WHETHER Australians are good at them, or people enjoy watching them, a number of sports receive coverage far beyond the ordinary during the Olympics.
Most Olympic sports can be pursued to some degree on the Coast, and often the influence of Australians on the world stage is enough to create a small, but important, surge in numbers.
Little Athletics is a group where increased numbers in an Olympic year is closely related to Australian performances on the track.
Former Devonport committee member Jane Foote said there are generally better start-up numbers after the Olympics when someone like Cathy Freeman performs well and inspires youngsters.
This season, it might be young girls inspired to become hurdlers by Sally McLellan.
Burnie and Devonport both have Little Athletics centres and children learn the basics of a number of disciplines and can later choose to continue to develop and learn in the sport.
Foote said once they have the basics, the athletes can then make it to the highest level from the Coast.
Gymnastics is one of the most popular sports on television during the Olympics, and although there is not a huge increase in numbers, Burnie Zodiacs Gymnastics Club's Carolyn Hay said it did create more interest in the sport and add a few to the ranks.
It also inspires the passionate students who devote a number of hours a week to the sport, seeing it at the highest level.
Devonport has two gymnastic clubs, with the Zodiacs in Burnie and clubs in Wynyard and Circular Head as well.
On the Coast the sport tends to be a fun, gross-motor skill developing sport aimed at juniors so we are unlikely to see any Coastal gymnasts at the London Olympics.
Rowing is another sport which benefits from good performances at the Olympics by Australians.
Former Tasmanian men's eight rowing coach Merv Tippet, of Devonport, said rowing even relied to a point on the interest created by the Olympics.
"We are a fairly low profile sport, but we usually get a surge, particularly amongst juniors, in an Olympic year after the Games," Tippett said.
Tasmania currently has 12 rowing clubs around the State, with around 200 rowers, with only the Mersey and Ulverstone clubs on the Coast.
Between 300 and 400 junior rowers also participate in school rowing programs including St Brendan Shaw, Devonport High, Reece High, Latrobe High, Ulverstone High, Leighlands Christian School, Marist Regional College and the Yolla District School.
The Mersey Rowing Club also has a learn-to-row program for rowers of all ages and some clubs also run recreational veterans rowing.
For more information and club contact details go to the Rowing Tasmania website at www.rowingtas.asn.
Australia has enjoyed success in clay target shooting at recent Olympics, but it hasn't related to an upsurge in numbers on the Coast.
The Burnie Clay Target Club has a facility at Round Hill and Mersey Clay Target Club members shoot at Sassafras.
When combined with two simulated game clubs at Fossil Bank and Penguin, they cater for between 200 and 250 shooters on the Coast.
Shooters are required to have gun licences and completed gun safety handling courses, but the clubs can guide new members through the process.
For more information go to the Tasmanian Clay Target Association website at www.tcta.com.au.
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