According to someone from the swimming team the reason they failed is because they didn't get enough money off the government. I'm my book $1 from the taxpayer is too much. If someone wants to compete in the Olympics why don't they fund it themselves? The ones that do get a gold medal become rich by sticking their mug on everything from microwave ovens to Holden cars. If the sport is so popular then the swim team shouldn't have any trouble raising the funds privately rather than waiting for the government dole and then complaining it isn't enough.
I'd rather see the money spent on something more worthwhile that improves life in Australia and if nothing more worthwhile is found then give the taxpayer some tax relief.
Australia is no worse a place for them failing at the Olympics.
LOL at this article
www.smh.com.au/sport/government-blamed-for-australias-medal-drought-20120806-23pm3.html
So our government isn't spending enough......
Thats a good thing. Let the Europeans spend their way to Olympic glory as their governments look to financial survival on funny money printed out by the European Central Bank.
Let them go broke, then see how much they can spend on the best coaches.
As with most other people who play sport, let those who want to go to the Olympics pay their own way. If that is too tough, too bad.
Australia would be a better place if the AIS was shut down and the millions spent on elite sports by governments was spent on helping normal people to play sports.
Faaaaark! The Kiwis are beating us. I always knew they were superior at mountain climbing and bungy jumping and wide comb shearing but that stuff doesn't count in the Olympics. I guess they are just superior. Must be the boiling mud.
Hmmm, maybe there's some truth to that old trope about all those Kiwis coming over here and improving both countries. 
Maybe the AIS can raise a grant to organise some geothermal activity over here or alternatively send our swimmers over there to train in boiling mud. That's toughen them up.
