Sport - An Australian national obsession?

As some of you know, every now and then I write a post on my studies; one of the most interesting topics is Australia's relationship with its past and what "Australian" means; and why sport plays such an important role in the national narrative. So if you're not interested, you might want to skip this one....

Check out this really good advert for Telstra (the equivalent of BT). Of the images in the ad, about 10 are sporting and 3 are of the arts; which fits with the so-called "Cultural Cringe". Former PM John Howard made proportionally more speeches about sport than any other world leader (double those of Tony Blair). Australia (pop: 21m) likes to remind people that it "punches above its weight" in sport.

So why are Australians so in to sport? One academic (Prof Richard Cashman) has given some suggestions. The 1850s Gold Rushes created great economic prosperity and a significant middle class - the section of the population who are the organisers of sport. Australia is one of the most urbanised countries on earth - this is important as it facilitates the forming of clubs and competition. Egalitarianism has long played a role in the (perceived) character of the nation, meaning all classes were drawn upon from an early stage; in particular, the trade union movement won significant concessions in the early C20 in terms of restricting work hours and establishing minimal wages (for white males), increasing the leisure time for the white male working class. Climate plays a role of course, as does space - there is no competition for school playing fields, and the extensive private school system has long been a supplier of the country's sportsmen.

'Sportive nationalism' has fed national identity; unlike in the U.S., Australian sport is outward looking - they play to an 'Imaginary Grandstand' (Graeme Davidson) - unlike the U.S., Australians have no heroes of a "War of Independence" - when Australia wins, she hopes the world notices. The Montreal Olympics in 1976 (one bronze, one silver) was a national disaster and led to the establishment of an Institute of Sport and massive cash injections. The Americas Cup Victory of 1983 after which PM Bob Hawke said "Any boss who sacks anyone for not turning up today is a bum" indicates how important sport is for the nation. The gold medal for Aboriginal Australian Cathy Freeman in the Sydney 2000 Olympics - "Our Cathy" - was hugely significant in Australia's belief in its coming of age as a nation - and in believing it was coming to terms with the past. Much has been written about the rivalry with England - much to do with colonial history and the sharing of many sports, especially cricket. If you've not read it already, Nick Bryant's blog on the Ashes aftermath is worth reading on the Australian/English sporting relationship. I wonder whether this has its origins in the tension following Australian resentment at British betrayal at Gallipoli. No such rivalry exists with any other nation (apart from NZ).

There is plenty of criticism with the (perjoratively) termed Australian 'obsession' with sport; the Australian equivalent of Johns Bird & Fortune do an amusing sketch on the 'national obsession'. And finally, for those who haven't seen it, the infamous last ball of a one day cricket match between NZ & Australia in 1981 is worth seeing; described by Richie Benaud as the most disgraceful thing he has seen on a cricket field. NZ needed 6 to tie the game... what happened is still a source of resentment from across the Tasman.....