Athletes speak out for Aborigines

The Olympics brought attention to aboriginal sport

By our correspondent Phil Mercer.

After years fighting for better recognition, Australia's aboriginal people are harnessing a powerful new weapon to further their efforts.

Indigenous sportsmen and women are becoming increasingly vocal - using sport to advance their cause.

Cathy Freeman holds the Olympic torch

Australia's indigenous population has excelled in sport more than any other field. It's produced stars in rugby and Australian Rules football as well as athletics and soccer.

Charles Perkins, the aboriginal activist who died last year, played briefly for Everton in the 1950s.

New star speaks out

Now a young indigenous boxer from Sydney has begun using his time in the spotlight to focus attention on the plight of his people.

If I want to conquer the world both in sport and politics and be a loud voice for my aboriginal people, it all comes down to the ring and how I perform in that ring

Anthony Mundine

Anthony Mundine, who gave up a successful career in Australia's National Rugby League competition to pursue a world boxing title, says when he succeeds, his community is enhanced. The success of Cathy Freeman, Australia's most famous aboriginal athlete, at the Sydney Olympics, brought unprecedented attention on the indigenous people.

Among the festivities and competition that captivated the world, the aboriginal message was beginning to get through like never before.

Olympics highlighted Aborigines

Australia's only aboriginal Senator - Aden Ridgeway - believes the Olympic games show that sport can be a powerful vehicle to promote the rights of native people.

I think if anything Cathy Freeman and people like Cathy become vehicles and eye pieces that allow people to look at themselves.

Cathy Freeman

Many of Australia's 400,000 aboriginal people live in third world conditions.

They die - on average - 20 years younger than white Australians and are more likely to be ill, unemployed or in jail than any other group.

Anthony Mundine - who fights for the Australian supermiddle weight title next week - believes he has a responsibility to speak out: "When I see an evil happening and an injustice happening, you know, I want to stand up and make a noise because I'm fighting for humanity."

Cathy Freeman has also spoken out on indigenous issues. Her comments and those made by others like Anthony Mundine - have found a receptive, young aboriginal audience.

I wish I was like Anthony Mundine. He's everything to me...I just hope he wins the title and puts us on the map again

Trent Robinson

Trent Robinson is an 18 year old apprentice rugby league player with the Sydney Roosters and says what these athletes do and say does make a big difference.

The aborigines may need all the political muscle they can get from their sports stars.

Their community may be disproportionately over-represented in the country's prisons, but in politics they hardly have a voice.

Progress is slow. The Western Australian election last weekend returned the first ever aboriginal woman elected to an Australian parliament.