Please select your home edition
Edition
Mackay Boats 728x90 TOP

VU, Sport Australia Hall of Fame and industry elites on the future of sport

by Frances Atkinson 21 May 2020 23:57 PDT 26 May 2020
Australian Sailing Royalty - John Bertrand AO and Iain Murray AM at the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 World Championships © John Curnow

With the COVID-19 pandemic bringing all sport, from grassroots games to elite competitions, to a grinding halt we need to look at how we bring it back in these new and unprecedented times.

On Tuesday, 26 May (3.30-5pm), sports administrators and industry leaders will come together for the annual National Sport Integrity Forum: Return to Sport: Risks, Rewards, Opportunities and Challenges.

This fifth forum (via Zoom webinar) is an opportunity for Victoria University and its industry partners, Sport Australia Hall of Fame, the Australian Institute of Sport and Sportscover, to meet with leaders at the forefront of the sport industry and discuss the moral, legal and ethical issues related to playing and spectating in the wake of COVID-19.

Forum facilitator VU's Professor Hans Westerbeek says "I have no doubt that sport will return to community playing fields and stadiums with renewed strength. As a matter of fact, I believe that demand for community delivered sport will increase as a result of government messaging about the importance of exercising and staying active during restrictions. The question is, how will and can sport return stronger to ensure it is more fail proof against extreme external shocks such as a pandemic?"

As social distancing measures begin to lift, sport will start the complex journey back to centre stage. But what will the return to healthy activity, community participation and elite sport look like in a post-pandemic world?

Iconic sporting legend John Bertrand AO, Chairman of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame says, "How will sport look after this pandemic, with the incredible disruption within our society? There will be rapid changes. In particular, we have entered a new world of broadcasting both with traditional media and online streaming. With great change, comes great opportunity."

National Sport Integrity Forum: Return to Sport: Risks, Rewards, Opportunities and Challenges forum panellists include:

  • Dr David Hughes, Chief Medical Officer, Australian Institute of Sport
  • Leigh Russell, Chief Executive Officer, Swimming Australia
  • Craig Tiley, Chief Executive Officer, Tennis Australia
  • David Sharpe APM OAM, Chief Executive Officer, Sports Integrity Australia
  • Lynne Anderson, Chief Executive Officer, Paralympics Australia
  • Wayne Pearce OAM, Commissioner, ARL
To arrange interviews with Professor Hans Westerbeek, Mr John Bertrand AO and Dr David Hughes contact Frances Atkinson, Media Advisor, Victoria University on 0435 960 793. To attend the webinar, email:

Related Articles

All smiles among first finishers of the AEGEAN 600
The fastest teams crossed the finish line today at Cape Sounion As the fastest teams crossed the finish line today at Cape Sounion and made their way to the harbour at Olympic Marine, there were exhausted smiles all around. Posted on 10 Jul
British Classic Week day 4
It was a classic Solent day in Cowes for the OneSails inshore race It was a classic Solent day in Cowes for day 4 of British Classic Week with hot temperatures, sunshine and no breeze in the morning before the sea breeze kicked in from the west and it was time to go racing. Posted on 10 Jul
iQFOiL Worlds a Aarhus day 5
Finalists locked in for new Medal Series format With the sea breeze stubbornly refusing to make an appearance, Day 5 of the iQFOiL World Championship turned into a long waiting game both ashore and on the water. Posted on 10 Jul
Jazz Turner Video Interview
How she Faced Everything And Rose during Project FEAR I travelled to Brighton Marina to catch up with Jazz, talking about her own sailing, the challenges she faced during the circumnavigation, how the money raised will be used, and a glimpse of her future projects! Posted on 10 Jul
CYCS SailMV's Vineyard Cup Preview
The regatta will feature stunning classics racing around the beautiful island of Martha's Vineyard. The second Classic Yacht Challenge Series (CYCS) event of the 2025 season gets under way on Friday, July 11 with the Vineyard Cup organized by Sail Martha's Vineyard (SailMV). Posted on 10 Jul
America's Cup: Luna Rossa to sail for Naples club.
Italian Challenger Luna Rossa will contest the next America's Cup as the team of a Naples club. Italian Challenger Luna Rossa will contest its seventh America's Cup as the team of the Circolo del Remo e della Vela Italia of Naples, as club that is new to the America's Cup. Posted on 10 Jul
International Moth Worlds at Lake Garda Day 3
Big breeze in the morning, calm in the afternoon The third day of racing at the 2025 Moth World Championship kicked off early, with the first warning signal for the Blue fleet scheduled for 8:30 AM. Due to strong northerly winds, however, the fleet's departure was postponed to 9:00. Posted on 10 Jul
Introducing the Micro Gateway from Cyclops Marine
Live load data, simplified - smaller, smarter, even more connected At Cyclops Marine, we're driven by the pursuit of precision, performance, and progress. As the marine industry continues to embrace digital transformation, our technology is evolving rapidly. Posted on 10 Jul
Everything to know about The Ocean Race Europe
One month to go to the race start in Kiel One month out from the start of the 2025 edition of The Ocean Race Europe seven mixed-gender crews made up of sailors from across 13 nations are in the throes of their final preparations for the Race start in Kiel, Germany. Posted on 10 Jul
The countdown to the Race to Mackinac
2025 is a landmark year for the Chicago Yacht Club 2025 is a landmark year for the Chicago Yacht Club and the Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust Financial Corporation. Posted on 10 Jul
Mackay Boats 728x90 BOTTOMSelden 2020 - FOOTERPredictWind - Routing 728x90 BOTTOM