela Silver, boxer Robson Conceicao and the female sailors. For me, the outstanding performances from Silver to two male gymnasts, male shooter, ALL sports (that I saw on my TV) were Wadye van two to the male canoe sprinters, with a bronze Niekerk (400m WR) and Katie Ledecky (800m to another male gymnast and canoe sprinter freestyle WR). I can’t go any further without and female marathon swimmer and female mention of Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt. Taekwondo athlete. Great for the home crowd to Both absolute legends in their respective sports cheer on and a result of having a home games. but I must admit, they were expected to win. For all of the struggles and media reports, Having said this, there has been a legacy - the congratulations Rio for putting on a terrifi c subway line extension westwards to Barra seemed Games. to have worked well. New roads, new venues and many jobs have resulted. Whether this is seen Bring on 2018 and the Commonwealth Games. as a legacy in the years to come we will have to see. If we look at other countries who have held GLYNIS NUNN-CEARNS OAM major sporting competitions such as foortball Executive Director where now, the venues lay idle and overgrown. Unfortunately, the Olympics seems to have been an event primarily restricted to the elite of Brazil, arguably at the expense of spending on services vital for everyone else.

Thinking of volunteering for the Commonwealth Games

With the Rio Games now over, the Gold Coast you need to get ready to put in an application. can look forward to the Commonwealth Games in April 2018. It will be such an exciting time on A number of sports will put a specifi c call out to the coast with thousands of visitors and the best youngsters to be involved, so please ask your athletes in the Commonwealth celebrating sport sports how they might be involved. One important and performance. criteria that everyone needs to keep in mind is that the minimum age for volunteers is 16 years of age. If you would like to be involved, keep an eye out for the ‘volunteer portal’ to open on the Volunteers must be available to be involved in Commonwealth Games website. The public test events prior to the Games to ensure that all applications open in February with a messaging procedures are in place and work correctly. campaign commencing in December. Start thinking what type of volunteer you would like to KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THE VOLUNTEER PORTAL - AN OPPORTUNITY NOT TO MISS. be, where you would like to be based and what

6 Sportswatch - Spring 2016 Challenges ahead for State level sport

Copy of article appearing in The Australian newspaper on 2 September, 2016

Queensland State sporting organisations and their other sports, particularly others involved in interstate counterparts face continuing attempts by Commonwealth Games. Federal sport agency officials and inevitably national sporting organisation personnel to adopt more The media speculation forms part of the unitary / unified governance structures, if recent conversation in the Australian sporting system press coverage along the lines of the article above in the wake of the Rio Summer Olympics that turns out to be the case. has drawn criticism from the Australian Olympic Committee’s John Coates over the Winning And while the article shown above makes Edge program underpinning Federal funding to reference to the push applying to Olympic sports, national sporting organisations, with a national past Australian Sports Commission behaviour lottery for elite sport another concept being indicates that the push may well embrace pushed to boost Federal funding.

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Sportswatch - Spring 2016 9 Rio Ramblings

By Karl deKroo Were they perfect? Not by a long way. Did they lack Games Managing Editor for News Corp Australia the finish and polish of Sydney, Beijing or London? Most certainly. But in the end the majority of us left THE first Olympic Games in South America. Rio enlivened and enriched. An Olympics in a city challenged by political upheaval, financial uncertainty and social unrest. On the field of play the stars were obvious. From An Olympics beset by issues of unfinished Michael Phelps in the pool to Usain Bolt on the infrastructure, security concerns, traffic chaos, track there were benchmarks set, which are poor water quality and the threat of Zika virus. unlikely to be ever bettered.

One thing we knew, the Games of the XXXI Phelps was phenomenal. Having announced Olympiad were never going to be dull. And so it his retirement from competitive swimming proved. after London, the American superfish returned at 31, seemingly better than ever, and virtually Each day in Rio there was a new drama. Suspicious unbeatable. packages were detonated, stray bullets flew through media tents or into buses, suspended He claimed individual golds in the 200m butterfly cameras fell from the sky. And yet amid the chaos and 200m medley, an event he has now won four there was a certain rhythm to these Games that times in a row. Phelps also landed relay gold in the was impossible to ignore and made them difficult 4x100m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle and 4x100m not to like. medley, as well as silver in the 100m butterfly.

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10 Sportswatch - Spring 2016 He then retired again, finishing with a record 23 controversy of intersex athletes such as Caster Olympic golds to his name and an astonishing 28 Semenya. medals overall. While there was many other international stars, While the efforts of the Phelps were amazing, he perhaps the moment of the Games (at least from was not the only American swimmer to tower this humble journo’s perspective), was Brazil’s above the Rio pool deck. In her second Games mesmerising performance to claim a maiden Katie Ledecky, 19, proved a star in her own right, Olympic football title. matching the feats of compatriot gymnast Simone Biles, winning five medals, four of them gold. In a script almost too good to be true, Brazil met Germany ¬in the play-off for gold - the nation Ledecky landed the 200m, 400m and 800m which humiliated them 7-1 in the semi-final of freestyle treble and posted world record marks in their home World Cup in 2014. the 400m and 800m. In front of a packed stadium at the Maracanã, There can be no dispute that Bolt is the king the Brazilians scored a brilliant victory, one of the Olympic track and the best sprinter we inspired by superstar Neymar, who netted a jaw- have ever seen. He underlined that status by dropping free-kick and then converted the final making another clean sweep of the sprints at Rio, penalty in a tense shootout that sent a nation matching his feats at Beijing and London. into rapture.

Now 30, Bolt insists he will be retired and sitting As for Australia’s campaign, well in a word it felt on a beach in Jamaica by the time Tokyo rolls disappointing. Under the leadership of new chef around. If so, he will leave a massive hole in a de mission Kitty Chiller the build-up had been full sport beset by ongoing doping drama and the of promise and optimism.

Sportswatch - Spring 2016 11 It felt like so much had been learned from the Cameron McEvoy and the similarly fancied Emily failures of London and there was a belief, that led Seebohm. by our flagship swim team, the key barometer of our Olympic fortunes, that a top five finish was The success Australia enjoyed at the world titles well within grasp. in Kazan was quickly put in perspective as the all- powerful Americans dominated the meet. There were still great moments. While it was the Phelps, Ledecky and Co. who The surprise successes of shooter Catherine lowered our colours at the pool, at the velodrome Skinner in the women’s trap and a beaming Chloe it was Great Britain that destroyed Aussie hopes Esposito in modern pentathlon and the brilliance and dreams. of the women’s rugby sevens team and rower Kim Brennan will be forever etched into our rich Just as they were in London, Great Britain’s Olympic history. track cyclists were ruthless. Jason Kenny led the charge with three golds, taking his tally of Another successful haul for our sailors was Olympic titles to six. His partner Laura Trott was highlighted by gold to Tom Burton in the men’s not far behind him - victorious in the omnium laser, but other traditional strongholds proved and team pursuit. not as rewarding. Perhaps the most crushing blow came in the Despite the stunning success of Mack Horton and team pursuit where Australia shattered the the women’s 4x100m relay team on the opening previous world record in the final, but still had to night, and the less expected heroics of The Big settle for second behind the Brits, who inspired Tuna from Port Lincoln, Kyle Chalmers in the by five-time Olympian Sir Bradley Wiggins 100m freestyle, the campaign in the Rio pool left stormed home for gold. us feeling flat. Hopes were never as high at the athletics track, The much adored Campbell sisters left without particularly with injury denying Sally Pearson the an individual medal, as did the flying professor chance to defend her London title, but again

12 Sportswatch - Spring 2016 Sportswatch - Spring 2016 13 there was a sense of disappointment and even frustration at our performance, or lack thereof. Save the Date There were positives with walkers Dane Bird-Smith delivering bronze in the 20km event and Jared Tallent silver in the 50km, as well as the arrival of Ella Nelson, who narrowly missed the 200m fi nal and the continued improvements of Genevieve LaCaze and others - but not enough to really shift Queensland sport’s Queensland sport the dial. 2016 “night of the year” takes place on Similar disappointment came in hockey, women’s Thursday evening, basketball and water polo. And while the Boomers 8 December in the Plaza Ballroom, captured the heart of a nation as they stormed Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. through the preliminary rounds, even giving the much-hyped Dream Team a scare, their campaign See the announcement and presentation of the ultimately ended in disappointment following the eleven Queensland Sport Award category winners semi-fi nal loss to Serbia and a heart-breaking and also the induction of four new inductees and defeat to Spain in the bronze medal match. the installation of the 16th Legend of Queensland Sport in the Queensland Sport Hall of Fame

Inevitably that sense of disappointment led Admission is $165 per head including GST to this quickly to debate over funding models.As black tie, gala presentation that acknowledges the lottery powered Brits did the previously Queensland’s past and present top sporting unthinkable and edged past China to claim achievers. second overall, Australia had to settle for 10th For further details, contact the QSport Offi ce on and the recriminations and fi nger pointing began 3369 8955 / [email protected] well before the closing ceremony.

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