View Full Version : Herald Sun - Eddie McGuire makes grab for Olympic Park
bradrowe#32
4 Mar 2008, 09:01
Eddie McGuire makes grab for Olympic Park
Michael Warner
March 04, 2008 12:00am
EXCLUSIVE: COLLINGWOOD president Eddie McGuire has launched a land grab for the historic Olympic Park athletic stadium.
The Herald Sun believes Athletics Victoria is to shift to a new home in Albert Park, in a move that will hand control of Olympic Park to Collingwood.
The Pies are expected to rip up the running track and install an MGC-sized training ground right next door to the club's Lexus Centre base.
The takeover plan has triggered fresh conflict of interest concerns for McGuire, who also serves as a board member of Athletics Australia, the governing body for Athletics Victoria.
McGuire refused to comment last night.
"I can't speak about that. I have no comment," he said.
Work on a new multi-million-dollar athletics centre, at a revamped Bob Jane Stadium in Albert Park, could begin as early as next year.
Athletics Victoria CEO Nick Honey said he had no doubt the relocation push was being driven by Collingwood.
"It's undoubtedly them, because they don't want to walk 300m down the road to Gosh's Paddock," he said.
"There is no doubt we live in a football town in Melbourne, but you've got to question how 50 professional footballers can have the power to move an Olympic venue that has been here for more than 50 years."
A spokesman for Sports Minister James Merlino last night confirmed Athletics Victoria's relocation plan was being examined, but said a decision had not yet been made.
"The Government is considering options for Olympic Park and its athletic facilities," the spokesman said. He said the new soccer and rugby stadium under construction was changing the make-up of the Melbourne Park and Olympic Park precinct.
Olympic Park tenants Melbourne Storm and Melbourne Victory will move into the new stadium next door next year, and the Melbourne Football Club is to use it as an administration base.
Mr Honey said Athletics Victoria would prefer to stay at Olympic Park but was open to discussions.
"Our position is that we're not going anywhere unless there is a demonstratively better offer," Mr Honey said. "At the moment, we're in the premier sporting precinct in Victoria, so why would we want to go?"
He said the only Bob Jane Stadium plan presented to Athletics Victoria was an aerial photograph featuring a digitally imposed running track.
A clash between the annual Albert Park Grand Prix and the March-April athletics season would create difficulties, he said.
Bob Jane Stadium, formerly the Lakeside Oval, is the home of former National Soccer League club South Melbourne.
Until 1982, it was the home of VFL club South Melbourne, now the Sydney Swans.
The Albert Park redevelopment is expected to include an overhaul of the ground's 80-year-old grandstand, which has slipped into disrepair.
The adjacent Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre is already home to Victoria's swimming governing body.
Olympic Park was built as a centre for athletics, swimming and cycling for the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.
It was witness to one of Australia's finest sporting moments in March 1956, when champion middle-distance runner John Landy stopped mid-race to help fallen rival Ron Clarke.
To the astonishment of a packed crowed of more than 20,000, Landy then set off in pursuit of victory -- winning in near-world record time.
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It would be sensational if Ed can pull it off. The reality is that the current situation is not perfect.
Eddie spoke about this a couple of years ago at the AGM in response to aq question about training venue – or lack thereof.
Timmy from Thomastown
4 Mar 2008, 09:22
Leave the running track for athletics. Its not as if track and field is loaded with facilities in Melbourne.
Timmy from Thomastown
4 Mar 2008, 09:23
Is Nick Honey any relation to the great Collingwood supporter and Olympic silver medallist, Gary Honey?
Eddie spoke about this a couple of years ago at the AGM in response to aq question about training venue – or lack thereof.
So the Pies will try and make a mini Training Venue/stadium at Gosh's Paddock
yeah-nah
4 Mar 2008, 10:19
So the Pies will try and make a mini Training Venue/stadium at Gosh's Paddock
We want Olympic park. Training venue and Id guess a VFL venue. It makes $ and c to the govt to utilise that stadium in such a way. Athletics just burns a hole in their pocket. In the end this should dictate the decision. Money.
hellfire
4 Mar 2008, 10:48
When we win the flag this year, are we all going to the paddock? We won't get a quarter of us into the Lexus...
Olympic park would be great.
Abba Lonie
4 Mar 2008, 11:00
As an aths fan I would be sad to see the sport gone from Olympic Park, but as a Pies fan bring it on!
So the Pies will try and make a mini Training Venue/stadium at Gosh's PaddockThe suggestion by Eddie was that we’d try and get Olympic Park. I thought at the time it was an issue being on both boards but where some see a conflict of interest Eddie see a merger if interests. I bet Collingwood and AA both get a good deal in the end. As it stands now though our training venue is not up to scratch and we have no where to play practice matches or VFL games. Olympic Park would be idea.
Magnus the Magpie
4 Mar 2008, 14:52
As an aths fan I would be sad to see the sport gone from Olympic Park, but as a Pies fan bring it on!
I've visited Olympic Park for T&F more often than most of you have had hot dinners - initially as a competitor and, more recently, as a spectator and coach.
Much has been made of its history (Clarke, Landy and its role as a 56 Olympics training base). However, its major use these days is for grass-roots athletics and, in many respects, it's a disaster.
1st, parking is terrible and will only get worse. More important though is that 90% of the time the sprinters and hurdlers have to run straight into the prevailing southerly we get in the summer - and they hate it. It's similar in every other state capital and is probably one of the reasons no Australian sprinter qualified for the Beijing Olympics.
There may be an opportunity here for Eddie in his dual roles: i.e. he could push for the development of an athlete-friendly track (i.e. where the prevailing wind is behind the sprinters) at South Melbourne. As a current, local T&F coach, that would get my vote (quite independently of any benefits for our football team).
This big conspiracy theory that Eddie will use his position on the board of AA to rort AA and benefit Collingwood is a load of crap. The Athletics Australia board is not full of idiots, they will realise Eddie has other vested interests that may conflict and should either take his opinion on Olympic Park with a grain of salt or even ask him to sit out of meetings deciding on this. Conflicts of interest at board level happens all the time, I think companies are actually required by law to excuse board members from meetings where there could be a commercial conflict of interest.
Eddie is not a hugely influential member of that board, and if they let Eddie run the board like the conspiracy theorists reckon he does, then bloody hell maybe they deserve to be screwed like that.
You are right Jabso but even if you are not then the reality is a COI would still be a problem only if it forces a decision not beneficial to AA. If Eddie’s role as Pies president was the driving force behind him getting a deal for AA to be housed elsewhere that the board of AA thought was a good deal then why would anyone care other than to have a jab at Eddie.
I like the Olympic Park idea, Eddie always seems to have a conflict of interest, i don't really care, aslong as he does what is good for Collingwood i dont mind.
Although i seriously doubt he would do anything in the interest of one of his interests over another.
Magnus the Magpie
4 Mar 2008, 16:40
You are right Jabso but even if you are not then the reality is a COI would still be a problem only if it forces a decision not beneficial to AA. If Eddie’s role as Pies president was the driving force behind him getting a deal for AA to be housed elsewhere that the board of AA thought was a good deal then why would anyone care other than to have a jab at Eddie.
That's my point. It is patently obvious to anybody that really knows anything about T&F that Olympic Park is not doing the job for the Vic athletics community on lots of fronts. Eddie is in an ideal position to secure them a much better deal elsewhere (probably at the South Melbourne venue).
It could easily be win-win for both Collingwood and athletics. The only people objecting will be the sentimentalists, those that never visit the area anyway and, as you note MarkT, those wanting to have a crack at Eddie (and Collingwood). Actually, that's probably around 80% of the local population - so prepare yourself for a lot of ill-informed stupidity.
The Royal Sampler
4 Mar 2008, 16:40
If Eddie wants Olympic Park, a block of flats, the Hope Diamond, or the world's oil reserves for Collingwood then give it to him. I can ride my bike to work.
dutchy12
4 Mar 2008, 16:49
Few questions guys!
With Melbourne being based thier next year I think both clubs had come to an agreement that we would share Gosh's paddock ?
If you guys were to train at Olympic would we have Gosh's to our selves?
Do you guys find it funny that Eddie has made such a big deal about this seeing that Gosh's is actually a pretty good ground and either way it only really saves you gusy walking about 800 metres?
Abba Lonie
4 Mar 2008, 17:21
I've visited Olympic Park for T&F more often than most of you have had hot dinners - initially as a competitor and, more recently, as a spectator and coach.
Much has been made of its history (Clarke, Landy and its role as a 56 Olympics training base). However, its major use these days is for grass-roots athletics and, in many respects, it's a disaster.
1st, parking is terrible and will only get worse. More important though is that 90% of the time the sprinters and hurdlers have to run straight into the prevailing southerly we get in the summer - and they hate it. It's similar in every other state capital and is probably one of the reasons no Australian sprinter qualified for the Beijing Olympics.
There may be an opportunity here for Eddie in his dual roles: i.e. he could push for the development of an athlete-friendly track (i.e. where the prevailing wind is behind the sprinters) at South Melbourne. As a current, local T&F coach, that would get my vote (quite independently of any benefits for our football team).
I have been to watch aths a few times (World Athletics Tour, Zatopek etc) and those points are pretty good. Parking is definitely a bitch!
How often is the wind a disadvantage at OP meets? I can't remember whether it was windy the other Thursday, but Powell and Wariner didn't have many issues with it so I guess it wasn't that bad.
If the athletics community at large was in favour of a move then I can't see a problem with it.
NB Are any of the current tracks in a position to be redeveloped with sufficient seating capacity for bigger meets? I would love to go to Knox and sit in a 10,000 seat grandstand!
D Mitchell
4 Mar 2008, 18:18
...then the reality is a COI would still be a problem only if it forces a decision not beneficial to AA. If Eddie’s role as Pies president was the driving force behind him getting a deal for AA to be housed elsewhere that the board of AA thought was a good deal then ....
The words of a person who has as little understanding of conflict of interest as McGuire. In his capacity as board member of AA, McGuire’s obligation is not to get a deal that the “board of AA thought was a good deal”, it’s not even to get the best possible deal for Athletics Australia, it’s to ensure that Athletics Australia’s best interests are advanced to the exclusion of any other consideration.
Athletics suck so who cares. Collingwood football players are more important.
Better idea than those idiots who think we should train at Victoria Park.
sirlothie
4 Mar 2008, 19:34
The words of a person who has as little understanding of conflict of interest as McGuire. In his capacity as board member of AA, McGuire’s obligation is not to get a deal that the “board of AA thought was a good deal”, it’s not even to get the best possible deal for Athletics Australia, it’s to ensure that Athletics Australia’s best interests are advanced to the exclusion of any other consideration.
Maybe AA has something else in the wings and wants to get rid of it?
The CEO of AA seemed pretty peeved about it all but the fact of the matter is Olympic Park is prime sporting real estate in the sporting capital of the Australia. Athletics does not hold the events nor the prestige to warrant occupying Olympic Park.
The fact of the matter is once the Melbourne Victory and Storm move into the new stadium, Olympic Park will be a barren, disused wasteland of inactivity in a location that wouldn't deserve that. There would be 1-2 meets a year and the rest of the time it would be empty/used merely for training purposes.
Athletics minded people are stating that the recent meet attended by 10,000 people is proof that the stadium is required for athletics.
Collingwood using it for VFL matches and training would attract that many people if not more to the stadium each and every week of the football season.
It makes a lot of sense and surely nobody is proposing AA is to be left in the lurch so AA should sit tight and see what can be organised for them. There will be something better and more suitable out there for them, Vic Park perhaps, with a coat of paint and a clean up it would come up nice.
There could be still some kind of reciprocal ongoing arrangement between AA and Collingwood to share the gymnasium and swimming facilities of the Lexus Centre so AA should cede to common sense and accept this and the help that would come with that.
Do you guys find it funny that Eddie has made such a big deal about this seeing that Gosh's is actually a pretty good ground and either way it only really saves you gusy walking about 800 metres?
You know how we do hate to travel .
There could be still some kind of reciprocal ongoing arrangement between AA and Collingwood to share the gymnasium and swimming facilities of the Lexus Centre so AA should cede to common sense and accept this and the help that would come with that.
Um we already share Lexus with the Victorian Institue of Sport, so I think AA would be using the Facilities.
I think it's a great idea if theres no hidden agendas. By the sounds of it AA need somewhere new and we need what was promised to us when we signed on at Olympic Park. An A Class training oval.
Now if the MOPT would just let us paint the top diamond of the old place with Black and White stripes ......
eddiesmith
4 Mar 2008, 21:21
Few questions guys!
With Melbourne being based thier next year I think both clubs had come to an agreement that we would share Gosh's paddock ?
If you guys were to train at Olympic would we have Gosh's to our selves?
Do you guys find it funny that Eddie has made such a big deal about this seeing that Gosh's is actually a pretty good ground and either way it only really saves you gusy walking about 800 metres?
Actually you would probably find that Melbourne would use the new ground as well
It allows the supporters to actually attend training and be comfortable, gives us somewhere to go when we win the premiership :D and makes the ground a bit more protected like it is in all AFL venues
Why settle for a shitty little oval like Gosches right on a busy intersection when you have something like OP sitting there empty?
Thommo 42
4 Mar 2008, 23:25
Maybe AA has something else in the wings and wants to get rid of it?
The CEO of AA seemed pretty peeved about it all but the fact of the matter is Olympic Park is prime sporting real estate in the sporting capital of the Australia. Athletics does not hold the events nor the prestige to warrant occupying Olympic Park.
The fact of the matter is once the Melbourne Victory and Storm move into the new stadium, Olympic Park will be a barren, disused wasteland of inactivity in a location that wouldn't deserve that. There would be 1-2 meets a year and the rest of the time it would be empty/used merely for training purposes.
Athletics minded people are stating that the recent meet attended by 10,000 people is proof that the stadium is required for athletics.
Collingwood using it for VFL matches and training would attract that many people if not more to the stadium each and every week of the football season.
It makes a lot of sense and surely nobody is proposing AA is to be left in the lurch so AA should sit tight and see what can be organised for them. There will be something better and more suitable out there for them, Vic Park perhaps, with a coat of paint and a clean up it would come up nice.
There could be still some kind of reciprocal ongoing arrangement between AA and Collingwood to share the gymnasium and swimming facilities of the Lexus Centre so AA should cede to common sense and accept this and the help that would come with that.Any SERIOUS ahtletics events (ie: Comm Games) are held at the G anyway, wtf are they whining about?
Frederlick
5 Mar 2008, 08:49
Leave the running track for athletics. Its not as if track and field is loaded with facilities in Melbourne.
Who will it affect, it is not as if Melbourne is loaded with world class track and field athletes. :confused: To be blunt we are perenial underachievers in track and field, so why not put the place to good use?
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]The words of a person who has as little understanding of conflict of interest as McGuire. On the contrary. I understand the words individually and collectively and on both a theoretical level and a practical level. In his capacity as board member of AA, McGuire’s obligation is not to get a deal that the “board of AA thought was a good deal”, it’s not even to get the best possible deal for Athletics Australia, it’s to ensure that Athletics Australia’s best interests are advanced to the exclusion of any other consideration. You are wrong.
Eddies role is to advance the interests of AA and he was appointed in the full knowledge and acceptance f all his various other roles because of what he brings to the table. That is fact. In advancing the interests of AA no one expects him to do it to the exclusion of all else. Personal gain is whole other area of prickliness but there is no suggestion of any benefit back to Eddie as such. The fact he also sits on Collingwood’s board is known and accepted and I would suggest the circumstances surrounding that would have been a precondition of his acceptance of the offer by AA to assist them.
Timmy from Thomastown
5 Mar 2008, 09:16
Who will it affect, it is not as if Melbourne is loaded with world class track and field athletes. :confused:
Maybe thats because facilities are shit.
FWIW our track and field team could be the strongest we've seen for a while, with a number of medal chances.
catters05
7 Mar 2008, 14:11
Wow that would be unreal if you could turn it into a VFL ground for your club and get about 5k-10k people at your vfl games and then the other 60-70K at the G.
Not so sure Timmy. We’ve got a minnow population and the best athletes tend to go to the profile sports. A couple of world record holders would lift the profile of athletics but unfortunately we don’t have enough African genes in our small population. Still, a better gov’t school programme would be a help.
sirlothie
7 Mar 2008, 17:50
The person who was an ex-athlete and now coach who said that all athletes hate running at Olympic Park because they are forced to run into a headwind all the time said it all.
Elite level athletics is split by milliseconds so if your continually forced to run into the wind that could be a major reason why we haven't been all that successful on the track...
Spectators would not care where it is held, would probably enjoy a new venue and if the athletes themselves hate the joint, and Collingwood could do fantastic things with the place and utilise it to it's potential and spruce it up as it is really the ugly duckling of the area now...
It's really a no-brainer...