In June 1894, Baron Pierre de Coubertin organised an International Congress in Paris to revive the Olympic Games. Delegates supported unanimously the decision to stage the Games in Athens in 1896. The Congress also formed the International Olympic Committee (IOC). All the major international sport governing bodies are part of the Olympic movement. Olympic day is celebrated June 23. June, therefore, is the time of year when the Olympic movement should touch base with its reason for being, and time-honoured Olympic traditions.
As you watch major events such as the Fifa World Cup and the Olympic Games, however, don't be naive, hypocritical or gullible. Most of us don't want to read past the headlines. It is important that we do because the headlines never tell the whole story. Most major international sport governing bodies are neither paragons of virtue nor best practice examples of good or ethical governance. In fact, they would all be unrecognisable to their founders. They have lost sight of the founding principles, essence and meaning of the values of sport and Olympism.
Put aside the pontificating and posturing about good governance, immoral or unethical conduct or practices, credibility and integrity. There is no glory in exploring the gap between the letter and spirit, rhetoric and practices.
Is it right? Right and wrong are moral concepts. Morality has to do with behaving according to values that go far beyond narrow self-interest. Ethics is about obeying the rules and following the core values in sport such as fairness, integrity, respect and equity. Can you speak about good governance in sport without reference to ethical standards? There is a need to take a serious look at the issue of ethics in sport from the perspective of the systematic application of moral rules, principles, values and norms (culture).
Corruption, bribery, cronyism, nepotism, favouritism, discrimination, bias and paternalism are all ethical issues.
Is there a difference between ethics and sport governance in professional sport and amateur sport? Are the issues of dual leadership, structure, culture, strategy and performance evaluation relevant or the same for both? Sport organisations traditionally are non-profit and governed by a volunteer board. Those two factors have serious implications, given the fact that some international sport governing bodies now command billions of dollars in revenue and sport leaders seem to be no longer volunteers. But is this a true picture?
How does this picture reconcile with the fact that nowhere in the world, sport can survive without volunteer administrators, officials, coaches, doctors and that the majority of national community and grassroots sport, stakeholders do what they do without being mercenary. Some would have us look at it all in shades of grey–it the end, it matters not, for the truth be told–there is no right way to do the wrong thing. Hubris caused Icarus to fly too close to the sun. His wings melted and he fell into the ocean and drowned. Shylock wanted his pound of flesh but ended up unhappy and with nothing.
They are neither exemplars nor positive role models those "blazered bureaucrats" tarnishing the credibility, sweat, pain and tears of the millions of volunteer foot soldiers, who labour in the vineyard of sport. They should be objects of scorn not worthy of being stewards of the confidence, trust and hopes of those who honestly think and act out their passion and purpose through sport. National Olympic committees and national sport governing bodies must remain grounded in their founding principles and core values.
On crafted wings they soar higher and higher, drunk with success they seek to remake the world in their image and likeness. Alas, blinded by pride they fly into the sun.
Sadly, it is easy to cross the line and move from being a well intentioned, sincere sport administrator to the heady ivory tower of the blazered bureaucrats.
Brian Lewis is the Secretary General
of the T&T Olympic Committee (TTOC).
The views expressed are not necessarily those of the TTOC.