Bruce in West Oz
New member
Thanks for the medals, fellas.
Here's your reward ... you're sacked, find a new job.
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Coaches get the bullet
Sunday Times, Perth, 24 September 2000
The gloss has been taken off the Australian team's three-medal haul with the news its world-class coaching team is to be broken up.
Head coach Bill Murray and his assistants Luca Scribani Rossi and Greg Chan (clay target), Miro Sipek (rifle) and John Gillman (pistol) are today looking for jobs overseas after being told their contracts, which expire on December 31, will not be renewed.
This is despite a second consecutive successful Olympics in which Australia won three medals and finished fifth on the shooting medals table.
Until Atlanta four years ago, Australia had won just three shooting medals.
The coaches, who have overseen Australia's success in the past six years, were told of their axings during the Games.
'This is just devastating and a big backward step for the sport in Australia,' Murray said.
'It will result in shooting in this country dying at the elite level.'
The panel of international coaches had lifted the profile and performance level of Australian shooting to a new level with dual Olympic men's trap gold medallist Michael Diamond and gold and silver double trap medallist Russell Mark both benefitting from their expertise.
However, a slash in government funding to the Australian Sports Commission's elite sports program has resulted in the loss of Australia's best shooting coaches.
The funding, which amounts to about $1.5 million a year, will be taken away from a professional umbrella and instead be directed to each individual branch of the Australian Shooting Association -- clay target, rifle, pistol and running target.
There will be no paid coaching positions.
'So despite our success in Sydney, we leave the place pretty devastated and very concerned about where the sport is headed,' Murray said.[/quote]
Emphasis added.
Where the sport is headed? Down the gurgler!!!
When funding is cut like this, it means shooting is no longer officially recognised as a "sport", but just a "recreation" -- which makes it easier to cut down.
Immaculate timing, too.
B
Here's your reward ... you're sacked, find a new job.
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Coaches get the bullet
Sunday Times, Perth, 24 September 2000
The gloss has been taken off the Australian team's three-medal haul with the news its world-class coaching team is to be broken up.
Head coach Bill Murray and his assistants Luca Scribani Rossi and Greg Chan (clay target), Miro Sipek (rifle) and John Gillman (pistol) are today looking for jobs overseas after being told their contracts, which expire on December 31, will not be renewed.
This is despite a second consecutive successful Olympics in which Australia won three medals and finished fifth on the shooting medals table.
Until Atlanta four years ago, Australia had won just three shooting medals.
The coaches, who have overseen Australia's success in the past six years, were told of their axings during the Games.
'This is just devastating and a big backward step for the sport in Australia,' Murray said.
'It will result in shooting in this country dying at the elite level.'
The panel of international coaches had lifted the profile and performance level of Australian shooting to a new level with dual Olympic men's trap gold medallist Michael Diamond and gold and silver double trap medallist Russell Mark both benefitting from their expertise.
However, a slash in government funding to the Australian Sports Commission's elite sports program has resulted in the loss of Australia's best shooting coaches.
The funding, which amounts to about $1.5 million a year, will be taken away from a professional umbrella and instead be directed to each individual branch of the Australian Shooting Association -- clay target, rifle, pistol and running target.
There will be no paid coaching positions.
'So despite our success in Sydney, we leave the place pretty devastated and very concerned about where the sport is headed,' Murray said.[/quote]
Emphasis added.
Where the sport is headed? Down the gurgler!!!
When funding is cut like this, it means shooting is no longer officially recognised as a "sport", but just a "recreation" -- which makes it easier to cut down.
Immaculate timing, too.
B