Corruption in sports has often been big news. Whether related to match-fixing in soccer, involving referees, goalies or other players — be them in Italy, Germany, Kenya, Brazil, China, or elsewhere —, or in cricket, or in other sports. Or buying the votes of some members of the International Olympics Committee (IOC), so to give the award to the the briber’s city. Or judges making backroom deals in figure skating. While such cases of corruption have taken place, it is not clear that it is a systemic scourge in most sports.It is misleading to generalize and taint all in sports by association.
There are many institutions, athletes, soccer and other sports clubs that operate with integrity, promoting positive societal values and providing good role models to the younger generation. At the same time, we need to be mindful of the reply by a famous bank robber, who answered the question of why he robs banks by stating simply ’that is where the money is’. Some professional sports entities are also a huge commercial enterprise.Likewise with some college sports programs in the US, where financial considerations rule. In these lucrative sports settings, the rate of temptation is high… Thus, some instititutions and individuals in sports are bound to be vulnerable to corruption, and therefore vigilance is in order, with emphasis on integrity in leadership in the main sports institutions, as well as emphasis in deterrence and detection sytems, including the watchful eye of the media. Some movies may also help in raising awareness and instilling good values.
However contrived its plot, this weekend’s movie debut of the special effects remake of the old animated Speed Racer may be an example, since in the words of a blogger, ‘corruption is pretty good as a driver for action movies’... But it is important to look beyond the sensationalistic.
Corruption cases involving players or referees, while coveted by the media, are likely to entail an invidualized scandal, involving a few people, and thus not entailing systemic corruption throughout the sport.More serious scrutiny may be needed to the more obscure challenges involving some sports associations, which often operate vast sums of money with little scrutiny and accountability. That is less flashy than finding out about one particular referee who received a bribe to fix a game, but it matters at least as much. Watchdog NGOs such as Play the Game (link here), as well as some authors, have looked into this. Moreover, a narrow focus on corruption within sports pales in comparison with the larger governance challenge of how sports can be manipulated as a state instrument to serve political aims.This may include a concerted attempt at gaining credibility or prestige through sports by a nation (or institution, or mogul) otherwise lacking in some important dimension of governance, or of political legitimacy.
Given their mass appeal (and their being a globalized socio-cultural phenomena), professional soccer and the Olympics in particular may fall in this category of being prone to capture for less-than-pristine political motive. Illustrating this issue, the Washington Post had an interesting article this weekend (‘Playing with Fire’), focused on the specter of the 1936 Hitler Olympics.Among others, it ties together the embarrassment to Hitler by the running prowess of the american Jesse Owen, the mysterious last minute exclusion by the US team of their jewish runner, and more generally the inability of the US to take a high moral ground back then — with its Jim Crow seggregation laws at home. At times the article also fast forwards to today’s reality in a ‘back-to-the-future’ style. In sports, corruption may at times take place, and the consequences for the sport — particularly given the attraction for the youth–, are far from negligible.
Such corruption needs to be deterred, and when it does take place, exposed and addressed. But some corruption within sports ought not divert focus from broader misgovernance in the form of abuse of some professional sports as a political instrument by powers well above the players and sport leaders themselves. We are plagued by a corrupt polity, which promotes unlawful and/or immoral behavior. Public interest has no practical significance in everyday behavior among the ruling factions. The real problems of our world are not being confronted by those in power.In the guise of public service, they use whatever comes to hand for personal gain.
They are insane with and for power. F H (unknown) Definition of Corruption: Corruption may come in many forms, often in politics and sport. Politicians on a quite regular basis have been found guilty of corruption, as with sports persons. Politicians use unethical techniques to gain an advantage in an election, to gain more money, votes or to simply put them in a better position than somebody else.
There is corruption in the police force, in law and order and even in the management of the Olympic Games.Corruption is caused mainly by the desires of power and want. Corruption is not necessarily bad, but very often creates a negative atmosphere. Detrimental corruption does not bring about any good - "corruptio optima pessime" Cricket:There have been numerous examples of corruption in sport in Australia lately.
Shane Warne and Mark Waugh both accepting bribes presented to them by an Indian bookmaker in exchange for knowledge of ground conditions and weather at a cricket ground. This information would undoubtedly give the bookmaker a better knowledge of the game - even if it was only the weather and grounds.Chess:An article in The Sun Herald 21st March this year, about cheating in chess games, by using a computer to suggest moves is another prime example of corruption. A 55-year-old amateur Clemens Allwermann amazingly performed at grandmaster chess level in a prestigious chess tournament. Apparently, he hid a small microphone underneath his tie.
He told his moves to another person receiving the call, then that person used a computer to tell him his moves. The amateur won the tournament, playing at grandmaster level.
