SPORT/BETTING: The Rugby World Cup, Ashes ... what next?
I've always regarded England (and/or the UK) as an underachieving nation in sports. Well, they can now claim the upper hand in two of the bigger anglo-saxon sports (cricket and rugby union) over their convict cousins, not to mention football/soccer and don't be surprised if they add rugby league to the list by the end of the year. What the hell is happening to Australian sport?
The news that Orienteering Australia has had a massive funding cut from their government may be a clue. From being world leaders in sports funding, they are now coming back to the pack. And over the last few years, money has been flowing into English sport more than ever. To my Orienteering friends, you may be interested to know that the British Orienteering Federation states on their website:
"BOF currently manages a budget of just under one million pounds a year. Over three quarters of this is either exchequer (taxation-funded) or Lottery grants from UK Sport or Sport England"
The fact that British Orienteering gets 750,000 quid gives you an insight into the amount of money pouring into UK sport. Expect that to increase with their hosting of the 2012 Olympics. While money doesn't buy success, it sure gives you a hell of an advantage. One day I'm going to have a huge rant about sports funding in New Zealand, because it is a joke. Before I return to the cricket, some figures for Kiwi orienteers to chew over:
UK: Population 60 million, 9,000 orienteers, government funding 750,000 pounds (1.9 million NZD)
Australia: Population 20 million, 5,000 orienteers, govt funding (2003/4) $136,000 AUD ($150,000 NZD) - although this is now getting cut by 40% I believe.
New Zealand: Population 4 million, 1,600 orienteers, govt funding $18,000.
Back to the ashes - bit of a pisser really. Draws are not good to my bank balance, and thanks to trading like an idiot on the final day (which is easy to do after five all-nighters) I've taken a wee hit - but that's gambling for you. I only lost what I made on the fourth test, and won on the first three, so I can't complain. Sharee's not too impressed this morning when I told her the rock she's about to get has been downsized - like many, she sometimes cannot sort the serious from the humourous when utterings spew from my mouth...
Shame that Warne dropped Pietersen. Would have been a helluva match with Aus chasing 220 odd in 50 overs, and a fitting finale to a riveting test series. (OK, cricket and riveting don't belong in the same sentence, but I'm allowed a bit of licence in my blog). And, I will say it again, Ponting is dumb. Dumb Dumb Dumb. I'm thinking of suing him for gross negligence. Yes, it's my wallet talking, but add the decision to go off for bad light, to bowling first at Edgbaston and declaring far too late against Sri Lanka last year, as stupid decisions that have had a significant affect on the result of a game.
And talking about dumb - this article about Tony Greig made me laugh.
England deserved to win the series - it would have been an injustice if Aussie scrambled a win last night. Is this the end of a golden era in sport? - the Australian cricket team have been outstanding over the last decade and will be judged as one of the best teams in the history of sport. Unfortunately we won't know if this is really it for a little while - they have a hit and giggle against the rest of the world next month, before wiping the floor with West Indies and South Africa during the summer. It may not be until a couple of years when the Ashes are in Australia they have their next true test (although I dream that a full-strength Kiwi team could challenge them); by then, they may be Warne-less and McGrath-less. And maybe Ponting-as-captain-less? I live in hope.
The news that Orienteering Australia has had a massive funding cut from their government may be a clue. From being world leaders in sports funding, they are now coming back to the pack. And over the last few years, money has been flowing into English sport more than ever. To my Orienteering friends, you may be interested to know that the British Orienteering Federation states on their website:
"BOF currently manages a budget of just under one million pounds a year. Over three quarters of this is either exchequer (taxation-funded) or Lottery grants from UK Sport or Sport England"
The fact that British Orienteering gets 750,000 quid gives you an insight into the amount of money pouring into UK sport. Expect that to increase with their hosting of the 2012 Olympics. While money doesn't buy success, it sure gives you a hell of an advantage. One day I'm going to have a huge rant about sports funding in New Zealand, because it is a joke. Before I return to the cricket, some figures for Kiwi orienteers to chew over:
UK: Population 60 million, 9,000 orienteers, government funding 750,000 pounds (1.9 million NZD)
Australia: Population 20 million, 5,000 orienteers, govt funding (2003/4) $136,000 AUD ($150,000 NZD) - although this is now getting cut by 40% I believe.
New Zealand: Population 4 million, 1,600 orienteers, govt funding $18,000.
Back to the ashes - bit of a pisser really. Draws are not good to my bank balance, and thanks to trading like an idiot on the final day (which is easy to do after five all-nighters) I've taken a wee hit - but that's gambling for you. I only lost what I made on the fourth test, and won on the first three, so I can't complain. Sharee's not too impressed this morning when I told her the rock she's about to get has been downsized - like many, she sometimes cannot sort the serious from the humourous when utterings spew from my mouth...
Shame that Warne dropped Pietersen. Would have been a helluva match with Aus chasing 220 odd in 50 overs, and a fitting finale to a riveting test series. (OK, cricket and riveting don't belong in the same sentence, but I'm allowed a bit of licence in my blog). And, I will say it again, Ponting is dumb. Dumb Dumb Dumb. I'm thinking of suing him for gross negligence. Yes, it's my wallet talking, but add the decision to go off for bad light, to bowling first at Edgbaston and declaring far too late against Sri Lanka last year, as stupid decisions that have had a significant affect on the result of a game.
And talking about dumb - this article about Tony Greig made me laugh.
England deserved to win the series - it would have been an injustice if Aussie scrambled a win last night. Is this the end of a golden era in sport? - the Australian cricket team have been outstanding over the last decade and will be judged as one of the best teams in the history of sport. Unfortunately we won't know if this is really it for a little while - they have a hit and giggle against the rest of the world next month, before wiping the floor with West Indies and South Africa during the summer. It may not be until a couple of years when the Ashes are in Australia they have their next true test (although I dream that a full-strength Kiwi team could challenge them); by then, they may be Warne-less and McGrath-less. And maybe Ponting-as-captain-less? I live in hope.
Labels: cricket, orienteering
posted by Rob Crawford at 11:50 AM
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