Olympic body warns sports to raise the standard

Sports will face major funding cuts and have their Olympic aspirations dashed unless their affairs are put in order, the New Zealand Olympic Committee warned yesterday.

Responding to Sport and Recreation's Commonwealth Games review released on Friday, the NZOC said a variety of sports could be financially battered with Sparc promising a more focused approach to its spending.

Sparc recommended that sports that can win medals should be targeted to increase their depth of talent and their international competitiveness.

Sparc, the Government's sports funding agency, had predicted 46 medals at the March showpiece, but New Zealand won only 31 - its poorest haul since Brisbane in 1982.

NZOC secretary-general Barry Maister said that while the policy could prevent some sports reaching the Olympics, the NZOC agreed standards should be raised.

"We think they [Sparc] should raise the bar and say 'here is the expectation we have and if you measure up to it then you get some funding'," Maister said.

"I think as long as it's fair and open, and sports can get their act together and meet the standards then that's fair.

"We want all of our sports to raise the bar. The NZOC board believes we are the guardians of the standard.

"We select the teams and we want to raise the bar in terms of selection standards and that's totally in line with what Sparc are saying."

The NZOC's main concern with Sparc's approach was ensuring that cash was available at the base level to help organisations reach the higher criteria.

Maister stressed that Sparc should retain some flexibility in funding because sports that were not delivering medals now, could produce them in the future.

The NZOC also fired a broadside at Sparc, confirming its stance that sports bodies should maintain their independence for decision making at the high performance level.

With Sparc holding the purse strings, many organisations have ceded to its directives regarding finances, but Maister felt when it came to developing the sport, bureaucrats should stay at arm's length.

"Withdrawing funding is a Sparc prerogative, it's their funding - running it is the sport's prerogative and that's where we see a difference," Maister said.

The NZOC also queried Sparc's reference to funding "sports that matter to New Zealanders", calling for further definition.

"Some sports won't produce a gold medal, but it continues to provide that opportunity and enjoyment to players and the public," Maister said. "We would be concerned if it shut them off completely."

Among the aspects of Sparc's report the NZOC also supported was the need for both groups to work more closely ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics; the need to identify the element of high-performance culture; and emphasis on coaching development and resourcing.

- NZPA