Reasons Why Pies Should Take A Walk In The Park

The Age

Friday March 7, 2008

Len Johnson

TOP 10 reasons why Collingwood's new training ground should be based on the site of the Olympic Park athletics track:

1. It will save players a 300 metres walk to the current training ground at Gosch's Paddock;

2 to 10.

Top 10 reasons why athletics should stay where it is:

1. It is the last remaining Olympic sport in the 1956 Olympic precinct;

2. Though it was never enshrined in a trust document, Melbourne's Lord Mayor promised after the 1956 Olympic Games that the Olympic Park precinct would remain the home of amateur sport "forever";

3. Repeated guarantees by the State Government. Former sports minister Justin Madden gave numerous public assurances that athletics would stay at Olympic Park, if that was the wish of the sport. "We are well aware that athletics, Collingwood and the VIS have to be accommodated," he said in November 2004;

4. A move by athletics from the precinct almost certainly would be followed by the relocation of the Victorian Institute of Sport. This, in turn, would see a diminution of facilities;

5. Because the MCG has been the main stadium for Melbourne 1956 and Melbourne 2006, athletics got no facility legacy from either event. Athletics made Melbourne 2006, filling the MCG session after session; to lose its home as part of the "legacy" would be unconscionable;

6. A history of excellence, from the 1952 John Landy 4:02.1 mile that reignited the chase for the four-minute mile, through Elliott, Clarke, Kilborn, Boyle, Moneghetti, Freeman and Mottram, to Asafa Powell two weeks ago;

7. It is the only venue in the state capable of handling a major meeting, much less a championships;

8. It remains a central training venue for Victoria's best athletes who are the best in the country;

9. Melbourne hosts Australia's only World Athletics Tour meeting. Any loss of continuity almost certainly would mean it disappeared, and world-class meetings in this country with it;

10. If there is a viable and equivalent alternative to Olympic Park, the sport is yet to hear about it.

It is an over-simplification to suggest the ONLY reason Collingwood reportedly wants Olympic Park (the club has made no comment on the recent reports) is to save the walk to Gosch's Paddock. It is equally hard to think of another logical one.

Another "given" is that Collingwood, and Melbourne, must be in the Olympic Park precinct. Why? Collingwood has no historical claim there; Melbourne argues that Olympic Park is closer to its traditional MCG home than its current base at the Junction Oval. Well, yes, it is; but it still ain't the cigar.

If the old South Melbourne ground, now Bob Jane Stadium, becomes available, why could the two clubs not move there? It was a traditional Australian football venue, complete with heritage stands, and the facilities that Collingwood currently has at Olympic Park either exist, or could be duplicated, in the precinct.

© 2008 The Age

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