Contemporary Issues in Sport - Report Example

Contemporary Issues in Sport Table of Contents Contemporary Issues in Sport 1 Table of Contents 1 Part 1: 2 Critical discussion through the evaluation of the key issues in sports 2 In focus: Success at the elite level 2 Part 2: 9 One of the contemporary issues of interest 9 In Focus: Corruption and its role in the modern world 10 Part 1: Critical discussion through the evaluation of the key issues in sports In focus: Success at the elite level In UK sports three core responsibilities have been described. These are performance, gold event series and international participation (Grix, 2008). Said that, the darker side of the sports in the country is always seen in connection with funding, corruption, nationalism, drugs and politics (Bairner, 2001). While these are integral part of the elite sports activities, it is these segments from which major key issues in the elite segment arise. At the same time the successes that the UK sporting arena has got, like ones in London 2012 Olympics, can also not be undermined (EdComs, 2007). Corruption Sports, in particular those of elite nature, have attained phenomenal proportions in today's life (Bloyce and Smith, 2010). However, at the same time these have been shrouded in contradictory phenomenon. While on the one hand sports help billions of people format their lives; on the other hand dirty practices as corruption have been linked to it time and again (Coalter, 2008). Analysts believe that instead of making it a matter of pessimism, corruption should be taken as a matter of concern. This is because such malpractices are going to bring about a decline in the spirit of sportsmanship. It is bound to erode sport values. While talking of that, it is important to see corruption in the light of doing that once was at its peak. Doping has been dealt with sternly for many years now and a gradual decline is being felt in doping cases; but corruption continues to rule the roost. Elite sports are more inflicted with this scourge because in such sports returns and stakes are higher (Brookes and Wiggan 2009). Unfortunately, as it was easy to check doping through international coordination of structures and various governing bodies along with scientific interventions, nothing as such is possible to detect and rectify corruption. Sporting field is still fresh with memories of spotfixing instances by three Pakistani cricketers; which was one of the biggest sporting scandals that rocked sports history in the last decade. While the prison sentences pronounced by a London court in October 2013 would be enough to act as a deterrent for future sportspersons, it would still not be enough to deter behind-the-scenes people involved in spot fixing. The lack of consensus between different sporting countries is another issue facing this field. That brings sporting memory to Hansie Cronje, former South African captain, against whom similar allegations were levelled in 2000. It is said that not only Cronje but there were also many more cricketers who were involved in that episode, including one Indian cricketer who later made it to the Indian Parliament, highest seat of power in the country. Following the scandal, both Pakistan and South Africa set up enquiry commissions, but all players were let loose after customary fines and bans and insignificant reprimands. In what seemed a cosmetic reaction, International Cricket Council, was set up in the same year, but nothing worthwhile came from it. It was ten years later, in 2010, that a sting operation by News of the World, helped investigators with concrete evidences enough to nail spotfixers. It is being seen that at the core of high risk of corruption are international sport federations on which limited external control is exerted but who have enormous wealth with them. Corruption in these federations manifests in many different forms including embezzlement, misuse of funds and corruption in selling media rights in case of high-value sporting events. The case of former president of Volleyball Federation, Ruben Acosta, is a good example to explain this type of corruption. Allotment of media rights involves exchange of large sums of money since major sports events mean equally great money for both these federations and media moguls. This works like an extension of an organised crime since criminal groups invest huge sums of money with expectations of huge returns on the same (Oughton and Tacon, 2006). That is not to say, in the worlds of Henri Roemer, of Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), there is a sports mafia; that is to say that mafias liberally invest into sports since sports promise huge financial returns on the invested money (Sam, 2009).. Low professionalism and lack of ethical standards in club administration add to this problem as acts of criminal intent abound unchecked. This is mostly true for football in which reports that of trafficking of players have emerged, not to speak of illegal betting and money laundering. In the hype and hoopla of elite sport conduction there are minimal risks for criminals since there are weak control systems. Everyone, from sports federation to over-ambitious and over-zealous sportspersons, is easy to influence. All it needs is to bribe one player and the rest follows in line automatically, more so when millions of dollars are involved in betting. Betting, at the same time, is done so that they invite little or no suspicion on part of authorities running after betters. Apart from this the crossover between national and international law systems make it difficult for enforcement agencies to check the menace. This is because national laws, more often than not, have little enforcement control over an abetment that takes place internationally. This sucks both into a legal vacuum. Performance-enhancing drugs termed as doping, this has been one of the major issues of concern in elite sports and is considered as an unethical practice, though in the recent years many rebuttals have emerged from several sporting quarters on the pretext that if it is not unethical to use new materials in the preparation of sportswear for better performance why should some performance-enhancing substances be terms as unethical. Both, it is argued, offer each competitor an advantage. However, the issue of doping is being taken seriously on account of its deleterious health effects. That is one major argument against doping and another, though is subtle one, is that spirit of sport is spoiled by doping occurrences. Fortunately almost all sports organisations are united on application of curbs on doping sportspersons and over these years strict penalties and rules are being enacted on sportspersons found indulging in the use of these drugs. International Association of Athletics Federations, which was formerly International Amateur Athletic Federation, was the first organisation to take the issue of doping seriously, but in the absence of reliable scientific testing they couldn’t go steps beyond that. The breakthrough, however, came in 1966, when Union Cycliste Internationale and FIFA came together with IAAF and started a joint fight against this issue that had dented the image of elite international sports. The following year they were joined by the International Olympic Committee. Progression in testing methodologies in the subsequent years have made the job of these agencies easier in terms of detecting cases of doping and implementing punishments that are rigorous. However, what has made real difference to how this issue is tackled is the constitution of World Anti-Doping Agency a decade-and-a-half ago. This has strengthened the resolve of different sporting bodies to fight the anti-doping war. This has been an unnerving development for sportspersons and a reason for decrease in cases of performance-enhancing drug use. United Kingdom has had its own share of doping cases in the last two decades which deserve a mention here. One is that of Paul Michael Edwards, a 1959, Greater London-born athlete of repute and a two-time participant of Summer Olympics - one in 1988 and another 1992. Recipient of 5 UK titles and 11 AAA tiles, Edwards at the pinnacle of his career represented the country 43 times, until this 1994 doping scandal that brought him crumbling down. In this year he tested positive for steroids and got a lifetime ban in 1997 when testosterone was detected in his sample. Another one, a footballer, 1980-born Leon Charles Jeanne, has been riding the controversial bandwagon since he began his Queens Park Rangers career, prior to which he has this history of staying missing for some time; that was prior to being arrested for driving in a drunken state. He was requested for sample so that he could be tested for drugs in 2002 but it later turned out that the same he had submitted was either fudged or not urine at all. He was arrested the same year and he confessed in court to being addicted to cocaine. Political issues Elite sports enjoy unprecedented levels of investments within and from the capitalist nations (Green, 2004).. There are several reasons for such investments and politics is at the core of such reasons (Allison, 2005). Behind the United Kingdom's sports model is what is termed as "virtuous sport cycle", which enables a nation to enter the prestigious international reputation. It is a type of "feel good factor" that political side of a nation gains when it shows inherent interest in sport. Politics in sports is seen as both bane and a boon; the former because unwanted political interference from political parties and heads in sports diluting the very purpose of sportsmanship and latter because without this interference many things would not be possible to take place. Politics in sports is seen from twin side of advantage and disadvantage but there are some authoritative people in sports arenas that tend to drift the trend towards a flip positive side. In 2012, during the London Olympics, Sebastian Coe, Chairman of the London Olympic organising committee, urged politicians to "invest" in elite athletes so that others can be inspired at the grassroots through added participation and interest in sports (Gibson, 2012). The debate is going on. Role of sports nationally and internationally Sport has assumed an important place in English life. These are divided between popular sports and individual sports. The former include cricket, association football, rugby league and rugby union. The latter include athletics, golf, badminton, horseracing and motorsport. Some sports, termed as modern sports, got codified in the UK in 19th century and include cricket, rugby league, rugby union, tennis, badminton and football (Holt, 1989). Sports assume a nationalist hue when each sports international rivalries are counted. For example, sports in UK are assumed to have fierce rivals in their Australian or Scottish sports. The rivalries span across each sport (Broadbent and Oconnor, 2008). The major role of sport in the United Kingdom is that of fostering the national spirit, which assumes greater heights when UK teams clash with those from international arena is different sporting events. It is held that several sports have contributed a lot in creating a stronger English identity (Hargreaves, 2000) and the credit goes to such sports as cricket, association football and rugby union. It is evident from the fact that wherever UK sports fans go, they carry St George's Cross along with. previously they would carry British Union Flag, although there is no hard and fast rule as to who should carry what. On the elite site of UK sports scene, the most popular is Association football, while rugby union is famous for its winter occurrence, though it is now played in summer too. Elite level individual sports that foster the spirit of nationalism and English identity include badminton, golf, tennis, boxing, mixed martial arts, and of course Olympic Games. Internationally the sport plays the role of a nationalist catalyst; since it serves the purpose of national solidarity. For each competing nation the very participation in a sporting event is a chance of showcasing national pride. there are certain competing nations, which when play a game, bring both nations to a standstill. One of the foremost stages of nationalist competition is the Olympic Games, often taking in its stride political conflict between two competing nations. The winner gets a political edge over the loser. When sports are used to express national solidarity, states Xypolia (2012), it assumes the colours of banal nationalism. Part 2: One of the contemporary issues of interest In Focus: Corruption and its role in the modern world Corruption, as discussed above, has started eating into the integrity of modern sports and is telling upon the modern world in a major way. Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) remarked in 2011 that if the world closes its eyes on this menace it is likely that there will be more rigged sporting competitions in the near future. Indirectly, he was referring to establishing contact as much with governments as with betting companies in order to find a solution to the problem. Corruption has been, since long, a key issue in sports but its role in the modern world stands redefined today. Today, corruption in sports is not only about money, it is also a concern about moral and social values of sports getting tarnished. In this direction 2011 was an eventful year in the sense that mobilisation to curb corruption in sports has assumed unprecedented support. All because the modern world has realised that those indulging in corruption in the name of sports are actually bent upon enriching themselves at the cost of integrity of sports. The racket, if it is termed as such, is so organised now that corrupt dealings are done through betting systems that are online, hence away from the roving eye of law and investigating agencies, than physically. In this context the IOC is emerging as a spearhead so that this movement can be taken to a conclusive end. It even held a summit on combating sports corruption in March 2011 and the initiative was complemented by FIFA when it allocated Euros 20 million to explore means to combat rigged matches. FIFA envisioned a cooperative structure in association with Interpol, while on the other hand, UEFA promised proactive measures that could help create a distance between sport and corruption. In other words corruption rocking sports has influenced modern world such that a general awareness has been created among masses on the importance of tackling it amidst frauds, scandals, judicial investigation and even rumours. There is awareness that fraud cases in sport are threatening the vey integrity for which games are being played and matches won. Analysts believe that the way corruption is seeping into modern world sports, some of these sports stand chances of dying eventually if sports authorities and public do not take effective measures to end encroachment of fraudulent dealings and betting in sports. This is being termed as a "glorious uncertainty of sport" and it is assumed that the "discipline of sport" would "get killed". This threat is already being perceived by some Eastern European and Asian countries. Should that happen, the negative role corruption would play in this world have a ripple effect of losses across several domains. There will be no endorsements, media will not be interested to buy transmission rights, clubs will be jobless due to drainage of resources and public will hold no interest towards sports activities. South East Asia championships are an ideal example of how corruption has dislodged modern sport from its old grace. These championships were very popular in 1990s. Then the rigging and corruption hit these championships and the result was chasing away of investors and emptying of stadiums. In the similar manner Chinese professional championship began in 2011 but with an unprecedented internal crisis as it was right at the beginning of it that news broke about cases of corruption having hit it. Its federation's executives had been sent to jail, and as one thing linked to another, television broadcaster and main sponsor walked out of their contracts which they had made with the league. The first match saw virtual obscurity dogging it. Something similar in nature happened in Balkans. Corruption in sports has played major role in consolidating the strength of transnational criminal organisations. In some case small criminal organisations have graduated from being regional operatives working in family-oriented settings to international organisations and more often than not even diversified their "business" interests both legally and illegally. Modern day globalisations has made their jobs easier as many things have gone to their advantage, like flaws in judicial and legal systems, changes in regulations, free trade and in some cases opening-up of borders. FIFA's Security Director, Chris Eaton, has rightly pointed out that gangs passionately working to corrupt sports have been working as if they were enterprises. They have transformed betting into a problem that is manifesting repercussions throughout the world. As a matter of fact, corruption in sports has created a strange world criminal dynamics that projects unique characteristics on its own. Truncer (2008) has explained this dynamics comprehensively in their work "How to rig a football match". So much so that scientific studies have gone deep into it to see how they impact the world (Forrest, 2008; Matveev, 2009). Given the enormity of the problem, several governments and associations have braced up to meet the problem head-on and many have even resorted to suggestions of deregulation of sports betting, which involves huge sums of public money that goes into corrupting either players or high sports officials. In 2010, French legislature enacted a law that proposed regulation of sports betting through online media. The idea was to protect risks that arose from betting. In other words it was French government’s way of legalising betting but under certain terms and conditions as laid down by the government. A central regulatory body was established by the French government, known as ARJEL or Autorite de Regulation des Jeux en Ligne. ARJEL is responsible for granting betting operators licenses and French law conditions. These operators come under the purview of tax system. The idea behind this move was to legalise betting so that all betting activities could be monitored by the government, which was also empowered to take actions against those who deviated from the law. Conclusion There is a craze for sports the world over. And looking from outside, everything in the sports world seems to be so enticing. But, as has been observed in this paper, the world of sports is afflicted with a number of key issues; the primary ones of which include use of performance-enhancing substances, high-level corruption and overt indulgence of politics in the spirit of sports. This paper has analysed these key issues in the first part and attempted to see how one of these key issues has played a role in the modern world. References Allison, L., ed. (2005). The Global Politics of Sport: The Role of Global Institutions in Sport. London: Routledge. Bairner, A. (2001). Sport, Nationalism, and Globalization. European and North American Perspectives. Albany, NY: SUNY Press. Bloyce, D and Smith, A. (2010). Sport policy and development. London: Routledge. Broadbent, Rick; Oconnor, Ashling (7 August 2008). Great Britain and Australia rivalry reaches new heights. The Times (London). . Last accessed April 20, 2014. Brookes, S and Wiggan, J. (2009). Reflecting the public value of sport. A game of two halves? Public Management Review, 11(4), 401-420. Coalter, F. (2008). A wider social role for sport. London: Routledge. EdComs. (2007). London 2012 legacy research: final report. London:COI/DCMS. Forrest, D. (2008). Sports betting and corruption: How to preserve the integrity of sport. Available: http://www.sportaccord.com/multimedia/docs/2012/02/2012_-_IRIS_-_Etude_Paris_sportifs_et_corruption_-_ENG.pdf. . Last accessed April 20, 2014. Gibson, O. (2012). Bloyce, D and Smith, A. (2010). London 2012: invest in elite sport for grassroots legacy, says Lord Coe. Available: http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/aug/13/london-2012-lord-coe-investment-elite-sport. Last accessed April 20, 2014. Green, M. (2004). Changing policy priorities for sport in England: the emergence of elite sport development as a key policy concern. Leisure Studies, 23(4), 365-385. Grix, J. (2008). The impact of UK sport policy on the governance of athletics. International Journal of Sport Policy, 1(1), 31-49. Hargreaves, J. (2000). Heroines of Sport: The Politics of Identity and Difference. London: Routledge. Holt, R. (1989). Sport and the British: A Modern History. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Matveev, A. (2009). Kak Pokupaiut i Prodaiut Matchi v Rossiiskom Futbole (Fix: "How They Buy and Sell Matches in Russian Football"). Oughton, V and Tacon, R. (2006). The economic and social impact of sport. Report for the Economic and Social Research Council. Swindon: ESRC. Sam, M. (2009). The public management of sport. Wicked problems, challenges and dilemmas. Public Management Review, 11(4), 499-514. Tuncer , Y. (2005). Sali Hakan Ɣikeyi 90'dan çikardi! Zaman, Spor (Istanbul) (12.4.2005), in Declan Hill, op. cit., 2008, pp. 162-3. Xypolia, I. (2012). More than just a Game: football as the modern opium of the masses. Available: http://londonprogressivejournal.com/article/view/1167. Last accessed April 20, 2014. Read More

It was ten years later, in 2010, that a sting operation by News of the World, helped investigators with concrete evidences enough to nail spotfixers. It is being seen that at the core of high risk of corruption are international sport federations on which limited external control is exerted but who have enormous wealth with them. Corruption in these federations manifests in many different forms including embezzlement, misuse of funds and corruption in selling media rights in case of high-value sporting events.

The case of former president of Volleyball Federation, Ruben Acosta, is a good example to explain this type of corruption. Allotment of media rights involves exchange of large sums of money since major sports events mean equally great money for both these federations and media moguls. This works like an extension of an organised crime since criminal groups invest huge sums of money with expectations of huge returns on the same (Oughton and Tacon, 2006). That is not to say, in the worlds of Henri Roemer, of Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), there is a sports mafia; that is to say that mafias liberally invest into sports since sports promise huge financial returns on the invested money (Sam, 2009).. Low professionalism and lack of ethical standards in club administration add to this problem as acts of criminal intent abound unchecked.

This is mostly true for football in which reports that of trafficking of players have emerged, not to speak of illegal betting and money laundering. In the hype and hoopla of elite sport conduction there are minimal risks for criminals since there are weak control systems. Everyone, from sports federation to over-ambitious and over-zealous sportspersons, is easy to influence. All it needs is to bribe one player and the rest follows in line automatically, more so when millions of dollars are involved in betting.

Betting, at the same time, is done so that they invite little or no suspicion on part of authorities running after betters. Apart from this the crossover between national and international law systems make it difficult for enforcement agencies to check the menace. This is because national laws, more often than not, have little enforcement control over an abetment that takes place internationally. This sucks both into a legal vacuum. Performance-enhancing drugs termed as doping, this has been one of the major issues of concern in elite sports and is considered as an unethical practice, though in the recent years many rebuttals have emerged from several sporting quarters on the pretext that if it is not unethical to use new materials in the preparation of sportswear for better performance why should some performance-enhancing substances be terms as unethical.

Both, it is argued, offer each competitor an advantage. However, the issue of doping is being taken seriously on account of its deleterious health effects. That is one major argument against doping and another, though is subtle one, is that spirit of sport is spoiled by doping occurrences. Fortunately almost all sports organisations are united on application of curbs on doping sportspersons and over these years strict penalties and rules are being enacted on sportspersons found indulging in the use of these drugs.

International Association of Athletics Federations, which was formerly International Amateur Athletic Federation, was the first organisation to take the issue of doping seriously, but in the absence of reliable scientific testing they couldn’t go steps beyond that. The breakthrough, however, came in 1966, when Union Cycliste Internationale and FIFA came together with IAAF and started a joint fight against this issue that had dented the image of elite international sports. The following year they were joined by the International Olympic Committee.

Progression in testing methodologies in the subsequent years have made the job of these agencies easier in terms of detecting cases of doping and implementing punishments that are rigorous.

Read More