Conference to explore Victoria's sporting winners

An upcoming two-day conference, Sport in Victoria – Who’s Really Winning?, is set to bring together over 20 experienced panellists who will assess the current impact sport has on Victoria and how it affects other areas, such as tourism and the local community.

To be held at the MCG, the conference will feature Committee for Melbourne Chief Executive Kate Roffey, Sport Australia Hall of Fame Chairman John Bertrand, Netball Australia Chief Executives Kate Palmer, and Australian Grand Prix Corporation Chief Executive Andrew Westacott among a large group of industry leaders.

Major events and the economy, promoting recreation and active living, the impact of elite sport on community participation, Victorian athletes on the world stage and of course drugs, ethics and science, will all be on the agenda, as well as delving into the question of what it really means for Melbourne to be labelled the ‘sporting capital of the world’. It’s a timely discussion off the back of a string of major international events, including the FIFA World Cup, Tour de France and Commonwealth Games, and the announcement of a new five year deal to keep the Formula One Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

Backed by Victoria University, the Committee for Melbourne and The Age, and sponsored by the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce, this is the third in a series of conferences that have focused on key issues relevant to the State of Victoria’s economy, society and strategic environment.

Victoria University Chancellor George Pappas and Editor-in-Chief of The Age Andrew Holden will host the conference that includes seven sessions over the course of the two days at the MCG, each session having a different group of panelists to debate the issues.

In addition to Bertrand, Palmer, Roffey and Westacott , other experts speaking include:

• John O’Sullivan – Tourism Australia, Chief Executive

• John Wylie AM – Chair, Australian Sports Commission

• Caroline Wilson – Chief Football Writer, The Age

• David Grace QC – Athletics Australia, President

• Richard Ings – Former Chair, ASADA

• Professor Hans Westerbeek – Dean, College of Sport and Exercise Science, Victoria University

• Peter Gordon - Western Bulldogs, President

• Nicole Livingstone – Chief Executive Melbourne Vicentre Swimming Club

Victoria University Vice-Chancellor and President Peter Dawkins believes that the conference is the perfect opportunity to seriously discuss the impact of sport on Victoria and whether enough is being done to promote sport on multiple levels.

Questioning whether the there is too much emphasis on elite sport to the detriment of community participation, Professor Dawkins explains “the intent of the conference is to use the combined knowledge of experts in multiple fields, including senior government officials, business leaders, leading academics from Victoria University, elite athletes and senior sport administrators, to gain an insight into how we can position ourselves internationally in the business of sport, as well as balancing our focus on elite sport in a way that is complimentary to growing community participation.”

Roffey of the Committee for Melbourne adds “we are excited to have the opportunity to bring a focus on Sport in Victoria.

“Victoria is known for its love of sport and hosting major sporting events, so it is vital that we discuss how this affects our state, what we get out of it and how we might be able to improve going forward.”

Roffey adds “should Melbourne bid to host another Olympic Games? As the sporting capital of the world, most definitely yes”, as a teaser to some of the discussion and debate to unfold at the conference.

The Age Editor-in Chief Andrew Holden “bringing together a group of people with the stature of those attending is a rare occurrence, so it is vital that we put everything out on the table to really get into great depth about Sport in Victoria, and who’s really winning out of it.”

The Sport in Victoria – Who’s Really Winning? will be held at the MCG on Friday 14th and Friday 15th August .

Click here for further information on the Sport in Victoria conference.