Future Social Government, Canberra, Australia

The last time I spoke about sport and social media, Black Caviar provided the living breathing example of how great sports brands can tweet.

Today, Quade Cooper's weekend tweets provided a great example of twi-versations that occur during an employer/ employee divide.

Noone likes an unhappy workplace, however, two tweets can say a lot about a person and a company.

While 'toxic' may be an apt description of any organisational approach that uses traditional media management methodologies to 'manage' it's new media relations...

The reality is, social technologies require a socialised approach to communications.

Irrespective of whether the organisation is using them or not,the employee is, and in Cooper's case, actually leveraging the technology the way it was intended.

Could this be the 'nudge' Australian Rugby needs to finally heed the call and develop a comprehensive governance framework (think widely distributed social media guidelines, policy and contracts) for their employees both on and off the pitch around social technologies..? Let's hope so.

Why? Because if Quade Cooper leaves rugby, he'll also take over 580,000 Twitter 'followers' with him, and that's just stating the bleeding obvious. #FoodForThought

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Social Media in Government - Social Technology & International Sport from tjunee

Never Say Never

As London 2012 draws to a close, and we 'reflect' on the 16 days that has been, we are reminded that every athlete has a story enveloping the pleasures and pains of sport.

Australian Golden Girls Anna Meares (cycling) and Sally Pearson (100m hurdles) have each had their fair share of challenge, only to taste success at London 2012.

Anna came to #London2012 to settle a racing score with #TeamGB rival, Victoria Pemberton, which is exactly what she did.

http://youtu.be/0nxQ9HmTMnY

While the list of medal winners records the best performers on any given day of Olympic competition, behind the medals, the stories, don't just inspire, some simply defy belief.

Take for instance, South African 'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius and Irish gymnast, Kieran Behan:

http://youtu.be/kEvNB3ehbPg

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGrG37iRxaQ&w=560&h=315]

Sally, arrived in London as the defending World Champion, with a self belief anyone with teenage daughters would love to be able to bottle!

Sally Pearson has said Michael Johnson and Cathy Freeman taught and inspired her in the art of being a world-class athlete.

Alongside Anna, Oscar and Kieran, Sally too inspires, for anyone willing to take up the challenge of striving to be the best they can be.