The Government commissioned a major study of sports funding in Australia 14 months ago and is due to release the report this week.

 

Greg Goebel, the President of Archery Australia, claimed he has heard speculation the Crawford Report contains a recommendation that a greater portion of funding be directed at major sports like swimming, cricket and the football codes.

 

He said: "I'd certainly be extremely disappointed if we found that it was only going to be the major or the 'glamour sports' that receive funding.

 

"There are an awful lot of mums and dads and kids that participate in a whole range of sporting experiences, and that's what makes the whole concept of sport so exciting and diverse."

 

Goebel claimed he is worried by speculation the Crawford Report's recommendations could hurt Australia's developing sporting talent.

 

He said: "Not everybody can be a great rugby player or football player.

 

"Not everybody can be a great tennis player or a great swimmer, but there are certainly kids who are coordinated in different ways.

 

"To deny funding to those sports ... will just shrink the sporting pool rather than the aim of the Government to get more people involved."

 

 

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