Feature
No.40
January 2004
 
    

Promoting Sports Ethics - a Herculean task
LEUNG Mee-lee, China



The year 2004 is when the Olympics return to Athens, the Games’ birthplace. What is more appropriate now than a discussion of fair play, or sportsmanship, a crucial component of ‘Olympism’? This may then be tied to the ‘ideology and set of propositions with pedagogical, social and political aims perceivable as mystique, that of a way of life resting on the code of sports ethics (Landry, 1988)’
I began my journey into sports, and their ethics, as an athlete. Sport dominated my childhood. I played in the class team in primary school, represented my territory, Hong Kong, during my high school years; and then competed at the University level. Later I studied physical education at the University of Oregon and eventually coached the University of Hong Kong women’s basketball team. In my sporting career as a spectator, an athletes and a coach, I often face moral dilemmas that compel me to make judgments on, say, whether a play is fair or foul. I developed my beliefs and values for sports and these continue to affect me.
The Declaration by the International Council on Sport and Physical Education in 1976 stated that
    Fair play is exemplified by:
  • unquestioning acceptance of referee’s decision, except in those sports where the decision is subject to appeal;
  • playing to win as an essential first objective, but refusing resolutely to seek victory by any means.
    Fair play is a ‘way of behaving’ that evolves from self-respect and entails:
  • honesty, candor and composure even when others do no play fairly;
  • respect team mates and colleagues;
  • respect opponents, whether they are winning or losing and the acceptance that an opponent is a
  • necessary partner in sport to whom one is bound by companionship;
  • respect and cooperate with referee.
(ICSPE, 1976)
I believe fair play also means being modest in victory and gracious in defeat. Teamwork is paramount for it requires that people observe this rule. Following are the words from Rees (1998, p.283) that
In order to be effective, programs need to be endorsed
by all elements in the sports world-education, media,
the sports industry and pro sport.
Rees reminded us that fair play is not the perogative of the competitor alone for it also requires the collaboration of coaches, referees, parents, physicians, national sport associations, spectators and the media—all those who truly make up the ranks. I have suggested different means of enhancing fair play which may not be difficult to achieve. This is especially so given today’s attitude is that ‘Winning is the ONLY thing’.
To ensure that athletic competitions live up to their potential, I believe it is essential that all involved fulfill their responsibilities as follows:
Responsibilities of the athlete
The athlete is the one who ultimately determines whether the play is fair or foul. Every athlete tries to win and some even cheat to achieve a competitive edge. Whether he will sacrifice his principles to ‘win at all cost’, such as using drugs or cheating or fouling his opponents or disputing the referees, is his or her choice.
Responsibilities of the coach
The coach is probably the closest person to the athlete other than his teammates. The action of an athlete is a reflection of his coach, particularly for the younger competitor who looks up to his mentor for guidance. The coach should be an ethically aware person, since it is he who often instills in the athletes the sense of right and wrong. The coach has to impress the athlete that not just winning is important but how it is achieved.
Responsibilities of the physician
In an era where every athlete is trying to gain an edge, ergogenic aids are a temptation hard to resist, even if their abuses are dangerous. The sports physician has to abide by ethical standards as laid down by the Hippocratic oath. This obviously includes the prescribing performance enhancing drugs to his patient-athlete. Sometimes a doctor may suspend all his misgivings to ply an athlete with proscribed substances. This is clearly wrong. More ambiguous is the situation in which a doctor has to decide whether prescribing a drug to aid the recovery of an injured athlete may actually enhance the competitor’s performance and so affect the outcome of a contest. I believe the health of the athlete is always the paramount concern, not whether the individual plays or not.
Responsibilities of the referee
The referee is often the person who controls the rhythm of the game, other than the athlete. He is probably the only one who, during the game, commands the authority to continue, suspend or call a game-- as well as disqualify errant players. The referee’s discretion is final and he has to be technically competent, composed, thoroughly versed in the rules, physically fit to keep up with the game, and mentally alert. He also has to be firm and fair – plus impervious to argumentative players, persistent coaches and disgruntled fans, all of whom can exert tremendous pressure.
Responsibilities of the parents
The parents assert enormous sway on youth athletes from an early age. The parents, as such, have to impart not just the will to win but also the wisdom of life that is as important off as on the field. They need to be fervent in their support and courteous in their treatment of referees and coaches.
Responsibilities of spectators
Spectators matter to sports ethics. If they show respect and cheer good plays instead of wishing the opposite side ill or rooting for aggressive tactics, they affect the conduct of the game. The spirit of ‘fair play’ should be evident throughout the contest. If not, the spectators become a mob and a game turns into a ‘gladiator contest.’
Responsibilities of the National Olympic Committees and National Sports Associations
The NOCs and NSAs put a lot of pressure in winning which garners the laurels and also the financial rewards in the forms of increased government funding, commercial sponsorships, generous television contracts in some instances and sold-out games. Some teams even risk the health of their athletes by forcing them to compete despite nagging injuries. Officers in the NOCs and Sports Associations must stress that, while winning is important, adhering to principles is even more so.
Responsibilities of the media
The media can contribute invaluably to fair play because they influence athletes and public alike. Some of course exaggerate or ‘boost’ for television rating and newspaper circulation. Writers and commentators sometimes invent or hype rivalries to stir interest and feuds – blood interest and blood feuds – because the promise of violence excites some fans. They need to be knowledgeable, factual, accurate, and analytical even when they are passionate. They must also be impartial and independent even as editors, producers, publishers and advertisers clamor for “copy”, “color” and “sensation”.
This brief article may not answer all the questions in sports ethics since I speak from my own experiences that are, of course, not infinitely varied. I may have used the term fair play, sportsmanship and Olympism interchangeably but sportsmanship and fair play are evident during a competition. Olympism is a state of mind that complements fair play (Pringarbe, 2000). Through both action and spirit, we can accomplish the goal spelt out in the Olympic Charter and so promote the development of the qualities that are intrinsic to sports played at their best.

References
ICSPE (1976) Declaration on fair play. Bulletin of the Federation Internationale d’ Education Physique. Vol. 46 (2) 10-20.
Landry, F. (1988) Olympism at the beginning and at the end of the 20th century from the permanence of an idea to the growing paradox of its social function. Report of the twenty-eight session 29th June-14th July 1988 in Ancient Olympia. Lausaunne: International Olympic Committee
National Youth Sport Coaches Association (2003) . NTSCA Parents Code of Ethics Available HTTP: http://www.decatursports.com/articles/NYSCA.htm.
(Download on 5 Dec. 2003 at 23.35)
Pringarbe, R. (2000) Sportsmanship and the Olympic spirit. Olympic Review XXVI-30. International Olympic Committee. pp. 25-26.
Rees, C.R. (1998) Building character and the globalization of sport. Proceedings of the AIESEP-Adelphi World Congress. N.Y.: Adelphi University pp. 281-286.


LEUNG Mee-lee
Head/Associate Professor
Department of Physical Education
Hong Kong Baptist University
Hong Kong
and, Director of Studies
Hong Kong Olympic Academy
Hong Kong
China




http://www.icsspe.org/portal/bulletin-january2004.htm