"It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does.

"Sport can create hope where once there was only despair."

Who doesn't love this famous quote from the great Nelson Mandela?

These words should be plastered on books, billboards, grandstands and T-shirts for the rest of time.

No one could say it better than Mandela.

Sport is the great medium, the great leveller.

The past fortnight has perhaps proven this notion to Australian sports lovers like never before.

It's been a shocking few weeks for sport in the country.

It started with the sickening neck injury to Newcastle rugby league player Alex McKinnon.

The young footballer's playing career is over and he is facing the prospect of being confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

Last week, the entire sporting world was shocked to learn of the death of popular jockey Nathan Berry at just 23 years of age.

Both of these incidents are tragic in every sense of the word.

On a lesser scale, but still very sad for sports fans, is the sudden retirement of AFL player Mitch Clark this week.

Clark, 26, announced he would hang up the boots to focus on his battle with mental illness.

In all three of these cases, those most affected will know they have the support of thousands of anonymous people, brought together through a love of sport.

The outpouring of support for McKinnon, Berry's family, and Clark has been massive.

Focusing on a more local example, Albury Tigers footballer James McQuillan remains in hospital with a serious spinal injury sustained during an Ovens and Murray game at the weekend.

A "message wall" set up on The Daily Advertiser's sister paper Border Mail's website has already attracted about 50 (I was too lazy to count) well-wishes from concerned members of the public.

It goes to show even when you play in a bush football competition, you are part of a big, big community which will work to support you through the tough times.

Now that you know how wonderful sport can be, let's take a look at those who are unable to participate in the weekend activities.

There was an interesting comment posted on the Advertiser's website yesterday on the story of TRAC winning the Hardy Shield.

A reader, under the guise of "Cookie", commented "disappointing to see how sport has become the domain of wealthy kids over the past 10 years. There was a time when sport was open to everyone, but costs have become so high, that only those from a fortunate background can participate now. TRAC winning the Hardy Shield against Kildare just illustrates this point."

There were two more comments which followed and also made interesting points.

While I don't believe the financial status of certain families played any part in TRAC winning the schoolboy competition, it's a question we should all be asking.

Does sport favour the wealthy?

It's an interesting question and would make for some lengthy arguments across the bar no doubt.

Certainly some sports appear to be rather expensive to participate in.

While the majority of us wouldn't struggle to afford the $100 or so per-season for our child to play a sport, there is a percentage of Australia that couldn't afford such a luxury.

Football Wagga must be commended this year for working towards lowering its junior sign-on fees.

It's something every sporting code and association should strive for.

Making sport cheap and accessible to kids should be the number one priority.

It doesn't matter if it's AFL, NRL, lawn bowls, target shooting or mountain biking, every child should be outside participating in one sport or another.

"It is more powerful than government in breaking down racial barriers. It speaks to youth in a language they understand."

Nelson Mandela knew what it was about.