After a half-decade that has been rife with suspensions, drug abuse, sexual harassment accusations, and a seemingly-unending turnover of leadership, Swimming Australia earned a big stabilizer on Monday, with the Sydney Morning Herald reporting that the organization has signed a “massive sponsorship deal” with Hancock Prospecting.
The mining company is privately owned and chaired by Gina Rinehart, the wealthiest woman in Australia, who has independently been the biggest private funder of Swimming Australia since losing Telstra as their primary corporate sponsor.
While details of the financial value of the deal were not disclosed, Australia is hoping that the support and stability will help lift the country out of the competitive funk that resulted in no individual gold medals in swimming at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Politically, this new deal should continue to push the country’s swimming to the previously-desolate western coast. While this area is not as heavily populated as the country’s eastern side, it is the headquarters of Hancock Prospecting and home to a significant amount of wealth. Since Gina Rinehart and several other commodity-procuring companires have become involved with the organization, more-and-more of the country’s top meets have shifted to the west coast, including the BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series meet. With that shift in infratstructure and attention, Perth has begun to see an increase in elite-level swimmers as well, especially in the youth ranks.
Great news! Swimming Australia cut funding to athletes due to financial troubles while maintaining the excessive salaries of its hierarchy, head coach at $411,000! Here’s hoping they reverse their decision for athletes to cover their own costs to represent Australia in much needed international competition including, the World University Games.
If not, perhaps use the high performance salary for athletes and let the head coach earn his $$$
Source http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/leaked-report-raises-concerns-over-457-visa-20141018-117wfc.html
For exactly WHICH competitions are elite swimmers being asked to cover their own costs ? Are you defining this as “expenses” or funding their own travel & accommodation costs ?
I do NOT see World University Games as a high priority meet for AUS Swimming given collegiate sport, along the lines of NCAA system, does not really exist in AUS. The status of an AUS swimming team at a Universiade is probably third string at best with maybe a few “fringe” national team members present.
That’s right Australia’s focus is on its existing team (or past members as per London investment) that’ contributes to depth of competitive talent being shallow. It misses athletes that take alternate pathways for development. Where would European and South African teams be without their US collegiate swimmers or China be without its swimmers in Aust training programs?