PDHPE Big Question 2022 Danya Albadran 10F

Sports clearly connect to cultural-identity, particularly in Australia. This is because sport allowed
Australia to have an identity separate from Britain, the recognition for Australia’s sporting
achievements, and the high participation and viewing rates Australian sports receive.

In 1870, Anthony Trollope remarked “Sports is not....necessity with...Americans...with the

Australians it is almost...home”. Australia adopted English-introduced sports, such as cricket. In
1838, Melbourne established its first cricket club, and in 1882, Australia won their first test in
England, starting The Ashes. Australia continues to participate in it, and over fourteen-million
Australians watched the 2017-18 series. Its historical significance coupled with its popularity
cements it in Australian-identity. As the most successful participant in the Cricket World-Cup,
Australia has won 60% of games played. It holds records for the greatest number of World-Cup
appearances and wins. Australia’s reputation for cricket reinforces sports’ place in Australia's
cultural-identity. Also, Melbourne is the world’s ‘Sporting Capital’, and in the 2000 and 2004
Olympics, Australia ranked 4th on the medal-tally, thus Australia’s identity as a sporting nation is
linked to its sporting achievements.

Sport also links to cultural-identity by being part of all Australians’ lives, and its role in uniting the
population. In 2021, 89% of Australians reported regularly playing sports. The average Australian
spends 2.4 hours watching, and 2.5 playing sport, versus 0.5 doing religious activities per week.
Sport is also a major part of Aboriginal and migrant communities' bi-cultural identities. In 1868, the
first all-Aboriginal cricket team played in England. Aboriginal-Australians continue participating in
national sports, with 11% of National Rugby-League players being Aboriginal. From this, icons such
as Cathy Freeman, the 9th fastest woman alive, and three-time Grand-Slam champion Ashleigh
Barty, have appeared. Migrant-Australians also have sports linked with their identities. For example,
most Pakistani-Australians participate in sports, particularly cricket, reflecting its importance in their
identities. This is highlighted by the prominence of Pakistani cricketers in Australia, including Usman
Khawaja, and Fawad Ahmed.
Migrant and Indigenous-Australians are highly represented in sport participation, showing the
national reach of sport and its universal importance to all Australians, and thus Australian culture.
Furthermore, the government takes steps to create sporting opportunities for all Australians. In
2019, it provided $3,400,000 to Disability Sports Australia, which assists disabled people with sport
participation. Moreover, Australia participated in every Paralympics since establishment, sending
179 athletes in 2021, showing the importance of sport in Australia, and thus its contribution to
identity.

Australians have broken records with their attendance at sporting-events, including the Australia-
USA (2019) basketball match watched by 100,000, and the Wallabies vs All-Blacks (2000) game
holding the record for the largest rugby attendance (110,000). Australia's interest in sports
transforms athletes into celebrities, who promote values which have become synonymous with
Australian-culture. For example, Sir Donald Bradman said true sportsmen demonstrated “ integrity,
courage, and...modesty”. Through his popularity, Bradman encouraged these traits in other
sportsmen and fans, cultivating the image of an Australian personality. Anthropologist Dr.Tanya
King, emphasises ‘mateship’, and ‘egalitarianism’ in Australian culture. Since sportsmen inspire
others to display characteristics that become parallel to cultures, sports develop cultural-identity.
PDHPE Big Question 2022 Danya Albadran 10F

Its importance to both Australia’s history and the current population makes sport a significant part
of Australia’s cultural-identity.
References

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PDHPE Big Question 2022 Danya Albadran 10F

https://www.bradman.com.au/courage-honour-humility-integrity-determination/