Government Sports Policy Analysis Report - MGT2SPF, Semester 2

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Australian government sports policies, examining key areas such as elite sports and sports pathways, sports participation and junior sports, harassment and discrimination, sports integrity (including gambling and drugs in sport), and sports broadcasting. The analysis delves into the problems associated with each policy area, reviews current government policies, and identifies required policy resources and skills for improvement. The report highlights the scope of policy problems and their impact, offering insights into how policies affect various stakeholders, from elite athletes to junior participants. It also examines the government's interventions, the effectiveness of current measures, and suggests improvements, including the need for more effective programs, clear pathways, robust anti-discrimination measures, and strategies to address issues like gambling and drug use in sports. The report emphasizes the importance of comprehensive and effective policy implementation to achieve desired outcomes in the Australian sports landscape.

SPORTS POLICY

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
POLICY AREAS.............................................................................................................................1
1 Elite Sports & Sports Pathways................................................................................................1
2 Sports Participation and Junior Sports......................................................................................2
3 Harassment and Discrimination ...............................................................................................3
4. Sports Integrity.........................................................................................................................3
5. Sports Integrity (Drugs in sport)..............................................................................................4
6. Sport Broadcasting...................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Sporting success at elite level could provide the indication of general conditions of sports
in particular country and is used often by government, media and public for judging the work of
sports governing bodies and policy makers. Understanding determinants of the sporting success
is essential for various public bodies and the sports supporters. Policies framed by the
government in the sports area plays an important role for encouraging sports. Report is based
over the Sports Policy areas prevailing in the country. It reflects the current issues of the policies,
current government policies and the skills and resources through which the policies could be
improved.
POLICY AREAS
1 Elite Sports & Sports Pathways
Problems
Policy is not able to encourage people at the mental level for the sport in the country. Not
implementing programs for the enhancing and promoting the the international sporting
achievements. Complex entry process of the current sports structure. Government policy
prepared for promoting did not had the programs for encouraging sports.
Current Government Sport Policy
Current government policy at elite level have been underperforming. Australian
government has introduced have introduced the sports policy with the motive of increasing
physical activities in Australia and making Australian more active in sports. Policy revolves
around making Australian active. The policy has aim of achieving new sporting success in
getting nation pride and getting inspiration and motivation through the international success in
sporting. The policy contained measures regarding the safety, fairness in the sports and having
the sports free from any type of corruption (Bergeron, West and Stamatakis, 2019). Intervention
of the government is high but efforts for promoting sports are not taken actively taken. Sports
pathways are not clear to the people showing interest in the sports.
Scope of policy problems
The policy affects wide range of people as it is established for the common Australian to
develop interests towards sports. Lower efforts of the government fails to achieve the objectives
of the policy. They are not able to get the required benefits for becoming active in sports. Local
sports association do not get the response as per the policy norms.
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Policy resources and skills.
For effective implementation of the policy government is required to be active about the
sports. All the sports departments should have been given specific targets for encouraging the
awareness of sports in people. Training and development programs for encouraging and
promoting sports should be promoted. It could also open online website for getting the required
guidance for entering or participation in the interested sports area.
2 Sports Participation and Junior Sports
Policy Problem
Policy for sports participation and Junior sports is not brining the required results as
required. Major problem with the policy is limited opportunities available for the athletes to
grow in the field. Policy do not promotes sports at school levels that does not develop interest of
the students towards sports.
Current Government Policy
Government has made policy that attracts young people for participating in the sports
which shows intervention of government. Policy attempts to make sports youth friendly taking
the initiatives that make active participation of the youth (Bellew and Reece, 2019). Policy for
sports is mainly focused towards influencing motivation and the behaviours of the children for
sport. Sports at the junior level attempts for promoting the participation of students at the
academic levels but are not provided with the opportunities to make career in the field. Policy
does not makes the people to enhance their physical activeness and strength.
Scope of policy Problems
Scope of policy problems at the junior levels is high. Policy does not promotes the sports
at school level where the importance of the sports should be explained to the students. Policy
problems do not affect the people at large but the considerable section of the juniors is affected.
Policy resources and skills
Policy should have provided enough opportunities to the participants from the beginning.
This encourages more participation when the people are provided the opportunities to grow in
the field (Kubacki, Hurley and Rundle-Thiele, 2018). Training and developments programs for
juniors should be promoted by the schools for increasing the interest of children in the sports by
teaching the importance of sports for physical and mental activeness and health.
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3 Harassment and Discrimination
Policy Problem
The policy does not provides for active measures to be taken for the athletes facing
discrimination. Harassment & Discrimination policy is made for protecting the athletes against
discrimination of gender, race or background but the policy is inactive if adequate measures or
actions are not provided.
Current Government Policy
Current discrimination and harassment policy of the government provides for the rules
and regulations for avoiding the harassment and discrimination between the athletes.
Government intervention is high as the harassment and discrimination issues causes provisions
of the penal code. Government policy is aimed at promoting the sports at new level free from
biasses and discriminations. Policy made by the government against harassment &
discrimination has made the sports association to take actions for reducing it and promoting the
athletes on the basis of their skills and abilities (Storr, 2017). For example on discriminations
Australian government take serious actions against the coaches or sports associations.
Scope of policy problem
Policy problems affects the athletes at large. On discrimination capable athletes are not
able to get the opportunities that they might get on the basis of their skills and talent. Athletes are
discriminated on the basis of their gender and it is seen that male athletes are promoted in place
of females by the sports association.
Policy resources and skills
Harassment & discrimination is a serious issue that affects the dreams of many aspirants.
Government should establish helpline where the athletes could report the matter on
discrimination. The policy should also provide for the rules and legislations that will be applied
on coaches or associations discriminating athletes on the basis of gender or race. To remove the
discrimination government should provide educational programs promoting equality in sports
encouraging greater participation.
4. Sports Integrity
In Sports integrity, gambling is also consider a problem which is also known as a sports
betting which is a activity of predicting sports results and uses money on the outcome.
Yes, in order to solve the problem, the government of Australia is also take action in
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order to minimize the gambling under sport integrity. Such that National Sports Tribunal is
established as a body that facilitate the determination of sports disputes and also respect of anti-
doping matters. With the help of this body, intervention by the government is clearly reflected in
which NST resolve the disputes in sports for athletes, support staff and smaller sports who do not
have sufficient dispute resolution mechanism (Kihl, 2020). This shows that there is an effective
engagement by the government with regards to address this problem under sports Integrity.
Yes, the policy problem affect the wide range of people, because gambling attracts lots of
people, they may be athletes, coaches parents and even students. Not only people are involve
under this, but different organization are also involves which are private firms. Such that
secondary data shows that around 80% of the Australian adults are engage in gambling in sports
and this is highest number in the world and it also affect the people like, most of the company
become insolvent due to gambling, but many company increase their financial performance as
well. For example, Paddy Power Betfair who provide gaming and sports services through
website to their customers.
In order to implement the policy, there is a need to having a skills of better understanding
that help to analyze the wrong and right about the terms which help to provide exact
implementation techniques. Such that under the policy making process, the implementation stage
is also determine that having a good drafting skills which will assist to implement the policy in
better manner.
5. Sports Integrity (Drugs in sport)
Policy Problem
In modern sports, almost more than half of the athletes intake drugs in order to enhance
their own performance, with a desire to win the game or they also motivate by economic
incentives. Hence, Sports integrity, Performance enhancing drugs is consider problem in which
different types of drugs are used such that anabolic steroids, human growth hormone etc. As this
cause negative impact upon the long term health risk, but athletes choose this in sports.
Current Government policy
Government engaging authority such that Australian Sports Anti- doping Authority
which help to manage the problem related to drug and other problem related to sports. Also, this
organization further responsible for implementing an effective program under Australian
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legislation (Dowling and Wood, 2017). Hence, it also work to coordinate the fight against doping
in sports internationally and also help different organization in order to solve the problem. Such
that in past time, the body, banned 192 drugs which are registered under WADA because it cause
negative impact upon human health. This shows that government of Australia is keep engaging
in order to sort out problem and protect the sports from getting violated.
Scope of the policy problem
The scope of this problem is very wide because it is considered to be very crucial in
effectively identifying the various key factors and elements associated with the policy in order to
enhance the performance of the sports in his or her game. This policy is useful in identifying the
type of steroids which can boost up the capacity level of the player. The scope of the study is
very wide because it helps in critically examining the key sports which in turn eventually engage
in more consumption or use of the drug. The scope of the study is wide because it is useful in
examining the key drug tests within the sports to take appropriate measure and carry out sports in
an ethical and legal manner.
Policy resources or skills
In order to implement the policy, there is a need to have complete understanding of the
drug intake within the sports and how it can affect individual's body.
6. Sport Broadcasting.
Policy problem
Sport broadcasting is useful in providing access to the large number of viewers and
listeners on a free to air basis by using sports broadcasting signals which h helps in connecting
with the larger set of audience. Transmission delay associated with broadcasting of live sports
events is considered to be as one of the key significant problem.
Current government sport policy
The government of the Australia has been putting high degree of comprehensive package
in order to significantly support the Broadcasting sector of Australia (Akindes, (2018)). There
seems to be high degree of cut in the licensing fees which helps in providing the best possible
results to the broadcasters. Anti- siphoning laws within the Australia tends to effectively regulate
the media companies which helps in accessing with the living sporting events. The current rules
associated with the Anti- siphoning laws tends to prohibit the national and commercial television
broadcaster from premiering the key events which has been listed on the digital multi- channels.
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Scope of the policy problem
The scope of this problem is very wide because this leads to significant difference in the
timing while broadcasting of the live sports events across globe. Streaming delays tends to create
frustration which in turn eventually leads to one of the biggest challenge. It tends to result in the
creation of the more mundane problems and is considered to be very necessary in order to reduce
the gap between the transmission time at the time of sports broadcasting.
Policy resources or skills
The key skill which in turn has been associated with the sports broadcasting policy
mainly includes exceptional public speaking skills, good communication, good pronunciation,
solid timing, use of advanced technology, technical skills, etc. in order to air the products on a
timely manner (Lee, Potter, Lim & Pedersen, (2018)). Effective interpersonal skills are
considered to be of utmost importance which in turn eventually leads to effectively carrying out
the functions with utmost degree of accuracy.
CONCLUSION
It can be summed up that policy is basically the plan of action which is pursued by the
government or an organization to be followed. These are guidelines that is required to be
achieved to preserve the interest of the community. The sports policy in Australia is dealing with
many problems such as the not able to encourage sports at mental level, the problem in relation
to the limited opportunities for the future growth in the field, there is no proper action plan for
dealing with the cases of harassment and discrimination, increasing gambling in field causing
financial problems and the increasing intake of drugs for enhancing the performance for winning
the game and the transmission delay in broadcasting the live events is also a significant problem.
All these problems are very delicate and requires to be handled carefully. After analysing all
these policy areas, the most important one is inappropriate action plans for harassment and
discrimination problem because if this problem is resolved it will increase the interest of the
people in this sports which will lead to further group in this field. In case of incremental policy
change, the Australian government has takes small step in bringing changes in the sports by
taking one sport at a time and upgrading to a certain level for meeting the requirements and the
needs of the people. In case of transformative policy change, the Australian government has
made implemented changes by organising the programmes that helped in increasing awareness
with respect to sports in order to increase participation.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Bergeron, M., West, L.R. and Stamatakis, E., 2019. Ready. Set. Move! Sports Medicine
Australia advocates movement as medicine for all!.
Bellew, W. and Reece, L., 2019. Consultation on the development of a National Sports Plan for
Australia.
Kubacki, K., Hurley, E. and Rundle-Thiele, S.R., 2018. A systematic review of sports
sponsorship for public health and social marketing. Journal of Social Marketing.
Storr, R., 2017. ‘Now that they’re here, we just have to deal with it’: Exploring how volunteers
enact intellectual disability within community sports clubs in Melbourne,
Australia(Doctoral dissertation, Victoria University).
Dowling, R. K., & Wood, J. C. (2017). Ecotourism development in the Indian Ocean Region:
The case for shared learning. In Tourism and Economic Development (pp. 42-61).
Routledge.
Kihl, L. A. (2020). Sport integrity systems. Routledge Handbook of Sport Governance. 276.
Akindes, G. (2018). The transforming sport TV broadcasting landscape in Africa: Localization
and transnational broadcasting. In Sport in the African World(pp. 52-73). Routledge.
Lee, M., Potter, R. F., Lim, C. H., & Pedersen, P. M. (2018). The Effectiveness of Advertising
Embedded in Televised Sport Programming: How Team Performance Influences de
Formation. Sport Marketing Quarterly, 27(4).
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