A Crown for Australia Australian Catholic Bishops Conference © Australian Catholic Bishops Conference You may download, display, print or reproduce this material for personal or non-commercial use, as long as you acknowledge the copyright holders. All other rights to the material are retained by the original copyright holders.
In this Social Justice Statement, the Bishops want to celebrate the gifts that sport brings to our country and encourage all that is best in it. Wikimedia/public domain Shutterstock/Stew Hardie
In the backyard… at the beach… Shutterstock/Kyle Lee Shutterstock/Oliveromg
on the oval … ….anywhere! Shutterstock/Kzenon
Shutterstock/JJ pixs
Shutterstock/Alekuwka
Image courtesy of chrisroll/FreeDigitalPhotos.net Image courtesy of c David Castillo DominiciFreeDigitalPhotos.net
Australian Paralympic Committee [CC-BY-SA-3.0 ( or CC-BY-SA-3.0 ( via Wikimedia Commons
Image courtesy of Vichaya Kiatying-Angsulee / freedigitalphotos.net
teamworkIt teaches patience,and discipline.
Shutterstovk/wavebreakmedia
Shutterstock/alexkatkov
AP Photo/Rob Griffith AAP Image/Dave Hunt
At its best, sport is a safe space where rich and poor, men and women, all colours and creeds can meet. Wikimedia public domain Shutterstock/bikeriderlondon Shutterstock/Andresr
Shutterstock/ Rob Hainer
parents committees fundraisers coaches referees scorers time keepers caterers Shutterstock/bikeriderlondon Shutterstock/Monkey Business Images Shutterstock/Semmick Photo Shutterstock/Kitch Bain
Indigenous People By Rulesfan at en.wikipedia [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons AAP Image/Dean Lewins Rohanee Cox (silver medal winner in basketball, 2008 Olympics)
By Melburnian (Own work) [GFDL ( CC-BY-SA-3.0 ( or CC-BY-2.5 ( via Wikimedia Commons Erik van Leeuwen [GFDL ( via Wikimedia Commons By Eva Rinaldi from Sydney Australia (Dawn Fraser Uploaded by russavia) [CC-BY-SA- 2.0 ( via Wikimedia Commons
Australian Paralympic Committee [CC-BY-SA-3.0 ( or CC-BY-SA-3.0 ( via Wikimedia Commons AFP Photo/Timothy A. Clary
‘Win at all costs’ mentality Undue influence of money Exclusion of the vulnerable
Performance enhancing drugs Negative coaching practices Verbal abuse Image courtesy of vongvanvi / freedigitalphotos.net Shutterstock/Anna Dickie
Commercialisation of sport Increase in gambling Games timed for best TV coverage not player welfare or family friendly time Ticket prices beyond reach of average families Expensive sports equipment Shutterstock/Ufuk ZIVANA Shutterstock/BTRSELLER
3. People can be excluded by race, gender and economics. Sport is for building bridges - not walls. Shutterstock/Jose AS Reyes The Age/Wayne Ludbey
‘During the game, when you are out on the pitch, you display beauty, generosity and camaraderie. If a match lacks these qualities it loses force, even if the team wins.’ Pope Francis
‘...because the language of sports is universal; it extends across borders, language, race, religion and ideology; it possesses the capacity to unite people, together.’ Pope Francis
Pick up the leaflet Ten Steps towards being a good sport …for practical suggestions
To read more about being a good sport, pick up a copy of the Social Justice Statement
Acknowledgements: Sr Helen Kearins Sarah MacRaild Australian Catholic Social Justice Council