Rio, torn between ethics and success

After the last ancient Greek Olympics, for over a thousand years there were none, until it was revived in 1896 by the French. Could it have been an issue like what is happening now, that made the Olympics vanish for that long a period in time? On an ideological issue, Russia did not go for the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984. This is the first time, cheating through doping has become a serious issue to Olympics. The Russian contingent has always been big and they participate in most of the sports. Unfortunately, in Rio, this will not be the case.

Two names will go into history from this episode. If not for the Russian ‘whistle blowers’ Vitaly Stepanov, once sanctioned 800metre runner, and his wife, Yuiliya’s revelation of the doping scandal at the ‘Sochi Winter Olympics’, the Rio Games would have been a ‘plain sailing’ success.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) which came into being in 1894, wants to have successful Olympics every time. The Summer Olympics is their flagship and the world’s highest rated sporting event in the last 120 years. The anti-doping body WADA, is for ‘fairplay and ethics’ which are paramount to professional Sports. In reality, these two bodies should be working together but, for the Rio Olympics, suddenly, the IOC has backed down from its tough stand on doping and is playing soft. It has passed the ball to the individual Sports bodies to screen and permit participation. Then, what is the purpose of the IOC?

It seems WADA is furious over this and is apparently, saying that, in the interest of continuing the legacy of ‘Modern Olympics’, the IOC has tolerated cheating, and is now playing with the Olympic image and Sport itself. This stand of WADA amounts to ‘killing’ of the IOC in ‘High Places’. It is shaking the very foundation of sport on which we stand. The IOC is struggling to survive, doing the balancing act between responsibility and success of the Olympics. With the Rio Olympics just a few days away, the Russians are not certain whether they are in or out. As for Stepanov and his wife, they are likely to be in a secret safe location. If all this is true, can it be this bad in Sport today?

Russian Tennis players

Russian Tennis is in the news, as 4 women and 3 men under suspi- cion, have come clean and said to be able to participate. Three of the 4 women, Stevlana Kuznetsova, Anatasia Paulyuchenkova and Ekaterina Makarova are good medal prospects, as they play in the WTA and ATP events round the year, and Tennis players are regularly tested.

As for Tennis itself, among the top Tennis players, there is no special training for the Rio Olympics. They are in training for the WTA and ATP tour calendar from January to October. The events leading to the Olympics serve as preparation. At present, the Canadian Open is on, and on August 6, Tennis at the Olympics will begin. Soon after the Olympics, the players will be out of the Olympic village and head for the North American US Open circuit consisting of 5 events, which will end with New York’s US Open in the last week of August. The Russians will play in these.

Undefined ‘Sport’

From what is known, the word ‘Sport’ is not defined and is not an acronym. French word ‘disporter’ is often considered the origin of the word. ‘Disporter’ in French implies going away from work. It is very unlikely that the original Greek Games conducted to celebrate ‘Zeus’, a God in their pantheon, ever used the word ‘Sport’ or, its equivalent or, had the implication of going away from work. In the modern context, we have reversed the French word ‘disporter’ and made Sport a ‘profession’- which means work.

Sport became a strong symbol in the 20th century and was encouraged for many good reasons, with a few negative ones. Using Sport to exhibit strength of an ideology certainly did not enhance the Sporting image. With doping scandals I cannot predict to what extent Sport is going to suffer. The IOC will have to come out with a credible system to reinstate the Sporting values for which it IOC stands. It would undoubtedly be a task much bigger than any Olympics the IOC ever conducted. They will have to cooperate with WADA or, mega Sporting events and spectator interest may cease.

Tennis has escaped

This certainly is a bad way to express the status of Tennis, for that matter, any Sport in this civilised world. The esteem we place on a sportsperson is what is propelling most of the wrongdoings, and ‘money-offers’ are accelerating the negative process. Sport has come a long way contributing positively, and that did not happen with calculators, manipulators and promoters. The young must be told about this. Change must happen now or, it may be too late. If not, the first question in the post match interview could be, ‘"What is the doping cocktail you take to enhance your performance?" I will not be surprised if the player has a ‘dope branding’ on his shirt too. Fortunately, Vitaly and Yuilia Stepanov have made the first right move towards cleaning Sport, risking their lives. They will go into history. George Paldano, Former int. player; Accredited Coach of Germany; National, Davis Cup, Federation Cup coach--. george

paldano@yahoo.com