The Paris Olympics have just ended, and overall we can say that sport was the winner – although there were the usual political spats, doping allegations, faux outrage, athlete arrests and typical media hyperbole.

Speaking of the latter, I can’t believe that the following headline appeared in a serious newspaper:

Civil war bubbling in Paris as Ariarne Titmus and Mollie O’Callaghan clash in Olympic 200m

“Civil war”? Really? Quite apart from the implied hysteria, is this a responsible use of language in today’s turbulent and highly charged political environment? And after all, it’s JUST a sporting contest, between a couple of athletes who have chosen to pursue a career in sport – it’s not like a life and death situation! Plus there were a few other swimmers competing in the final – but you might be forgiven for thinking it was a two horse race.

Of course, Australians are fanatical about sport, so perhaps this kind of OTT reporting is what we have become used to. Actually, let me clarify. The Australian public has become addicted to watching professional team sports on TV, and gambling on the outcomes. But there are so many paradoxes about this sporting obsession.

First, the two main sporting codes that dominate domestic media coverage, sponsorship dollars and betting apps are the AFL and NRL. Despite what these big businesses would like to believe, neither of these competitions is national, as defined by geographic team representation. No teams from Northern Territory or Tasmania in either league, and none from Western Australia or South Australia in the NRL (and only one from Victoria – which to many people, is the bastion of Australian sport, being the home of the MCG!). As for the travesty of a national Rugby Union competition, let’s not go there…

Second, despite all the attention that the AFL and NRL command, Association Football (aka soccer) is the largest by player participation. Which should not be too surprising given soccer’s global reach and appeal.

Third, there are more people involved with individual rather than team sports. Recreational walking, fitness/gym, athletics, swimming, yoga and golf have higher participation rates. Again, not surprising, as most people drop out of team sports once they leave school. (This may also explain the recent surge in gyms and fitness centres in Australia.)

Fourth, despite being a sport-obsessed nation, Australia has a high percentage of children who are overweight or obese. So rather than pouring public money into a new Tasmanian sports stadium, or failed bids to host the Commonwealth Games (and who knows how many billions the 2032 Brisbane Olympics will eventually cost?), perhaps our State and Federal governments should look at how they can fund greater participation rates, especially among children and teenagers, and make existing sporting facilities more accessible to the wider population.

Finally, as a long-suffering supporter of England in cricket, rugby union and soccer, I can sometimes admire (albeit grudgingly) the difference between English and Australian fans – the former hope their teams will do well, whereas the latter expect (nay, demand!) nothing short of a win. But this obsession with winning comes with a price – sandpaper, anyone? It can also be unhealthy – I was living in Sydney when Australia last hosted the Olympic Games, in 2000. It was a fantastic time to be in the city, and the locals put on a great show. But as I walked away from watching the closing ceremony fireworks over the harbour, one young Aussie supporter was loudly declaring that “we won the Olympics”. I think he was under the misapprehension that Australia topped the medal table (they were fourth) or that it was “Australia vs the World”, not quite in the Olympic spirit!

Next week: Notes from Hong Kong