Have we lost our way when it comes to sport?

If we consider Olympic medal tallies, there is a decline since the late 1990s. In 1996 (Atlanta), Australia won 41 medals, in 2000 (Sydney) 58 medals, in 2004 (Athens) 49 medals, in 2008 (Beijing) 46 medals, in 2012 (London) 35 medals, and most recently in 2016 (Rio de Janeiro), just 29 medals – our most disappointing performance in two decades.

Undoubtedly, there are many factors which filter into these results, such as Olympic hosting, funding, increasing international competitiveness, and even luck. Nonetheless, the overall trend is down.

When we examine team sports such as soccer and rugby union, then we again find lacklustre results. The Socceroos have dropped from a FIFA Ranking of 14 in September 2009, to 37 in March 2018. The Wallabies have consistently been displaced by New Zealand and South Africa under the World Rugby Rankings. The last time we hoisted the Rugby World Cup was 1999.

Finally, there may be a deeper and less tangible malaise affecting Australian sport: uncompetitiveness.

Various junior sporting programs including soccer, cricket, netball, AFL and rugby league have promoted playing sport without keeping score. No one loses.

Sport is fundamentally about competition. It involves two critical life lessons: the reality of losing, and how to be a good loser. Indeed, in Australian vernacular, the expression "good sport" is a term of endearment, connoting a character defined not necessarily by winning, but by a gallant attempt to win, and a depth of personality which can maturely accept loss.

Paralleling sporting uncompetitiveness is that school children are increasingly being told that they can achieve or do anything. Sadly, this message – although uplifting – is untrue. We cannot all be astronauts. Or rocket scientists, veterinarians, judges, or medical specialists.

We cannot all win an Olympic gold medal.

We cannot all make the Australian cricket team.

Life is difficult and any success is hard won.

As we insulate our children from the reality of losing – as we insist on propagating the falsehood of "sameness" – we are failing to properly prepare them for life's competitive realities.

Perhaps we also make it more tempting for them to cheat in adulthood (cue here ball tampering) when expectations fail to equate with reality.

In conclusion, some might ask: why all the concern? After all it is only sport – it is just a game. The problem is, it is not. Sport helps to shape character and build mental toughness. It can channel the human spirit in the most remarkable and inspiring ways. It can harness the power of the mind and body to achieve extraordinary feats. Lessons learned on the cricket pitch, the running track, and netball court shape our future lives and make us better people.

This can have positive outcomes for family life, the economy, innovation, and almost anything else you can think of.

The recent ball tampering incident is an important wakeup call for Australian sporting culture. Let's hope we have not lost our way.