A critical analysis of the impact of the Beijing Olympic Games on Australia's sport policy direction

Abstract

This article is a critical analysis of the impact of Beijing Olympic Games on Australia's sport policy direction. More specifically, the article uses the multiple streams (MS) model as a conceptual framework for the analysis of the Australian sport policy environment before and after the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The major influences on this environment at the time of this analysis are the Crawford Report, a substantial review of the Australian sport system, structures and policies (Crawford 2009, The future of sport in Australia. Canberra: Department of Health and Ageing, Commonwealth of Australia) and the federal government's response to that review in 2010. The results of this analysis reflect the synergy of issues, political events and policy direction of Australian elite sport after the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The analysis shows that Australia is heading towards an era in which there will be stronger connections between community sport and high-performance sport, with the government playing an increasing leadership role. It is argued here that the use of MS provides a strong foundation for understanding policy processes, and that it makes it possible to go beyond mere description of sport policies and historical narratives of how those policies emerged.