Australia known for its sportsmanship ? … nah !
When we think of a nation that literally Breathes, Eats and Sleeps “Sports” … instantly to our minds … the name Australia comes forth without any other second thoughts.
This is the nation … where the culture of Sports is ingrained in the very fabric of the society … and no surprises that this country has always been a great “Sporting Nation” in every game & tournment that it takes part in.
The other nation which qualifies to be the “Great Sports Nation” after Australia is USA. No wonder that these great two Great Sporting Nations often compete as “Arch Rivals” in almost every sporting event, be it Olympics, World Cup of individual sporting events, etc.
During the last cricket series played by the aussies against the visiting team India … the Australian Public criticized some of the “Captaincy Tricks” of Ricky Ponting on the field, and raised the topic of “Sportsmanship in Cricket” … they questioned as to how the sort of “aggression on the field” displayed by Ricky Ponting, can be regarded as “Aussie Style of Cricket” which is essentially playing “Tough Cricket”.
That perhaps expains the “Sportsmanship” that is ingrained in the societal fabric of Australia, wherein “True Sport” is respected and is the hallmark.
But it seems that even the Australian Public seem to be forgetting/neglecting their great virtue of “sportsmanship” … when one looks into the rise of the recent spate of attacks on the Indian Students and Expatriates in that country.
One Indian Expat in Australia says that the attacks against Indians in Australia have steadily increased … after Australia lost the No.1 Cricket Team Title, when they last played against India. Before that, there were no attacks against Indians at all ! … And the tragic element that the Indian Media is highlighting is that this has turned into a “racial abuse” agains Indians.
Is this the sort of sportsmanship that the Australian Society is known for … who love their sports very much ! … its like, you loose one series, and the “Competing Nation” becomes an “Enemy Nation” ! … and you are up in arms !
Or … because India rules the Cricketing World … controlling much of the finances … and the recent success of IPL in drawing lots of International Players in its fold … makes the hearts of the Australian Public burn with rage … hence these attacks against Indians in Australia … is it ?
If that is the case, then the Australian Society can shed its “pride” of being a “Sporting Nation”.
Vamsi
That’s hilarious — did you know that Aussies pay more attention to rugby and Aussie rules footy? Cricket isn’t given as much importance. I really doubt Aussies care about their cricket ranking. Now if it were rugby or Aussie rules, it would be a different story. This ‘expat’ obviously doesn’t know what he’s talking about…which confirms what I have been trying to say in my blog about how Indians fail to integrate with other cultures.
Psych Babbler
June 1, 2009 at 5:33 am
Might I add…the only time a big deal is made about cricket here is during the Ashes.
Psych Babbler
June 1, 2009 at 5:34 am
@ psych,
i presume that u are currently living in australia, and so, i take your word that rugby or “Aussie rules footy” is a passion in that country.
but its really hard to imagine that aussies dont love their “cricket”, apart from the ashes with england.
i agree that we indians have our own “culture” … which is acutally “not interfering with others lives and be quite contended with the lives we live” … maybe our “privateness” may give the impression that “we dont integrate with other cultures readily” as you say …
but, again you will find a lot of indians who are just “bindaas” and enjoy which ever culture/society they are in ! … if you mean the booze culture that the aussies are famous for, then you will find a lots booze lovers in indians as well !
but, we certainly dont treat our “guests” like the way in the incidents …
again, i think indians surely have the right to know why this is happenning to them quite frequently … and i dont think this is some needless hue/cry as you mentioned in your blog !
read your blog, liked the way you have put the issue.
http://over-acuppa-coffee.blogspot.com/2009/05/racial-row.html
cheers !
Vamsi
June 1, 2009 at 9:56 am