Learning curve to Sydney 2000

Some of the sporting highlights of 1998 were provided by the Commonwealth Games but it may be that their true merit will come as a dry run for an event that won't happen until next year.

What did we learn from the Commonwealth Games? Were they worth it, and will the experience do anything to help the effort at Sydney 2000?

Too right, says Sports Foundation boss and purse-string puller Chris Ineson, head of the organisation that is the financial backbone of New Zealand sporting endeavour.

OK, the criteria for selection may need tweaking, and yes, some of New Zealand's 218 athletes had an easy ride in Kuala Lumpur and didn't meet expectations.

Not next time, Ineson says, and those not willing or able to perform to world standard will not be in Sydney, he vows.

The foundation has $14 million targeted at elite sports performers this year. Some of these competitors will be KL Games vets who have proved they're worth investing in, many others will come from sports including yachting, equestrian and triathlon that are not part of the Commonwealth programme but where New Zealand has significant hopes in the Olympics.

"As a general statement, we can always do better," Ineson says when asked about the KL medal tally of eight golds, seven silvers and 20 bronze. "We had expectations across a range of sports that weren't met. But what we did find was a range of athletes who did measure up, athletes we know can achieve in Sydney, and those are the ones we will focus on."

The New Year will bring an announcement of the Sports Foundation's plan to develop elite talent. Basically it will involve financial, sports science, medical and transport assistance and help for athletes and their coaches to pursue the appropriate training regimens, with advice from experts in areas such as how to peak at the right time.

KL provided a variety of other pluses, Ineson said including management experience, letting young athletes experience a games village and the distractions that go with it; identification of which planning and preparation programmes worked, and, not least, where the foundation's dollars paid dividends.

"We took athletes to KL who were not up to it in terms of ability, fitness, injury or commitment. That won't happen at Sydney."

There will be casualties and Ineson makes no apologies. For example, hockey will receive a similar "general" funding this year (1999) but, whereas in 1998 the men's and women's national teams received equal backing, only the women came up to expectation in Malaysia and so the women will get a bigger payout because the foundation believes they are a better winning option.

In the likes of boardsailing, where Aaron McIntosh is world champ but he's pushed hard by Bruce Kendall and Jon Paul Tobin, all three will be funded through trials to find the best contender.

"We've backed winners in the past - we'll back even more winners in the future. The public and the corporations that support us want medals on the board. And at the end of the day that's also what the athletes and coaches want."

Corporates have been supportive post-Games, Ineson said, "very bullish over the sporting prospects for the next two years." The KL budget of $3.7m is likely to be dwarfed by what we'll spend on Sydney and it will need to be to produce winners. For anyone wondering if bucks buy medals, the Aussies spent more than $4m on their swim team alone.

Along with the Rugby World Cup that will bring attention if we win, there is the netball world championships in Christchurch next year and the start of the America's Cup campaign to focus attention on New Zealand ahead of Sydney 2000.

"It's the nearest thing we'll have to a home Olympic Games in our lifetime," Ineson said. "We see it as a tremendous opportunity. And yes, we learnt from KL. And yes, we are putting those lessons into action."
- Peter Jessup, sports reporter

Pictured: Chris Ineson