Every aspiring athlete dreams of attending the Olympic Games. Once that is a possibility their parents, family and friends also dream of attending the Olympic Games and supporting them. The dream of being there and sharing a unique experience with someone you love.
Sadly for many in various corners of the globe the chance of watching their son or daughter perform will be beyond the means of many. Some do not even get the opportunity of seeing their child represent their nation even when they compete at home. Yet for many it is a very real possibility, and worth the expenditure.
Last Friday 308 days before the Tokyo Olympic Games next year Australian sailing announced the first athletes to be selected to represent Australia at the Games. Many believe that this is too far out from the Olympics, and that a lot can happen in almost a year, but those athletes know that their family and friends can book their flights in the knowledge that their children are baring injury going to be living the dream.
Other sports will not make their announcements so far ahead of time. In fact in Australia, the Australian Olympic Committee’s (AOC) selection committee “set a time and date by which NFs must submit Athlete nominations to the AOC Selection Committee.” (NF is National Federation).
The AOC advises the National Federations of the selection criteria that must be adopted, and upon which selection is based, in accordance with a number of factors such as Anti-doping rules. The AOC Selection Committee actually has the right to veto an athlete nominated by a national federation. Section 6.1.a of the Olympic Team Nomination and Selection By Laws states “The AOC Selection Committee is solely responsible for selecting Nominated Athletes to a Team.”
The stagger approach to team selection is understandable from a marketing perspective, in that it enables each sport to have its moment in the spotlight as they announce the athletes selected for their sport. It also ensures an ongoing narrative in the media leading up to the team’s departure for the Olympic Games. Therefore building the excitement and the anticipation in the lead up to the event commencing.
However is this fair on family and friends looking to support from the stands?
Some will no doubt argue that it has nothing to do with them, it is about the athletes, and the Australian team. Which is a valid point, but in many of the sports represented at the Olympic Games those athletes wearing the green and gold of Australia have only reached the heights of the Olympic Games thanks to the support of their family and friends. It was their parents who paid their annual subscriptions to participate as youngsters, bought their equipment, paid hospital bills, and ferried them to and from training and matches for more weeks than they can remember. Then there are the years of emotional support when disappointments came along with injuries or non-selection. So understandably if they can be there, they want to be there. They know better than anyone the journey that athlete has been on.
It may surprise some to hear that the athletes are not give tickets for their parents to watch them perform at the Olympic Games. They have to pre-purchase like any normal fan, and if unlucky, find an alternative way to get their hands on a ticket.
Many friends and family know that they cannot wait until the final selection to book flights and accommodation, so take the risk of booking in advance in the hope that their child or friend does qualify, or is picked to compete for Australia. Of course if they are not selected then they will get some money back, but not all.
Discussions with parents who have taken that risk in the past, and heard the amounts that have been spent and lost one wonders why there is not a better system in place.
Surely the AOC, which takes over the “ownership”of the athletes once they have been announced could bulk book accommodation in advance for parents of athletes. They would have no issues selling them once those representing Australia have been announced. They would clearly get their money back, and no doubt parents would enjoy the company of other athletes parents and hear the challenges that their child faced along the way.
Airfares may be a different matter, but if a plane can be chartered for the athletes, why couldn’t one be chartered for the parents, the only difference being a flat fee paid by all of the supporters wishing to travel? The one issue in a country the size of Australia would be that these supporters do not all come from one city, they would be spread across the nation, and in some cases would be adding flying time to their journey.
As we see the fees for junior participation in sport on the rise across the board one wonders why tickets cannot be found for those parents who travel to share this special moment with their child. There are certain events where this should not be an issue, even taking into account all of the nations competing. There are of course others, such as Athletics where numerous events are taking place at the same time and the volume of athletes and parents could make this an unviable proposition.
In addition there is the issue of the rising cost of hosting the Olympic Games. With most host Cities and nations recording massive losses from hosting the Games the last thing that they will want to see is more tickets given away and reducing revenue.
Despite these financial constraints on giving parents tickets, there must be a fairer way of ensuring that due to the late announcement of some teams and athletes they do not miss out. Could not the IOC hold back a certain number of tickets for each event for travelling parents. who once selected have access to purchase those tickets? If they do not take up that offer within a certain time frame the tickets go on general sale.
It does seem harsh that these key people in the lives of those representing their country at what is billed as the biggest multi-sport event have to roll the dice in terms of buying airfares, accommodation, and event tickets, in the hope that their child is selected or qualifies. Then if they are not, they lose out on two levels. In addition to while the Games are taking place having to offer vital support to the child who missed out on fulfilling their dream.
Spot on. Ditto for NZ