AUSTRALIA
We are still courting
year? In football (Australian Rules) you might sign up just for a season of 10 games.” It’s not only club structures that need
an overhaul. O’Brien argues grassroots club racing needs to be overhauled, with a focus on creating more “events” rather than run-of-the-mill regatta experiences for competitors. “We need to revisit our regatta
structure and create events. The Head of the Schoolgirls is fantastic because there are no restrictions on how many crews you can put in. If you want to come and row, you can come and row. It’s just amazing that we have all these archaic ideas about how to do things. “It’s really about having fun with the sport. Those kids who are having fun and enjoying what they are doing, they will become competitive both within themselves and with their peers and progress into hopefully the high- performance space. As people are
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exposed to the sport and learn to work harder and do the volume of training, the ones who keep a sense of fun about it are the ones who do well.” Like most rowers, O’Brien isn’t in the
sport for the cash. He is quick to point out if you’re in rowing for the money, you’re in the wrong game. But it is a big- dollar industry. The Australian Sports Commission
poured $7.2 million into rowing in 13-14, a figure only exceeded by that spent in cycling and swimming – both sports where Australians have often dominated. The allocation is a 4.8% increase on previous years and the Commission has told Rowing Australia to improve its governance to retain the investment, with the expectation the dollars will convert to gold medals. “The distance [travelled to compete]
is certainly a challenge for us. It’s a huge cost for us. I head off Friday week for our European campaign. Our senior team is a
traditional club structures, but really if they’re going to be viable, our clubs have to shift from clubs to being businesses.
CHRIS O’BRIEN
A$1.9 million (£1.13 million) exercise, to do selections, bring people in from around the country, cover travel subsidies, let alone what athletes spend themselves. We have opportunities to do more regattas in Europe and I usually think ‘that’s great, but after the regatta, you go back home.’ We are paying a lot of money to stay there. Of the $1.9 million, 51% is accommodation and meals.” So if not for the money, why work in the sport at all? “I work with amazing people, particularly athletes. Helping them create an impact on what they can do, that’s the enjoyable part. Finding a common objective, getting together and seeing what you can achieve, that’s what keeps me here.” ROW360
ROW360 // Issue 001
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