Grit & gold : tales from a sporting nation /
Grit and gold : stories from a sporting nation.
National Library of Australia.
- 95 pages : illustrations (some colour), facsimiles, portraits ; 23 x 23 cm.
Title from cover. "Celebrating National Library of Australia Publishing 50 Years"--Back cover.
Sport is a storytelling machine. When we watch a game, race or competition, there are all the makings of a great tale. There are heroes and villains. There are challenges to overcome. There is a sense of jeopardy and risk. There is triumph and failure, comedy and tragedy. All these elements unfold within the time limit set for a sporting competition. Each game provides an opportunity for adventure, either as a spectator or player.This capacity to generate a compelling story has helped make sport a national obsession for Australians. Sporting heroes are elevated beyond everyday life. Names such as Bradman and Freeman, or Warne and Barty, come to mean much more than individual examples of sporting greatness. They become part of the social glue which draws Australians together. They help build a sense of community and pride, both at the local level and on the world stage. Grit & Gold accompanies an exhibition of the same name, and features outstanding sporting images from the National Library's rich collections. The six themes covered in the book include:- The Game Begins - the origins of Australian sport- Grassroots - the significance of local, community sport- Making Money - the shift from amateaur to professional- Towards a Level Playing Field - the fight for equality- Sporting Spectacles - the popularity of major events- Superstars - Australian sporting heroes.
9781922507570
NLApp105439 Australian Prepublication Data Service