Australia’s swimming gold medals are Fuel’s Gold. They belong to the fossil fuel industry. More specifically, they belong to Gina Rinehart.
Every time Australians celebrate an Aussie medal at senior international swimming competitions, such as the successful World Aquatic Championships in Fukuoka, they are celebrating the climate crisis.
Rinehart’s Hancock Group sponsors Swimming Australia, as well as Synchronised Swimming Australia, Rowing Australia, Volleyball Australia and the Australian Olympic Committee.
The recent West Australian of the Year essentially rescued Swimming Australia from drowning in debt. Hancock Prospecting essentially acknowledges this fact, via an article in The West Australian, on its own website:
“What is interesting about these arrangements is that all the sports listed are far from flush with cash and the focus is on supporting the athletes.
Some of these athletes would be lucky to be paid minimum wage and often require a second job to support themselves while training full-time.
These sports don’t have mega TV rights deals in place and the “return on investment” in brand awareness to Hancock Prospecting would be arguable.
Sport needs more people like Mrs Rinehart.”
Rinehart and her advisors recognised the desperation of the associations and offered money knowing they simply could not refuse. This was a deliberate, calculated decision designed to use her considerable wealth to repair the image of her unethical corporation. Rinehart saw two vulnerable organisations and ruthlessly aligned her company with them.
It’s wholesome
Swimming has a very clean, family-friendly image. Apart from a few wayward stars such as Grant Hackett, swimming has never suffered the reputational damage inflicted by the countless scandals involving NRL and AFL players.
Swimming is very safe sport with which to associate a brand. Rinehart and her people know this.
It’s Australian
Most foreigners assume that every Australian is a champion swimmer because of our continued success on the international stage.
Swimming is central to Australian culture and identity. Rinehart and her people know this.
Altruism
Many Australians believe Rinehart sponsored swimming for altruistic reasons. Out of patriotism, love of sport, respect for athletes and a desire to help.
Wrong.
At no point was this an altruistic decision. Anyone who thinks so has been ‘sportswashed’ by Hancock Group.
This was a business decision.
Proof that many Australians have been sportswashed can be found in the comments directed at the netabll / Diamonds players and anyone who agreed with their recent protest. Comments sprang from the following beliefs:
Without Gina these sports will go broke – Many even used the term “go woke and go broke”
Without Gina the athletes will go broke
Without Gina Australian athletes will never win Olympic medals
Without Gina Aussie teams won’t win major trophies
Without Gina the sport won’t exist
The comments suggest that many Australians empathise with Rinehart, and not the country’s best netballers. The sponsorship worked. The sportwashing was successful.
The response to my articles and the actions of the netballers suggests that many Australians believe Aussie sporting success is more important than protecting the planet. For many Aussies, being able to to watch Aussies playing sport is more important than protecting the planet.
This is why Rinehart chose to sponsor swimming.
Image: AAP
kieranblakewriter 