Basketballer Steven Adams' non-availability for New Zealand raises questions over how far taxpayer dollars should go in funding sport, writes Doug Laing. Photo / File
Basketballer Steven Adams' non-availability for New Zealand raises questions over how far taxpayer dollars should go in funding sport, writes Doug Laing. Photo / File
It might be a bit after the fact, but revelations that basketball star Steven Adams has been foregoing Tall Blacks selection as a nine-year grudge over being kept out of a junior national side because of the cost is both an irony and a warning for those funding New Zealandsports dreams abroad.
The irony is, of course, that Adams, now 24 and beneficiary of a long-term Oklahoma City Thunder NBA contract in the US worth $140 million could, on his own, bankroll all of the New Zealand representative basketball teams for quite some time.
The warning comes in the question of how far taxpayer dollars should go in funding sport when it comes to getting aspiring greats into the game and keeping them there, when the dream of wearing the silver fern may be overshadowed by that of ultimate wealth, whatever they say in front of the camera after the game.
Before we all come down on Adams — which is a bit difficult with a bloke who's 2.13 metres tall — remember that he has helped set up basketball academies to allow other young New Zealanders to reach similar heights.
Unquestionably, taxpayer dollars should be spent on ensuring sports opportunities, in the general nature of role-modelling for the purpose of promoting good health and wellbeing, and national pride.
It should be more, given that booze, tobacco and gambling were the default funders for so long, and that gambling proceeds are still for many the first port of call when it comes to getting the team off to the national champs in Invercargill or Whangarei.
It's where the buck stops that is the issue, for High Performance Sports New Zealand, which this year administers over $35 million of "investment" in our sporting elite, as part of a $250 million Government chip across the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and Paralympic "cycle".
Thus the focus is on medal hopes, although World title ambitions in selected non-Olympic sports are considered, and there's a performance review structure try to keep everyone up to the mark.
