First place for corruption goes to sport
Fair, fun and accessible? In an ideal world maybe
Fair, fun and accessible. In an ideal world sport would display these imperative qualities that would guide us to a healthier and happier nation. However, capitalism, corruption and greed seem to be the prevailing dark forces shaping and tainting the sport industry. I think we can all agree this needs to stop.
Money and greed
It is outrageous how sport is now centred around income. Why does a footballer earn more than a midwife? I would like to see Messi free-kick his way into safely delivering a newborn baby at the end of a 12-hour shift. It is simply unacceptable how sport now seems to be centred around fame and money, with top athletes and sports “stars” making millions out of lucrative sponsorship and advertising deals rather than concentrating on what is important and being good role models to young people. Increasingly, sport seems to be for those whose primary aim is to get rich, making it exclusive and elitist.
A two-tier system
What message are we sending our increasingly obese population if we continue to support these sports personalities pumped with money, greed and corruption? It is undeniable that the increasing commercialisation of sport is responsible for more at-home, arm-chair viewing. While the fat deposits itself in your arteries, far fewer people are actually partaking in the sport, preferring to watch rather than get active.
But who can blame them? These armchair viewers really have it all figured. No one wants to partake in sport with its current greedy nature. Not naturally gifted? Sport isn’t for you. Not wealthy? Sport isn’t for you. With rising fees even to join a gym, let alone a competitive club, taking part in sport at any level seems no less than impossible.
A new attitude
I realise I may be seemingly degrading sport entirely. However, this is not my intention. I merely believe sport should adapt a new, welcoming attitude to make it easy, fun and accessible. Still don’t agree? Listen to the facts: in a survey in 2016, it was found that only 20% of girls over 16 partake in sport. Even the recent success of the Lionesses, while inspirational, seems overshadowed by corruption and misogyny at the highest levels, and of course, let us not forget how much money the television channels have made from the increased popularity of women’s football, as well as the spin-off and sponsorship deals that will inevitably follow. The sports industry needs to be changed. It needs to be changed now.
First place or no place
When did “taking part is all that counts” be replaced with “second is the first loser”? As an ex-competitive gymnast, I can assure you with full confidence that at the vulnerable and impressionable age of eight I was conditioned as if I were a robot to aim for first place; second place was failure. Second was me choking back sobs as the tears stained my pillow. What did the aggressively competitive attitude I had been conditioned to embody cause? Me to win? No; it caused me to quit the sport and feel an unnerving wave of nausea when I so much as see gymnastics on TV.
I am not alone. Sport’s vile and toxic competitive turn for the worse can only be described as the death of enjoyable sport, with the sporting leaders and officials dressing its corpse; decorating it as if it is something we should be celebrating. It is time we stopped being ignorant and saw sport for the over commercialised, corrupt and greedy villain it is, and not the daydream of fair play and accessibility. It does indeed seem that these days sport is more about money, corruption and winning at any cost.