Fair Play: The Price of Victory?
According to the ultimate sports aphorism, It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.
But should sportsmanship be more important than winning, even at the Olympics?
Yes, says the International Fair Play Committee, a little-known organization dedicated to rewarding altruistic athletes who believe that fairness is “more important than winning at all costs.”
As an affiliate of the International Olympic Committee, Fair Play hands out awards each year to self-sacrificing athletes, in addition to athletically responsible kids and coaches. Any organization or individual can nominate someone for a prize.
But Fair Play has a problem. They get very few nominations. And though the Olympic Committee made a special public plea for more, recommendations haven’t exactly been pole-vaulting in, even during the Olympic Games.
Fair Play’s president thinks there’s a reason why fairness can’t compete “Victory is a huge motivation,” he explained. “A great number of people make money off athletes. Sports federations, commercial sponsors—everyone pressures them to get to the top. Athletes live under threat.”
Olympic-sized questions of poor sportsmanship aren’t difficult to find.
• The angry Swedish wrestler who disdained and discarded his bronze medal on the floor during the awards ceremony was disqualified for “violating the spirit of fair play at the Games.”
• Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt was criticized by the president of the Olympic Committee for showing a lack of respect to his competitors with his chest-thumping, show-boating gold medal wins.
• When U.S. tennis player James Blake lost to Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez after a match that included a questionable call, Blake accused his opponent of being flat-out dishonorable. “Maybe I shouldn’t expect people to hold themselves to high standards [of] sportsmanship,” he said. “Maybe I did expect a little more out of the Olympics.”
But behind the disappointing headlines, acts of responsible sportsmanship have also played out, albeit more quietly. Dara Torres failed to get the gold, but she didn’t fail to help a Swedish competitor whose swimsuit tore just before her competition. Wildly waiving her arms to get the officials’ attention, Torres delayed the start of the race so her opponent could have a fair chance.
And when aquatic superhero Michael Phelps earned his seventh gold medal by a breathtaking hundredth of a second over second-place Serb swimmer Milorad Cavic, the win was immediately protested by Serbia. But in an unusual gesture of sportsmanship, silver medalist Cavic said, “If it was up to me right now, I would just stop the protest. “I’m not angry. I’m stoked. I’m happy. You’ve got to understand I came into this competition with a goal to win a bronze medal.”
Tell us what you think: Do Olympic athletes have a responsibility beyond winning or doing their best for their country? Should the priority be sportsmanship first, winning second? Which Olympic athletes do you think should be awarded for upholding the standards of fair play?
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concerned parent about high school football
it is so uncool to see young men go out on friday night and play their hearts out on the football field-just to see the referee cheat for the other team who are getting thier butts handed to them.calling phantom plays that are not there just to keep one team in the state playoffs.they need to put instant replay in high school football to keep this from happening to other teams. the game in question is the ashbrook greenwave vs.south point red raiders game on fri.nov.13,2009.if possible they need to have a review group to go back and review game tapes of certain games and plays that are called for penalty..north carolina high school football is losing focus of the game—-let these kids play football and stop stealing the joy of the game it is football
micheal watson | 4 months ago
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good sport
a good sports is when they can say we lost and get over it and play that game again
brian | 3 months, 1 week ago
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good sport or not good sport
a good sportmen is when they play to play bad sport is one who plays to win.
drew | 3 months, 1 week ago
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OLivia
Simple…If you do not win, show good sportsmanship. “Fake it until you make it”
Not at all my motto, but what can you do? Making ### of self is not very appealing.
Olivia | 4 weeks ago
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Mr.
I’ve always believed that sportsmanship is more important than winning. I’ve played baseball for many years and that thought has carried throughout my playing days – I cannot even remember how many championship teams I’ve been on (if any) but I do remember having lots of fun and it’s helped in my coaching philosophy of Little League teams.
In the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing an American female swimmer – I believe it was Dara Torres asked the judge to please hold up the event for a short time while one of her competitors was delayed, I believe to change her swim suit. I also think that that competitor was in strong contention for a medal but Ms. Torres displayed great sportsmanship in having her compete, even if she might beat Ms. Torres.
Question: how do the athletes get to the Olympic site? Do they all meet at a certain place and travel all together on a charter plane or meet separately by sport and travel together? \
Thank you,
James Tomita
James Tomita | 3 weeks, 6 days ago
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That is True
That is very true u should always be a good sport to anyone even at the Olympics, every time i have a softball game i always say you can hit the ball if you really try so swing your fastest because im the catcher anf=d im behind the plate so i can talk to the girl that is up to bat!
Alexxes.Hernandez | 3 weeks, 4 days ago
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They're out there...
In Beijing, I saw more coverage debating the age of a Chinese gymnast (was she 12 or 13) than I did of the Croatian sailing team’s gesture of genuine sportsmanship. Of course, sailing isn’t necessarily one of the big ticket events in the summer games, but when athletes show integrity like that the media lets it fall by the wayside while they zoom in on actions which ellicit a more disgusted response from viewers. Maybe it sells more. You’ll most likely never see an olympic sailor on a Wheaties box, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pay attention to a truly generous or altruistic act in that arena. Sure, we love to chastise and judge those who fall short of our expectations, especially when they achieve so much. It makes them more human to us. Steroid use, dog fighting rings and sexual infidelity sell a lot of ad space. I, however, believe calling to light the truly heroic or sportsmanlike acts show a human side too. The one we want our children to see and emulate. A victory is hollow if it isnt hard won and honest.
Steve Drescher | 3 weeks, 3 days ago
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What do you want to be remembered as?
The Winter Olympics are such an inspiring thing to just watch. They are the talk around the water cooler the next day at work. Who won, the breath taking moments of an event, and of course who won what medal. Then . . . who complained, who called the winner names, said they should not have won. As always, the line everyone waits on at each game . . . who said they were cheated, the judges weren’t fair, and little Bobby licked the red off my candy.
Simply put, the winner will be remember for their speed, grace, and skill. The trouble maker, the complainer will be remembered for their crys of foul play, complaints, and their nasty remarkers. BUT THEY should remember, they’ll be remembered most for their bad behavior and poor sportsmanship and let’s face it, who wants to have that face on the Wheaties box!
Kelly Henry | 3 weeks, 3 days ago
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retired special education teacher
Hail all athletes! I am a retired special education teacher who has taught in the Wisconsin school system and in England. This is a non-question for me as I would never stop telling children with learning and emotional disadvantages to stop trying. Play to challenge yourself, to stretch yourself, to have a goal and a passion. Winning is good, trying is everything.
bernadette hamilton | 2 weeks, 5 days ago
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