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the [PSF5] has maybe just come back from the States, where he’s been visiting various
[sporting] facilities over there. There’s obviously stuff that he’s seen that maybe we can tap
into” (personal communication, April 23, 2008).
NSO participants were quick to point out their organisation was not a leech in so far
as they received more knowledge than what they contributed. Participants suggested that
the PSF could learn much from the NSO. NSO2 indicated “but again it goes both ways,
where [the PSF] can tap into the [NSO] experience and knowledge” (personal
communication, April 21, 2008). NSO4 offered a supporting view “hopefully they see us as
a source of knowledge too (personal communication, April 23, 2008). When asked to give
an example of where they could learn of the PSF and vice versa NSO1 provided this
example:
I think possibly right here and now we probably have a better grasp of junior
development programmes and talent identification across the country. I’m sure that
the [PSF] have talent scouts for them. They probably do a better job offshore, we
probably do a better job here. And so there’s certain areas that they can learn off
from us in that regard. And probably our government relations, our relations with
key stakeholders within the sport is areas we can help these guys. (personal
communication, April 18, 2008)
When wanting to understand whether learning from the PSF was either a quick fix
or a long term objective, it was quite clear that the NSO were in consensus that they were
more interested in learning into the future. NSO1 elaborated:
Depends what the issue is. Some things if they’re very operational, they’re a five
minute answer. But in terms of overall strategy for development of the sport, for
growing our talent base, for presenting the sport in the public spectrum, those are
very much long term learning opportunities. (personal communication, April 18,
2008)
NSO3 also supported this long term objective:
[T]here’s not really I suppose a, a definitive problem going to the [PSF] with, and to
say, well, answer this. So I guess it would be the latter to some extent, in terms of
trying to look at it better and more effective framework, programmes, approach to
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