Something that many people in Australia have long placed great importance on are the intrinsic values of sport, including: fair play; respect for the opponent; respect for the umpire; being a role model for the players of the future; and being equally gracious in winning and losing.  In a number of ways these values are increasingly being challenged and, rightly or wrongly, some people have argued that this is at least in part due to the increased professionalism and commercialism associated with sport. 

Great prominence has been given in the media in recent times to the indiscretions and perceived poor behaviour of a few individuals, along with the supposed greed and selfishness of some athletes. What is often overlooked or under-portrayed in the media is the tremendous dedication and commitment shown by the great majority of athletes as they pursue their dreams, whether they be playing at the highest level in major national leagues or representing their country in international competitions. 

Behind the glory and success bestowed upon some, there is commonly the heartache of injury and disappointment of performances below expectation and anticipation.  We have seen some notable examples of this recently in teams and individuals that have failed to qualify for Beijing and in injured athletes that have had to withdraw from events that they have worked towards for four years.  Words cannot console in such circumstances.

However, looking back at the big picture, we should constantly remind ourselves that if we lose the value of sport as something worth honouring, then eventually we will diminish the value of sport in society.  This is definitely not a result we wish to achieve!

Mark Peters
Chief Executive Officer