What do you think about sports in Australia? Do the Australian Public put too much emphasis on Sports?  Is Sporting prowess more important than proficiency in other areas like medicine, education, the arts etc to most Aussies? Do places for education (Schools, Colleges, Universities) put too much importance on the competence to play sports?
I personally think there is too much emphasis on Sports and Sporting Personalities. I hate the fact they are so revered almost to god like status.
Whose fault is it... the media's, our own need for hero worship or something else's?

Until I got to old and fat, I was more of a particpant in sport than a watcher - now I watch local sport, no prima donna's, usually the game is played as well, entry costs are a lot lower (if not free!).

I hate the hype around higher grades in sport, for example - being from Brisbane I only support one rugby league team - whoever is playing the Bronco's - I am so sick of hearing about them!

Upon first moving to QLD 12 years ago I was very puzzled by the fact that every Rugby League supporter, to a man, supported the Broncos. I had a chat with some original Queenslanders and they said they weren't one eyed but perochial. They were surprised when I told them that in NSW you could have a family of six and each one of them could be a supporter of a different team. This was unbelievable to them. I do support  one QLD team in sport and that is The Brisbane Lions. I was however thrilled that the Swans won this year. I think there is too much hype around prominent sports people. I do however admire a few of the prominent but humble one's including Grant Hacket and Patrick Rafter.

What bugs me is some of the Australian of the year choices...someone who kicked a ball or hit a ball with a stick and got paid obscene sums of money for doing so gets such an honour...while there are doctors and nurses and meals on wheels people and carers and teachers and ministers and foster parents and all sorts of people who do amazing things for little or no $$ and no recognition - they are my heroes.

Exactly BSquared. Actor's are also deemd idolising worthy and what the heck do they achieve? We had Victor Chang who was the most wonderful man and a leader in heart transplants and what did he get eventually. Death on a Sydney City Street by some road rage idiots with a gun. We don't revere our true 'heroes' enough and put too much emphasis on those who play sport for a living.

We place (in my opinion) too much emphasis on achievements in sport at school, too.  More recognition needs to be given to those that achieve academically; maybe then it will be considered "cool".

good point Suzi ... actors are probably even less worthy than sports people of such adulation as we give them...I love movies and some TV but c'mon folks...they ain't curing cancer.

Paula I wonder if things such as Australia's brainiest kid will have ANY impact on who is rewarded in schools?  (I have no idea...I just get the feeling that is part of the premise for the show).

Quoted from BSquared

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Paula I wonder if things such as Australia's brainiest kid will have ANY impact on who is rewarded in schools?  (I have no idea...I just get the feeling that is part of the premise for the show).

I certainly hope so, BSquared.  

Don't get me wrong I am not anti sport at all.  It plays an important role in our Aussie way of life, but I think we tend to overlook other just as important pastimes in its favour.

to get back to the original topic "Is Australia too sports mad", I would say without hesitation a big no. you simply have to have sport to develope a healthy mind and body. With around 40% of Aussie kids either overweight or obese,more emphasis on sport must be catered for by schools. (and education against junk foods).Nothing makes me feel prouder than to see our athletes doing well at the Olympic Games.
I must admit I am against the obcene payments given to some "sportsmen", such as Greg Norman, money paid as appearance money.
Our kids MUST be encouraged into sports at schools if only to keep them off the streets and away from the tele.

Quoted from Lawnbowler

you simply have to have sport to develope a healthy mind and body.

I would like to see some statistics on the health levels - IE joint condition, obesity levels, etc etc on sports people say 5 years after retirement from their sport?

Getting on a bit on years, I have two dodgy knees, a crook wrist, and a weight problem that I blame on 15 years of high end training for sport, and never having to learn how to control my eating (Whilst training I ate everything I could my hands on, as well as protein suppliments just to maintain weight!). I wonder how many other "sports" people have this sort of healthy body after they give up sport? (In my case because the body could no longer handle it, not because I wanted to )

Quoted from Lawnbowler

to get back to the original topic "Is Australia too sports mad", I would say without hesitation a big no. you simply have to have sport to develope a healthy mind and body. With around 40% of Aussie kids either overweight or obese,more emphasis on sport must be catered for by schools. (and education against junk foods).Nothing makes me feel prouder than to see our athletes doing well at the Olympic Games.
I must admit I am against the obcene payments given to some "sportsmen", such as Greg Norman, money paid as appearance money.
Our kids MUST be encouraged into sports at schools if only to keep them off the streets and away from the tele.

I don't think we were really off topic but I'll go with the flow...

As for kids being obese I think we need to focus on other health issues too.  I am seeing more and more kids with eating disorders, eg bulimia and anorexia because we/society tell them they are fat/obese.  This includes kids that play sport regularly.  They are encouraged to play it in schools, but by assuming it is the be all and end all (and sorry but we do assume that!), we are forgetting that there are other options to keep them off the streets and from in front of the TV.  The original question "Is Australia too sports mad?" gets a resounding YES from me, because sport and sports "stars" are constantly and consistently pushed at our kids.

Quoted from BB

. . . I wonder how many other "sports" people have this sort of healthy body after they give up sport?

That is a good point BB. . I have noticed a big difference in the standard of 'trimness' of athletes who stop training in an off season . .they look totally opposite . .pudgy and plain compared to peak condition for comps. . we can't all be in full excersise mode every day . .it does make it harder to keep trim.
I am too scared to walk the backstreets at night to get fit. . more likely to get head banged instead. . it is now a saftey concern. (sadly)

I am not a fan of sport. I think some ppl are way too involved, and take it personally when their team looses. Evidence of this was seen one year when a so called 'fan' spat on his football team members as they exited the ground.

But what I really can't stand is the term 'Sporting Heros'. These ppl are not heros, they didn't risk their lives for someone elses! They were just really good at what they did.

i think it is up to the individual, you either love sport or hate it.....
I love it (you may have guessed), I used to play soccer and cricket in my teens and twenties, then took up golf and later on ,Lawn bowls........3 times a week.
i think if i didnt have sport I would stagnate and die..............or spend more time on this damn computer.....

Quoted from Lawnbowler

i think it is up to the individual, you either love sport or hate it.....
I love it (you may have guessed), I used to play soccer and cricket in my teens and twenties, then took up golf and later on ,Lawn bowls........3 times a week.
i think if i didnt have sport I would stagnate and die..............or spend more time on this damn computer.....

I think sport (read exercise) in all forms is good especially as we age.
People who get into sport in a BIG way usually suffer for it in later years with joint injury, arthritis, bad backs and a multitude of other ailments. I have a friend who was a professional body builder. Now in his early 40's he has Arthritis in his wrists, knees and ankles and is in constant pain. When my adult offspring were at school sport and PE was forced upon them. Neither of them play sports although my daughter was an A grade Tennis Champion for under 16's at one point. She plays occasionally for fun now. I was forced into sports... Tennis, swimming, netball and basketball. I hated it most of the time. Netballers I know have ankle problems. Another friend of mine when I was in my 20's had to have a knee reconstruction from a Rugby accident.
Ex-Footballers (Rugby League) walk around with all kinds of permanent injuries and once they stop playing so many of them just turn to lard. Take a look at a few of the Coaches and Assistant Coaches (I wont name them). As we age Sport is a good social activity as well as keeping us healthy (as in Lawn bowls). I know that a few of us ladies on this forum swim and do Aquarobics as exercise and that too is wonderful. We are talking the more moderate end of the scale here whereas the other end (Extreme end) can go way way overboard.  Sport seems to be embedded into the Aussie Culture almost like a Religion to some and that is what I feel is not healthy.