An Integral understanding of Sport in Society

The following article by Geoff Cheong was prepared for the book Sacred Australia. Post - Secular Considerations. Edited by Makarand Paranjape. Published by Clouds of Magellan Melbourne 2009.

The Book consisted of essays by notable thought leaders of Australia who reflected upon a variety of the sacred aspects of Australian life, ranging from Uluru to Anzac, to Sports. There are seventeen essays in all. A copy of the book can be found in the Melbourne Cricket Club Library

The original article is presented here with an introduction updating my reflections on the challenge the ongoing development of the life of sport in Australia is witnessing.

APPENDIX 2022: SPORT AND SACRED AUSTRALIA

It is thirteen years since I composed the original article on Sport in Australia. It addressed the question of sport as a sacred icon of life for Australians for publication in a book edited by Makarand with the title Sacred Australia. Sport was held beside other icons of Australian identity such as the Sydney Opera House and the arts, Uluru and Indigenous history, or various writers of significance representing much of Australian thought. Beyond an expression of forging an Australian identity, in the knowledge of the country’s negative ‘white man’s’ origin as a British penal colony, I addressed the notion of the quality of sports sacredness against a wholistic and integral model of understanding society. This model has been compiled by Ken Wilber as a four-quadrant schema. Its four sections represent the external domains of the physical and sociological perspectives and the internal, psychological, and cultural perspectives when integrally perceived creating a wholistic model necessary for a healthy flourishing society. It leads to some fundamental questions as to whether sport contributes to the building up of society or does it have detrimental effects.

At the turn of the twentieth to the twenty-first century, elite sports were mostly professional with the lead participants paid significantly. The problems of gambling and sponsorship associated with the ever-increasing participation and prize money were beginning to ‘raise eyebrows.’ Sponsorship necessary to meet these rising costs was impacting. The discrepancy in the amounts male and female sports people were paid was a source of disquiet. This disquiet flowed through to media exposure. Gambling has been a societal problem for decades but now with excessive advertising on television or the internet, the grooming of young lives has remained irresponsible.

Within a decade the trends that were appearing have often grown exponentially. Elite golf has had massive prize money for a considerable time, but the recent development of the Liv Organization program has extended this to exorbitant levels. A single tournament offering three-figure million-dollar prize money to the winner is commonly perceived to be out of all proportion. However, other questions arise. The money provided comes from a closed country (Saudi Arabia) whose human rights fall far short of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. Its organiser Greg Norman, being questioned on the efficacy of such action denies that morality has nothing to do with such a sport. The concern that such a country has political motives to ‘sports-wash’ its behaviour is of little interest to him.

Sponsorship has become such a vital partner for elite athletes. Both its necessity for athletes to participate full-time in both individual or team participation, in harmony with the opportunity to advertise for excessive profits has reached a tipping point. Recently in Australia, a football team and the Australian cricket team both rejected the long-held sponsorship contracts over ethical issues. Players lead the advertising with uniforms covered with iconic labels denoting their sponsors. The recent development of this pattern arose with the overseeing organisation promoting a message through a sponsored game. The issue concerned the ‘LGBTQ’ community. While commonly supported across society is does still contradict the fundamental beliefs of some. Players were required to wear specially designed outfits promoting the cause. This was opposed by some players who were consequently required to stand down from participating in those games.

For professional sports that rely upon crowd support, which is necessary for attracting sponsors, the social policies are generally designed to enhance the reputation of the organisation. Promotional days such as indigenous, pride, and pink (breast cancer) games are done with goodwill but as much for attracting broader interest from the wider population for reputational purposes. Controversial subjects are naturally not addressed. One of the most obvious examples involved the South African Apartheid issue. Sport continued with South Africa until global opinion became too negative. In recent times player opposition to sponsor companies associated with climate change issues has led to the termination of contracts. One of the more contentious issues plaguing sport at the current time is excessive gambling advertising. Television and social media are flooded by gambling companies with little regard for the damage to lives and the grooming of the underage.

Sport is such a popular form of entertainment across most countries, but its relationship with society is a tenuous one. Financial remuneration and reward, advertising and sponsorship, and social policy are the components that test the place sport holds in society. In the context of the holistic and integral model of society, professional sport is in danger of separating itself from the broader domain of sport and recreation necessary for promoting health and well-being across society. Its’ win at all costs isolates it to a self-indulgent domain for the exclusive benefit of a small minority. The Liv golfing tournament is a typical example. Such exclusiveness blinds it to moral and social responsibility.

The question I continue asking is whether, in Australia, sport can hold its status as a sacred icon of Australian identity.

SPORTS LOVING AUSTRALIANS: A SACRED OBSESSION

A nation obsessed

The extraordinarily elevated place that sport holds in the Australian way of life is reflected in comments by two former Prime Ministers. Prime Minister John Howard (1996 – 2007) was known to speak of the most honored position in Australia as that of the captain of the Australian cricket team. Prime Minister Bob Hawke (1983 – 1991) colorfully declared that all employers should not hesitate to give their employees a holiday following Australia II’s historic win in the 1983 Americas Cup regatta. One might well ask how could such eminent leaders, generally so careful about every word or message they convey, could confidently express such opinions. The answer is simply found in understanding the depth of passion Australians have for their sport. It could be said that Australians regard sport as sacred to their way of life. If this statement seems to be an overstatement, then it is well worth asking, “How many countries would have their most famous deceased racehorse displayed in the state museum?” Sport and culture are here seen to be intricately interwoven.

So significant is sport to Australians that an evaluation of its life without an understanding of their attitude towards sport would lead to an incomplete result. Their sporting prowess influences people’s sense of well-being. Success in any international sporting event is so important that it is greeted with great acclaim. To compound this mentality Melbournians lead the way by proclaiming their city as the “sporting capital” of the world. Its iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground seats one hundred thousand people and, in addition, to its own popular sports events, it has hosted many other international functions. In addition, Melbourne treasures its status as the home of the Australian Tennis Open, its place as one of the hosts of the International Formula One motor racing circuit, and its annual Melbourne Cup horse race, now of international status and has the reputation of being “the race that stops the nation”. This obsessive devotion to sport reflects just how sacred sport is to Australians.

Understanding the Sacred

As Australians seek to make meaning out of their lives they regularly turn to sport as one of the essential components that contribute to their story. Each thread that shapes the great tapestry of its national identity is sacred to its people and sport is certainly one important thread.

The sacred has been understood to indicate things of ultimate meaning and value. Often such things go so far as to have a quality that surpasses the common, yet these sacred realities are the very things that expand and intensify the meaning of our daily existence.

In our postmodern era, contemporary perceptions suggest that the thought of separation between the spiritual and the common is inaccurate. All things are interrelated. Nothing can be truly isolated or broken away from other things. Scholars such as Sri Aurobindo, Laszlo, Wilber, Gebser, and Beck are a few of the leading minds to have elaborated upon this integral understanding of life. Their approach encourages us to respect all things as expressions of the sacred and recognize them as being means by which we can understand the sacred meaning of our lives. Ken Wilber builds his integral theory around a model which describes all experience under the categories of physical science, sociology, culture and psychology. (Wilber, 2006, 18f) Each of these categories is integrated with the other. He proceeds to describe these categories as the manifestation of the three ‘faces’ of the spirit of God, the good, the true, and the beautiful. (Moore 2008, 161)

In searching for the sacred in Australia, then, it is natural to turn to sport for its contribution. I believe we can gain great insight into its sacredness to Australian people by reflecting upon it in conjunction with Australia’s national history. Through this history, we will see the intermingling of Ken Wilber’s four categories of life, the physical, the sociological, the cultural, and the psychological. Each of these categories plays a part in revealing the sacredness of Australia’s story.

The impact of Australia’s early history on the first settlers' psyche

To understand why sport has taken such a primary place in the Australian psyche we begin by reflecting upon both Australia’s history and geography. While there are some records of sports or games played by indigenous Australians there is little evidence to suggest that such activity contributed to the present state of sports in Australia. (Moore 2008, 283) Essentially its preoccupation with sport is a characteristic of the European era of its history, which covers a relatively short period of just over two hundred years. Its European history began with its discovery in 1770 (Clark 1982, 14) and its settlement began in the following decades with the great southern island continent being used as a penal colony for the British in the 18th and early 19th centuries. This created a very harsh foundation for this latest era of its history. Convicts were expatriated for relatively minor offenses to solve poor living conditions in England. The punishment was harsh for relatively small offenses as a partial solution to the problems caused by poor living conditions in England. This punishment by exile was harsh, yet it was imposed for even relatively small offenses such as stealing bread. Sentences were passed as seven, fourteen, or twenty-one years for crimes of increasing degrees of seriousness. Imprisonment was usually the most unpleasant, and further punishment for troublesome prisoners was often brutal. Thus disdain for authority grew amongst prisoners, while simultaneously support amongst fellow sufferers became commonplace. The relaxed, yet loyal camaraderie which now exists amongst fellow Australians - regularly referred to as mateship - is acknowledged as central to the Australian character and can possibly be traced back to its earliest white settlement years.

If the early events of its penal history were harsh, then when freedom did come there was a very harsh land waiting to be conquered. Theirs was a very physical way of life. Only those who embraced this extraordinary challenge with determination and a willingness to persist were the ones who could hope to survive. Thus from the beginning, Australians learned to be physical and determined, and loyal amongst their own as they faced their adversaries.

Geography made its own particular contribution. Ship travel from England to Australia might take three to five months without sight of land before travellers disembarked in what seemed to them to be the most distant land on the planet, a land that had been discovered only a few years before. Isolation was a primary characteristic of early settlement in Australia. Although it was possible for some, few dared dream of the chance to return to a homeland that had offered them the little opportunity in the past. The early Australians had to learn to live in a land far from the rest of the world.

Thus the Australian psyche was shaped by its early history.

Three events that enabled Australians to reclaim some pride

Three events over the following century helped the new Australians to reclaim a relationship with their formerly known world. In each case, it is reasonable to argue that the living conditions in the new land actually shaped the behavior of the Australians in these endeavours.

The first event was simply the opportunity to play cricket against their rivals, a team from England. From its earliest years, the common pastime for the new colonial settlement was cricket, a popular sport played in the motherland. Not only did it provide a distraction from the harsh way of life but it provided an opportunity for a pleasant social forum. It was one real opportunity to reestablish some pride in relation to those who had treated them so badly either as convicts or as inferior if they had come freely looking for new opportunities. The first English team to tour Australia was in 1861. (Headon 2001, 58) In 1863 George Pan led a side to tour Australia. In 1868 a touring team of Aboriginals became the first team to visit England from overseas. In 1873 W.G. Grace led an English team to Australia. And in 1878 a team of white Australians toured England. The great heritage of Australian and English cricketing rivalry had begun. Far from being the inhabitants of a forgotten, neglected or isolated land, Australians became worthy competitors – and thus a competitive relationship was forged. (Green 1988, 88)

The second event was not so much one event but rather two over several decades. Neither was it a sporting event - but nevertheless, it called for physical attributes similar to those apparent in the Australian sporting psyche. It was Australia’s willingness to enter the two World Wars. In both wars, the Australians developed a substantial reputation for their abilities to fight, cope with harsh conditions and display great loyalty. Most importantly Australia was very much involved in the events of the wider world and thus Australians regained their pride and sense of self-respect. By the mid-twentieth century, improved transportation made more realistic the possibility of regular travel between Australia and the wider world. Australians were ready to take their place on the world stage.

The third great event that stands significantly in the history of Australia’s sporting development was the 1956 Olympic Games, held primarily at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. (Gordon 1994, 203) This surely was the symbolic statement that declared that Australia was part of the world community. These have been well remembered as the friendly games for this was the first time that the Games had concluded with the athletes entering the stadium for the final ceremony as one great mass of participants and not in national groupings. The Australian camaraderie had spilled over to all others whom it respected, whether friend or opponent. If this event became an iconic statement about Australia’s standing in the world, it also consolidated the iconic standing that Australia’s sporting heroes would hold within its own culture. The success in swimming and athletics of Australians, both men and women, proved beyond doubt that Australians could match the rest of the world. Cuthbert, Strickland, Jackson, Landy, Fraser, (Gordon 1994, 212) Crapp, Henricks, and Rose became heroes in the minds of Australians. (Atkinson 1999) They stand beside other great Australian sportspeople who had reached the pinnacle of the international sport during these years. Within the tennis world Sedgeman, Hoad, Laver, and Fraser amongst the men and Smith amongst the women, - along with Thompson (Smith 1982) on the golf circuit - had become Australian heroes.

The emergence of sporting “icons”.

The emergence of such an array of Australian sports heroes inevitably created a measure against which other similarly successful sportspeople could be evaluated. Donald Bradman stood alone and became immortalised in Australian history for his achievements. (Headon 2001, 168) which far exceed those of any other cricketer from any other nation. Such was his exceptional status that he became an icon of not only cricket but even sport itself. Clearly, he stands on the very pinnacle of Australia’s sporting mountain. Strangely the second great sporting icon for Australians is the legendary racehorse, Phar Lap. (Headon 2001, 228) Racing during the time of the Great Depression he brought hope and success to struggling and depressed people. The fact that following his untimely death he was mounted and displayed in the Melbourne museum indicates just how significantly he entered the hearts and minds of a people always eager to embrace their champions.

It is through these great figures of sporting achievement that we can reflect upon and gain an insight into the psyche of Australian sports lovers. For a people so wounded as convicts and isolated on this distant land, these iconic sports heroes provided the necessary message to proclaim our value, worth, and ability. The short European history had not provided deep enough foundations for broad excellence in other fields. The physically harsh way of life shared by all meant that Australia’s iconic heroes would most likely emerge in the physically orientated world. The mateship prevalent across the nation meant that one person’s success was shared and claimed by all. The identity of Australians was formed through their physicality and, most importantly, their sport.

These icons have been elevated to such a level that, rising out of the struggle of Australia’s history they shine as beacons of inspiration and are so perceived as sacred. They are both inspirational for others to follow and symbolic of who we all are. The Australian culture was strongly flavoured by its devotion to sport and its iconic heroes.

A time of transition

It could be said that the 1956 Olympic Games formed a transitional signpost for Australian sporting history. (Gordon 1994, 203) They took place at a time in Australia’s history when sport was changing from being an amateur activity to a professional one. This transition was well assisted by the emergence of the country as a truly prosperous land providing all people with a great opportunity to pursue the lifestyle of their dreams. Australia is sometimes referred to as the Lucky Country. To further develop an understanding of this latest era of Australian sporting history and see why is so sacred to its people we need to consider several factors. Geography, wealth, expanding immigration, the variety of opportunities, the strength of both body and character necessary to survive – especially in the early days - attitude to work and recreation, all played some part in shaping this development over the second half of the twentieth century.

To begin our reflection upon Australia’s extraordinary development we need to cast our mind back to 1856 when by legislation what was known as the “eight-hour day” was implemented. Its advocates maintained that, of the twenty-four hours of a day, eight hours should be allocated for work, eight hours for rest, and eight hours for recreation. This was the first occasion on which such a pattern of time use was established anywhere across the world. It was a clear indication of the enormously high regard the Australian population held for the importance of recreation and sport in their lifestyle. It was this mentality that would ensure that ‘when the time was right for the massive growth in sport and recreation the opportunity could be grasped wholeheartedly. I believe that such a state of mind was well and truly entrenched in the Australian psyche by the middle of the twentieth century.

Australian geography; land, surrounding coastal waters, and climate were all important conditions that made the country so conducive to many different types of sports and recreational activities. The climate is such that sport is played throughout the entire year. The abundance of land meant that there was never a shortage of facilities. It is also worth emphasizing that the expansion of activities was aided by the influx of migrants from Europe following the World Wars and, toward the end of the century, from Asia and Africa. It would be difficult to compile a complete list outlining the variety of such activities that appeared in this country throughout this prosperous half-century – but a sample of significantly supported sports includes football, cricket, tennis, golf, squash, basketball, netball, lawn bowls, hockey, baseball, softball, surfing, life-saving, water skiing, scuba diving, hiking, snow skiing, track and field athletics, archery and rifle shooting. A complete list would reveal that the number is enormous. There are opportunities for people of all ages, from the youngest to the most senior of citizens, for all levels of capability - including the disabled – to participate in some form of sporting activity.

The social dimension of sporting life stands central to many of these activities. Whether through churches in the middle of the twentieth century, suburban teams, country townships, or gatherings of people with a common interest, sport provided a healthy activity for those who simply enjoy being together with others. We can again note the importance of these groupings in consolidating a person’s or group’s identity.

It is well worth noting two fundamentally different motivational streams for why people are involved in sports. The first is the professional sportsperson. Extraordinary amounts of money are paid to the elite sportsperson, for it is now expected that s/he will pursue his/she goal on a full-time basis. Following the poor performance of its Athletes in the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, the Government established its Australian Institute of Sport. The government has poured money into the training of its elite athletes in so many different areas of sport. Numerous other variations of such institutes were established to ensure that Australians can achieve the highest standards and status on the world stage. The best coaches are sought from across all countries. For different reasons, but equally important for the development of the professional, is the corporate sponsorship dollar. So highly are successful sports people regarded that to have a product endorsed by them is worth extraordinary amounts of money to business organizations. The Australian sporting world is clearly now a professional one. This is readily accepted by a large proportion of the population because sporting success is so important to the Australian identity. In fact, it is unquestioningly expected.

The amount of money committed to its sport is an indication of just how deeply the nation embraces it. It is one of the very concrete ways in which Australians indicate the sacredness of sport to their way of life. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of Australian sports it is necessary to recognize that the professional sports scene is really built upon the contributions of, social, health, and fitness-seeking citizens. Sport, to Australians, means both a healthy body and a healthy mind. People look forward to their eight hours per day of free time, their weekends, and four weeks’ annual holiday for the enjoyment of their favorite sport or recreational activity. It is the strength of this relaxed approach to one’s recreational lifestyle that undergirds the Australian’s appreciation of his/her elite sports hero. During a recent discussion on Melbourne radio listeners were invited to telephone and discuss what their involvement in a sporting club meant to them. The many passionate replies were perhaps best summed up by one well-known media commentator. He claimed that while achievement and other “trimmings” were part of any club involvement, the central issue was people. People could be themselves and build long-term relationships. We are again reminded that sport, for Australians, stands at the heart of both their personal and social identities, and also motivates their pursuit of health and fitness. Such health and fitness are so treasured that they stand for life itself - a further declaration of the sacred.

The two extremes of approaches to sport, on one hand, the professional, and on the other, the voluntary, come together to illustrate the passionate nature of the Australian sporting mentality. The general populace is devoted as spectators to its most popular “bread and butter” sports. Here I speak of its national cricket team in the summer and the football codes in the winter. From the latter decades of the nineteenth century, these sports captured the hearts and minds of the local population. Week in and week out throughout the winter month massive crowds follow their favorite football teams and built countless rivalries. Voluntary support became compulsive devotion to their superheroes. Throughout the summer the less frequent occasions, but eagerly-awaited opportunities, to see the world elite cricketers battle it out captivate Australians. It is the place these two great sports hold in the hearts of the Australian sporting public that reveals the depth of Australians’ love of the sport. The rhythms of time, from weekly patterns to the seasons of the year and special annual events shape people’s calendars. Sport becomes deeply entrenched in the fabric of people’s lives.

In recent years the extent of media coverage has grown to dominate their programming. The appetite of the Australian for sports coverage seems insatiable. It is worth noting that the sports radio station that recently went to air in Melbourne to provide a twenty-four-hour discussion of all sports has proved to be a great success. The popularity of sports nights with champion sportspeople providing entertainment and the prolific availability of sports books indicate the extent to which sport consumes people’s lives.

Some lasting divisions

The strength of interest in sports of its citizens has generally served to unite the people of Australia, yet it would be wrong to assume that this is a comprehensive evaluation. Throughout Australia’s history sport has been a male-dominated activity. Restrictions have always limited the opportunities for women. While recent decades have seen significant changes to this great divide, generally women are not afforded the same adulation as men, even though female participation in sports is strong. Netball, basketball, tennis, track and field athletics, swimming, gymnastics, and field hockey are examples of well-supported female sports activities. Participation by the young females of the country is as strong as that of young males. Women’s National teams have reached pinnacles on the international stage similar to those reached by the men’s teams, yet the financial remuneration offered to successful women athletes or women’s sporting teams is a very small portion of that offered to men and their teams. Commercial television coverage is determined by the advertising dollar so there is a significant lack of coverage of women’s sports by the media.

As an increasingly developing multicultural country sport in Australia is only on the fringes of providing unity amongst sports people from all cultures. From the earliest years of its history, the elite level of sport was dominated by white English or Australian-born and English-speaking men. Their more robust forms of football were seen as proof of physical superiority over European soccer. It took many years for this to change. (Tatz 2000, 140 - 142) By the end of the twentieth century, it was common for different codes of football to name “Teams of the century”. In “Australian Rules Football”, of the numerous teams named, versions of the Teams of the century consisting of players with Greek or Italian heritage were proudly named and honoured. Finally, it was clearly acknowledged that in Australia a sportsperson of whatever national background could display the level of excellence and mentality respected by all Australians. The multicultural nature of modern Australian society is increasingly being witnessed in the sports arena. A multicultural example of particular importance concerns that of the indigenous Australian. The generally divided nature of white and black Australian society was grounded in a strongly prejudiced attitude. Such an attitude was, in fact, enshrined in law known as the “White Australian Policy”. Its roots go back to the middle of the 19th century with the general dislike of Asian people who had flocked to Australia for the gold rush period. Immigration was restricted, from 1901 by law to white people. Gradually these restrictions were reduced until finally, in 1975, the passing of the Racial Discrimination Act by Parliament brought a legislative end to the prejudice. Attitudes to indigenous Australians were caught up in such a policy with voting rights really not granted to all adult Aborigines until 1965. During the 20th century, the occasional Aboriginal was able to succeed at the highest level of international sport. Evonne Goolagong in tennis, (Collins 1975) and Lionel Rose in boxing are fondly remembered, as national sporting heroes. The most recent example is that of Cathy Freeman, who won a gold medal at the Sydney Olympic Games of 2000. Another area of significant development with regard to this cultural issue has been the involvement of Aboriginals in the uniquely Australian Rules brand of football. This is the sport that the Aboriginal community has most strongly embraced. It’s a free-flowing character, with multiple skills of both foot and hand, combined with speed and spontaneous and intuitive teamwork, capturing most readily the freedom-loving nature of the Aboriginal. The elite teams of this football code have increasingly welcomed a number of Aboriginals. They bring some envied qualities hard to find in people of other racial backgrounds. However, the increasingly high status accorded to successful Aboriginals in football should not blind us to the fact that much still remains to be accomplished in improving the place of indigenous Australians in society.

Sport continues to reflect the state of life across the entire breadth of Australia’s culture; racial relationships are still being worked out. But just as the nation at large addresses this issue so do the organizers of sport continue to work toward harmonious resolutions. The image of gold medalist Cathy Freeman lighting the Olympic flame remains an iconic symbol of the emerging place attributed to indigenous Australians as equal fellow sports people. Even further it focuses the Australian mind on the belief that all citizens of this country are equal. Its message is characteristic of the Australian bywords of “mateship” and “a fair go for all”. Such concepts born out of their earliest commitment to supporting one another in the harshness of the penal days declare very clearly ideals sacred to Australians.

Sport is not a utopian escape from life, rather for Australians it is a fundamental expression of life, where success and failure meet and where problems and solutions are sought.

Monumental icons

Sport is a wonderful expression of the life of a people. It covers a broad range of admirable human qualities; discipline, intuition, free spirit, skill, and courage to name a few. If certain humans so excel that they are elevated to ‘iconic’ status by the general populace, then the arenas within which they accomplish such feats become parts of the ongoing story of their accomplishments. Australia is blest with thousands of miles of golden sand-rimmed coastline so conducive to surfing and swimming. Yet it is Bells beach that has become its “iconic” location as the symbol of board surfing or Bondi for bodysurfing. While other beaches may be preferred by many, Bells is the location for the Australian event of the annual world championship series, while Bondi is the “iconic” location of the recreational sun-worshipping beach-lover. Both have become monuments to their sport or recreation because of the long history of their popularity. Numerous other sports have developed similar physical monuments as symbols of their histories, yet the grandest of all such sporting locations is the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground. (Dunstan 2000) Located in the heart of Melbourne, the self-proclaimed sporting capital of the world, devotees of this ground take pride in their belief that it is the benchmark for the “world’s best practices” for such venues. Known as the people’s ground for its convenience to spectators who have witnessed over the years its unfolding story of epic sporting battles; it has a highly prized membership of one hundred thousand people, with another one hundred and seventy-five thousand on the waiting list. The arena itself is regarded as sacred ground and is generally protected from any intruders other than participants. Within the massive grandstand structure, the Long Room is fondly referred to as the “holy of holies”. The ‘G’ as it is also affectionately known, is the pinnacle of the iconic sporting locations of the country. Such venues become highly regarded as sacred spaces.

Planning the future

As one looks to the future of the Australian nation, an evaluation of its sport will need to be part of the agenda. Sport will, no doubt, remain significant in contributing to the formation of the identity of Australians. The “temples” of sports heroes, now referred to as “halls of fame” will continue to occupy a prime place in the Australian story. Many of these heroes will be upheld as icons of accomplishment. They will continue to provide images to which young people will aspire to accomplish their own dreams. What will need to be kept in mind is the way the world is changing. The global nature of modern human society means that greater knowledge of the plight of so many people in the Third World – and other – countries increases the responsibility that the fortunate few have toward all other humans. Just how much money should be directed toward accomplishing sporting dreams? With just how much money can individuals be rewarded? At what point does the sum become immoral? Are all stakeholders equally valued? Money in itself is not the problem. It is the psyche of the people that influences the way people manage their lives. The pursuit of excellence by elite athletes can remain inspirational to all people simply seeking health and fitness. Sport can be sacred to a people without it becoming its God. Questions of balance will need to be addressed.

When sport holds such an elevated place in the life of the nation it has great opportunities to formulate policies and shape the attitudes of its citizens. It would be a great sadness if it only had its role as an outlet or escape from the remainder of life. Clearly, in Australia, it is much more than this. It is so deeply entrenched in the psyche of the people and the culture of the populace that it has become a sacred part of Australian life. It's central standing in society allows it to provide a great opportunity for leadership. Already sports have provided a forum for addressing issues such as religious discrimination, racial prejudice, gambling, drugs, and environmental concerns. It can continue to be a major player in addressing these and other issues as well as continuing to shape both the general health of its citizens and the social well-being of the nation as a whole. If the 1956 Olympic Games mark a time of transition from an amateur to a professional approach to sport, then the global nature of the 21st century will mark another time of transition. Rather than being an arena solely for individual glory and reward it will be the era of greater social responsibility. The sacred messages of its sport will be redefined accordingly.

Conclusion

In my own case, I recognize how two great stories have been instrumental in shaping my own life and search for the sacred. The two great stories are sport and religion. My family tree reveals a connection with H.C.A. Harrison one of the leading sportsmen of his era and joint founder of Australian Rules Football. (Hibbins 1987) My own father was an elite baseball player of the 1930s, representing both Melbourne Cricket Club, the baseball division, and Victoria. Following my own modest sporting career, I have been a Member of the Melbourne Cricket Club for forty years. In addition to this sporting background, I was also brought up in the Anglican Church of Australia. I was ordained as a Minister of the church in 1973. Our family life ate, slept, and breathed a life shaped by these two great stories.

Now as an Anglican priest of 35 years and a lifelong sports lover reflecting upon life in the 21st century I am mindful of the changes taking place not only in Australia but right across the world. Our “global village” has confronted all with new perspectives, opportunities, and responsibilities. The sacred stories that have bound people together and shaped the meaning and purpose of their lives have become far more interwoven in our multicultural societies. Many stories representing different traditions live side by side. In the Western world, Christianity is not now as dominant as it was in the past, therefore its story is not as readily turned to or respected. The Administrators of the main sporting codes are regularly discussing whether the once-sacred holy day of Good Friday should be preserved for religious purposes only. Asian traditions are entertained and embraced by increasing numbers. The rationally dominated scientific philosophies still abound, while the economic rationalists demand their say. This melting pot of philosophies shapes not only Australian society but societies across the world. A new era of history is emerging and an understanding of the sacred is being reassessed. Many of the great stories of each different philosophy will help shape new perspectives. Sport in Australia will continue to be considered as one contributor to the search for the sacred. Far from a philosophy of life, to Australians, it is a vital component through which its life is both expressed and celebrated. It continues to be one expression of life through which Australians find meaning, value, and a sense of belonging.

In this new integral era, the various stories that bring meaning to people’s life will intermingle and speak to one another. From a Christian perspective Australian sport could be said to carry the marks of the great Crucifixion/Resurrection story. White Australian history began with death in England and its ways, and the pain and suffering of rejection. Today Australians regularly celebrate their sport as an expression of their triumph in life. Relatively small in number, nothing deters them from ever tackling the Goliaths of international sport. They continue to count each and every victory as an affirmation of their own valued identity. Their sporting life is one of their declarations of resurrection. Just as this example illustrates how the stories of two traditions can come together we are entering an era of history where this will happen even more so. An integral perspective cannot separate one great story from the other. Each story contributes at least something to the whole. Sport is one way of viewing Australian life. It is one way of reflecting upon that which it regards as sacred. Sport is one story that illustrates how Australians experience and make meaning of life. It is one way of reflecting upon that which it regards as sacred.

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