NEW DELHI, AUGUST 12: The exploits of Ian Thorpe and other Oz Olympians in Athens will be watched eagerly by their more high-profile countrymen: the Australian cricket team. Because all Australian sportspersons follow the fortunes of whoever else is participating in any competition around the world, stay in touch, and back them till the end.
‘‘It doesn’t matter if Australia is playing Nepal in cricket or someone in basketball or ping pong’’, fast bowler Brett Lee said today. ‘‘Whatever the sport is, wherever in the world it is, all of us follow it and back our guys. That’s the culture in Australia.’’
Lee was in New Delhi for a promotional event.
The interesting thing is that unlike in one-sport India, athletes in Australia — arguably the number one sporting nation — usually know each other and don’t have to wait for the Arjuna Awards to rub shoulders. That oft-repeated culture thing again.
Lee explains: ‘‘You know, we have an unwritten law in Australia; we all back each other wherever we are. If the Wallabies (the rugby team) are playing somewhere, or Ian Thorpe is swimming, or the basketball team is playing...we keep track of them. And when we are on tour (the cricket team), we send faxes to whoever is playing somewhere and we receive a lot of faxes and emails. That’s the way it works for us.’’
So is there any close friend of his competing in Athens? ‘‘Yeah, I know a few of them. We meet each other every now and then. Guys like (swimmer) Grant Hackett. I know they are going to do well and there are going to be big celebrations back home afterwards.’’
About him, as an individual, vis-a-vis the Games, Lee says, ‘‘It’s great. I am a very patriotic person and I keep an eye out for whichever Australian is playing anywhere in the world.’’
His support might not take Australia to the projected top three in the medals’ tally at Athens. What might is the culture of sports and the sense of fellow-feeling Lee tries to explain through his answers. Another one of those reasons why India remains nowhere and Australia on top