I nearly always prefer to look at the end result of a sporting contest from a perspective of how we might look back at that same sporting contest with all the knowledge at our fingertips.  For instance, the Demons loss yesterday looked at in a poor light (in isolation) and without looking at the whole season is short-sighted in my opinion.  We had a bad day but because we're far from being an established top side, that bad day was almost inevitable.

Same for our Olympics team ... our lack of funding stops the overall team from being a team that can achieve at a high level similar to the top nations (that's apart from our 'population' being a major factor) ... therefore, 29 medals with 8 gold could easily be seen as punching above our weight if looked back at our results in 5 or 10 years time.  The media and the general public has no real inkling on how far behind we are in funding so many will just judge the team against the 2000, 2004 & 2008 results where we probably were still punching above our weight. 

The lack of funding is a very real thing and when that lack of funding is broken down properly, a not-so-pretty picture emerges. 

Also, there's a strong belief from our media and the public that our 'clean' athletes are up against a whole bunch of drug cheats from various nations ... if that is true then our results look even better.

As for the projections & expectations, in my opinion they were way over the top and nearly always are.  We got what we deserved and a bit extra so I'm happy and satisfied with the end result (all things considered)

 

Edited August 22, 20168 yr by Macca

  We ended up with a top 10 finish and 8th overall in total medals ...

I think after the games we've had and the hand wringing going on, these commonwealth games coming up in 2018 will be quite crucial.

With a likely restructure and hopefully increase/new funding, and with the games being at home, topping the medal tally must be the minimal goal set. Ideally even more medals then the whole GB nations combined to get a gauge of how we're tracking half way to an Olympics.

Funny

 

 

6 hours ago, AngryAtCasey said:

I think after the games we've had and the hand wringing going on, these commonwealth games coming up in 2018 will be quite crucial.

With a likely restructure and hopefully increase/new funding, and with the games being at home, topping the medal tally must be the minimal goal set. Ideally even more medals then the whole GB nations combined to get a gauge of how we're tracking half way to an Olympics.

Forget Great Britain,  England will probably kick our butts and might end up with twice as many gold medals.  They are going from strength to strength.

And that's even with an incremental increase in funding for us.  We are miles behind the 8 ball and we'll probably fall further behind ... and it's all related to funding levels. 

Things might only improve for us once the proverbial really does hit the fan. 

18 medals and 5 or 6 gold in Tokyo is my 'pessimistic' tip unless the levels of funding improves dramatically.

Edit: added some more detail & clarity

Edited August 23, 20168 yr by Macca

One could argue that we're definitely trending downwards from Beijing and why would that trend not continue? Beijing 46/13 then London 35/8 and now Rio 29/8 (total medals/gold medals)

Commonwealth games ... (2010) 177/74 Aus 142/37 Eng

                                          (2014) 137/49 Aus 174/58 Eng

From one Commonwealth games to the next ... we got 40 less medals & 25 less gold whilst England got 32 more medals and 21 more gold.  That is a significant turnaround in 4 years.

I refuse to believe that we suddenly got poor at Olympic sports nor am I going to believe that Great Britain suddenly got great at Olympic sports without one major factor ... funding/money. 

Edited August 23, 20168 yr by Macca

drugs or big money - what a choice 

3 hours ago, daisycutter said:

drugs or big money - what a choice 

Or both with regards to China, Russia & the USA.  Not to mention any number of Eastern bloc nations from '68 through to '92 ... and who knows who or what else?

If the average Australian had a greater understanding of what we're up against (extensive PED use & huge amounts of funding) then they would then be more measured with their comments about the outcomes that we get. 

 

Edited August 23, 20168 yr by Macca

You make some good points Macca. I'm hoping that the jungle drums will be beating loudly enough for  changes to be made without the need to go back to the days of Los Angeles/Seoul or have an Olympic campaign like GB did in Atlanta.

There was a lot of negativity about our London campaign, so that caused a restructure of the funding. Now that we're continuing to fall however, this may hopefully lead to a new funding model similar to GB.

I think with the Comm Games here and with Brisbane potentially bidding for the 2028 Olympics, this to may help increase the chances of getting the right funding in place.

Only time will tell.

2 hours ago, AngryAtCasey said:

You make some good points Macca. I'm hoping that the jungle drums will be beating loudly enough for  changes to be made without the need to go back to the days of Los Angeles/Seoul or have an Olympic campaign like GB did in Atlanta.

There was a lot of negativity about our London campaign, so that caused a restructure of the funding. Now that we're continuing to fall however, this may hopefully lead to a new funding model similar to GB.

I think with the Comm Games here and with Brisbane potentially bidding for the 2028 Olympics, this to may help increase the chances of getting the right funding in place.

Only time will tell.

"We can't have our cake and eat it too"

If we acknowledge that the big 3 (Russia, China & USA) have a PED culture either state sponsored and/or various individuals and if we also acknowledge that those countries are spending billions on their Olympic programs (that also includes Great Britain) then what chance do our athletes have?

That's not taking into account other countries that spend up big on their Olympic programs and that's also not taking into account the rampant PED use in various countries (including the former Eastern bloc nations)

Let's face it ... the average Australian believes that the Olympics is full of PED use and many have turned away from the event as a result ... take this thread as an example - 2 contributors (you and I)

So where does that all leave our athletes?

Pushing the proverbial uphill in my belief.

Forget the silly projections ... that is just nonsense.  Some examples from our club ...

• Mark Neeld ... "We'll be the hardest team to play against"
• Dean Bailey ,,, "This list will win a premiership"
• Cameron Schwab ... Whiteboard Wednesday & the red and blueprint nonsense
• Peter Jackson ... "We'll play a final in 2016"
• Glen Bartlett ... "We want to be the next New York Yankees"

That's not to say that I want to lambast those who make predictions ... I just don't take those projections seriously. 

And there lies the problem ... many do take those projections seriously and then get angry and lash out if the predictions don't happen. 

Why else would people be so dissatisfied about the results? 

Edited August 24, 20168 yr by Macca

Speak of the devil ... Great Britain is already spending 476 million per year and there's lots lots more to come.  And the funding won't be increasing incrementally either - increase will be extremely significant.

Meanwhile, we're self imploding with little or no understanding of how far we've fallen behind and how further we'll probably fall behind.  Baying for blood in the current environment will solve nothing - what it will do is make matters far worse.  Cool heads are required but I'm not seeing it.

Team GB aim to top medal table at Tokyo Games following record-breaking Rio 2016 Olympics

Quote

Crucially, it was stressed that an increase in funding for Team GB was secure for this next Olympic cycle. “Funding is vital. The crucial thing is that it is guaranteed for a number of cycles. It is one of the things that gives us a key competitive advantage.

Quote

Funding for Team GB received a 29 per cent increase in the last spending review in November 2015 and, with revenue from the National Lottery also secure, continued investment in elite athletes is guaranteed. 

So, as expected, Great Britain are going to up the ante - watch for Germany, Spain, France, the Netherlands & Italy to follow suit.

And what are the Australian public & media going to do apart from having an almighty dummy-spit? 

Edited August 25, 20168 yr by Macca