New World Cultures Australia, New Zealand South Africa 22nd September 2003

Review from Previous Lesson n Notes P236 Sport in high schools and higher education n Schools run by governing bodies: ASSC, NZSSSC, USSASA n Making comparisons to these governing bodies. n Extra curricular activities in high schools and higher education.???? n Homework- comparisons of this to North America.

University Sport n All three are affiliated to FISU n 37 Universities belong to Australian University Sport n Annual University Games as well as World University Games n championships in other sports.

University Sport n South Africa and New Zealand are organised in a similar way, both have national championships and major university competitions. n Huge development in South Africa where the formation of South African Student Sports Union (SASSU) n 6 different bodies formerly run the university sport with the exclusive white South African University Sports Council being the most powerful. n SASSU has been granted membership of FISU and Confederation of University and College Sports Associations of Africa. (CUCSAA)

Professional (elite) Sport n The History of professional sport in all three countries have many similarities. n They pose the same colonial roots and also have similar patterns of development.

Historical Background n Horse racing has developed n a professional sport (All three countries) n Football only became popular in South Africa (followers and participants mainly black) n Rugby considered to be the ruling of the elite because as an amateur game still generated income and influence. n Rugby league is played in all three countries, Australia showing the most strength n All three have regularly toured France and Britain, south Africa’s participation has been restricted because of apartheid. n In all 3 countries cricket began as a sport for the middle class gentleman. n However was played by anyone who could use a bat ball and find some flat land!!! n The difference in the sport depended on who was playing it.

Historical Background Cont. n In both South Africa and Australia there is a History of exclusion on social and racial class. n This is not strange to New World Cultures as social class plays a large role within today’s society. n Refer to unit 1 for this.

Structure of Professional Sport n Most sports came about as amateur pastimes and developed into professional sports over periods of time. n Most early professional sports had Governing Bodies. n These operated outside of the mainstream amateur organisations even though they had more power and influence. n Soccer is SA’s leading professional sport n 1948, SAFA met SA Amateur Football Association in order to re- integrate the two n in 1951 the South African Indian Football Association were involved, however was not until 1983 that the multi- racial South Africa Soccer Federation (SASF) was formed

Structure Of Professional Sport n White clubs formed the first professional league called the National Soccer League. n SASF clubs formed their own professional league who had by far the greater number of players.(The South African Soccer Federation and Professional League) n White clubs were considered to be better organised and had better access to resources for development purposes. n SASF-PF had the most players. n Nowadays both organisations have their headquarters at ‘Soccer City’ in Soweto. n Rugby is most popular in Capetown and Port Elizabeth. Soccer is still the most favourable sport by black South Africans.

Structural Changes n Governments have become more flexible in their approach to sport and are taking more of an interest in sociological aspects to do with sport as well as economic and political reasons. n They are being included in in main stream policies and this is evident by the introduction of policies of excellence and the general acceptance of professionalism within sport. n This now highlights that sport is not in the fringe of government priority, it does bear some relevance within society. n Aussie Football has now become part of the AFL because the former Victorian Football had demonstrated its efforts I the promoting the sport. n This has resulted in the sport being considered popular and has now been accepted as a mainstream sport with opportunities to obtain scholarships to centrally funded programmes of excellence.

Commercialism of Professional Sport n Television has played a major role in sport in All 3 countries n It provides an invaluable source of income for the interested public as well as seen as a potential market. n Satellite TV especially American channels has generated a large interest in sports such as Baseball and Basketball particularly in Australia. n The professional sportsman/woman is developing a good reputation in all three countries. n Their status within society has increased rivaling that of a pop-star and movie star. n They can determine the fees that they charge for public appearances as well as for advertising products. n These athletes act as role models for aspiring young athletes.

The Media and the Status of Professional Sport n The media plays an important role in sport in both New Zealand and Australia. n Its influence acts as a promotional tool and has the power over a sportspersons career. n Issues of gender and ethnicity are aired more freely than they were in earlier decades. Any un-scrupulous activity is frowned upon and exposed ruthlessly. n In any the culture those not acting as role models will be freely exposed. Sportspersons are now accepted as professionals. n What are the pressures of this industry? Match fixing, bribery, drug-taking? n South Africa poses the most prominent change………...

Continued…………………. n Before Apartheid coverage of sports was always promoted with a racial taunt, however things have developed and coverage is now presented minus racial segregation, which is beginning to change people’s attitudes. n Professionalism within South Africa is growing enormously. n In all 3 countries there is a growing influence of professionalism and commercialism within sport. n With business opportunities emerging from the development of sport within these 3 countries, the media has assisted the rise of this whereby they can comment on such sporting events and are able to print this is newspapers etc. n For South Africa this can be welcomed as a building block to a developing sporting nation.

National Institutes of Sport and Sport Academies. n Australia’s search for sporting excellence came about from their dismal performance in 1976 Olympics. n In 1981 the (AIS) Australian Institute of Sport was setup by the federal government to provide expertise to up and coming sports persons. n The aim of this was to produce sporting champions. n In 1989 control of sport at all levels was passed to a central body. n This was the AIS (Australian Sports Committee) n This was a committee set up by the Australian Government. n The committee controls sporting policy and funding for all aspects of sport. n It devolves (delegates) the responsibility for programmes regarding sporting excellence

Australian Structure for Sporting Excellence

State Institutes of Sport Australia n All of Australia’s states and territories have their own sports institutes. n These are completely independent of the federal government as well as funded separately. n Their job is to develop excellence within sport at state level. n The AIS and ASC are joint funded by the federal government as well as private/corporate sponsorship. n The state institutes of sport are funded by state governments and local/state sponsorship. n State and National sports institutes often share the same sites, this is practically better for them. AIS however do not hold any authority over the running of state institutes, however they do co-operate well with each other. n Each state sport institute has a policy which is developed by its own administration providing activities and excellence in sport within the state.

New Zealand n NZSF (New Zealand Sports Foundation) is the main provider of sport in the country. n It is a private organisation, however its funding comes from the government via the Hilary Commission (See structure). n Its philosophy is to provide excellence in sport and its mission statement reads as follows: ‘…to assist athletes to succeed at international level and, by so doing, bring credit to themselves, their sport and New Zealand.’

New Zealand n The NZSF was founded in 1978 and had limited success. n The awarding of the 2000 Sydney Olympics credited the country by increased motivation towards participation. n Due to this the profile of sport within the country has be raised by a great amount.

New Zealand Sport Structure for Excellence.

The Hillary Commission n The Hillary Commission for Sport, Fitness and Leisure was established by an Act of Parliament in n This commission is more than just promoting sporting excellence. n The commission works very closely alongside the government. n There is a large influence of promoting sporting excellence from both of the bodies.

South Africa n The Department of Sport and Recreation had overall responsibility for sport and its provision, including policy for both sport and recreation up until n The department then merged with the National Sports Council to form the South African Sports Commission (SASC) n Roberts (1990) predicted that in order for a national sports policy to be effective, national reconstruction and then development would have to take place within a policy framework. She also said that short-term programmes of action would be necessary as a foundation for the longer term. Within four years - Nelson Mandela was standing alongside Francois Peinar, the South African captain holding the Rugby World Cup.

Responsibilities of SASC n To promote sport and recreation through National Sports Council (NSC), The National Olympic Committee of South Africa (NOCSA)and the national federations. n To promote recreation policy through the important agent being: South African National Recreation Centre (SAN-REC) n To fund the above governing bodies. n To upgrade the facilities for national and international events.

Continued………... n Special programmes have been set up to assist athletes with life skills, such as coping with success and failure. n These also include, media skills, financial management, inter-personal skills and mental training. n This is administered by the Department of Sport and Recreation n High performance sporting programmes focus on raising the profile of South African Sport. n Assisting in the success for teams and individuals. n To promote broader representation within the country.