Lip Service in Sport?

In his explanation of the Olympic values, Jacques Rogge, the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), explains that “the Olympic games are only a means to a greater goal and the goal is to bring the educational values of sport to society.” He goes on to say that these values of sport include the “pursuit of excellence, respect of other, universality of this world, and building a better individual.” These ideas are extremely positive and could absolutely help the world become a better place, but just how much of this is truly followed through on? This should not be a question posed only to the Olympics, but rather to a broader range of sports everywhere.

After Tonya Harding had her bodyguard and a couple others physically take out Nancy Kerrigan so that she could not compete, the IOC, “which is supposed to stand for the highest ideals of sport, showed no muscle, no courage and no sense of fair play in caving to the threat of Harding's $25 million lawsuit and allowing her to represent the United States in the women's figure skating competition in Lillehammer,” according to a Boston Globe article entitled "Olympic Blame." Over three decades after the passing of Title IX, the issue of equality between men and women’s sports is still very much at the forefront. Greg Ebanks, Scholars International's women's coach, states that “women are not recognized like how men are in sports.”

On the other hand, there are cases where athletes have been rightfully punished for wrongdoing. Mark Richt, the head football coach of the University of Georgia, suspended four players, while Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer has kicked off one player and suspended another. As of late, Roger Goodell, commissioner of the NFL, slapped “Pacman” Jones and Chris Henry with harsher punishments than would have been issued in the past, while David Stern of the NBA suspended longtime referee Joey Crawford this week for the rest of the regular season and playoffs.” Finally the longest suspension in league history was issued to Chris Simon of the NHL

The list of mistakes made by players and the punishments, or lack thereof, continues. However, the question remains: Do the values and ideals of sport truly hold water or are they merely a cover-up for the negative that may exist in sport?