The TA rumour mill winds up again ... yawn
We got a call in the office today regarding Triathlon Australia (TA). It was from an anonymous source stating that there was going to be another restructure. A journalist's lot really. Taking calls from sources and never really knowing who they are and then waiting to see the story unfold.
But this story is different. Or is it?
How many times have we heard about the whole restructure notion come out of the hallways of TA? The inherent damage to the national profile of the sport has to rest with those who administer it and when we read or hear about a restructure it is certainly a tired topic. The Australian triathlon cohort must be sick and tired of hearing the word restructure coming out of the Triathlon Australia camp. Most athletes care nothing about the talk of restructure that comes out. They've heard it all before.
The last few years have seen triathlon disappear off the Australian sporting landscape albeit for a brief moment due to Emma Snowsill and Craig Alexander. There is no National Series, no TV presence and no understanding of what the sport is (see Ironman in Australia and you get Surf Ironman) . The one saving grace is the cancellation of the series this season. It saved some much needed money.
What TA need to do is basically show the their members and supporters that mean business. You could spill every position in the whole organisation but that amounts to nothing if nothing is the result. That there is talk but then everything is the same.
It's akin to supporting a struggling sporting team. Every few years a new coach or administrator or draft choice is touted as being the saviour of the team. The supporters get excited and memberships go up and the expectation is set. But sure as the sun comes up each day they are disappointed by the those who can't deliver on their promises. Then the cycle continues and in 3 - 4 seasons the same scenario is played out again complete with promises and hype.
We'll track what's happening up there in Sydney but to be honest until runs start being hit it is another empty rumour following this much maligned association.
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Comments (1)
by Jo, 17 March 2010It certainly looks like your comments aren't simply another rumour. I have also heard only today that Triathlon Australia's Cheif Executive Officer Andrew Hamilton employment was in fact terminated this week.
Finally our sport can now have positive direction forward. New Board Director Peter Hedge is obvioulsy a huge positive for this sport.
As you mentioned possibly other positions in the TA Organisation also need to be spilled. A whole restructure is long overdue at TA.