Play the game Reaching for democracy in sports

Stories from the second world conference for media professionals in a globalised sports society

Copenhagen, November 12th-16th 2000

Aidan White Anders Bülow Anders Levinsen Andrew Jennings Bengt Saltin Benny Peiser Carole Garoes David Conn Dick Pound Elias Ma- kori Elsebeth Gerner Nielsen Fékrou Kidané Gerhard Heiberg Gilles E. Néron Henning Eichberg Jens Weinreich John Hoberman John Mendoza Jorunn Sundgot-Borgen Jørn Møller Karsten Froberg Keld Strudahl Lars Bo Andersen Malcolm Clarke Mike Boit Niels Christian Jung Niels- Christian Holmstrøm Olav Skaaning Andersen Patrick Schamasch Pete Clifton Sandro Donati Stefan Kürten Terry Monnington Thomas Kistner Torben Ulrich Usman Yakubu Verner Møller Wladimir Andreff invited the media and sports world to "Play the game". Refreshing an old love affair We wanted to break the silence, we wanted to create a new forum for inter- national exchange and dialogue, in brief: we wanted to promote democracy By Jens Sejer Andersen, Editor-in-Chief in sports and media. Many people deserve our thanks for giving a decisive helping hand: The donors. The dynamic and open-minded hen media professionals and achieve a better understanding of his or group of participants. and sports researchers from her role in society, to help express inner And not least: The many world-class W52 countries gathered in beliefs - and to bring forward different speakers who were ready to share their Copenhagen in November 2000, they viewpoints. knowledge and opinions with a very came to refresh the emotions of a very The sports world needs this freedom modest financial reward, if any. old couple. so that each citizen can find or create the A special respect must be payed to The delegates at "Play the game" kind of movement culture that suits his those speakers who ran a risk by brought new life to an ancient love or her personal values in life, and so that choosing dialogue instead of silence - affair, the one between the body and the the individual athlete can influence the those who came to criticize the sports spirit, the athlete and the story-teller - development of the movement culture. establishment thus risking their jobs, as or to be more accurate, between the well as those who came to defend it meaning and the movement. thus risking their prestige. Since ancient times, men and women Thanks to the efforts of both Thanks to the efforts of both critics have used dance, games, sports and critics and criticized, "Play the game" and criticized, "Play the game" became other movement cultures to express the was a breakthrough for open a breakthrough for open debate and ideals and values that exist in their dialogue in sports. debate and dialogue in sports. hearts and minds. It did not turn the world completely And many social thinkers and politi- It proved that there is around - but it did for some time stir the cal leaders have for centuries known much more meaning to blood of an old couple. It proved that that if you want to implant certain the movement than money there is much more meaning to the thoughts in the minds of people, you movement than money. would have to start with the body. We hope that you, too, will feel So the love between the meaning and But freedom of expression has come refreshed when reading the following the movement is rooted in a common under serious pressure in the past three stories from "Play the game". dream: decades. If so, we invite you to search The dream that the two of them Those who lead the explosive for much more information at together could create a good society commercialisation of sports and sports www.play-the-game.org. and that they would be cornerstones of media do not measure its success in There, you will find almost all papers democracy. terms of dialogue, understanding and given at the conference - and you can This is why the meaning and the community building. register for news about the next con- movement - the media and the sports Their basic interest is business - and ference, scheduled for November 2002. world - should share a common interest democracy with all its outspoken and We would like to invite you to in freedom of expression. unpredictable conflicts, is often con- Copenhagen once again, to celebrate The media need this freedom in sidered as bad for business. the love for sport and journalism, to tell order to help each individual citizen That is why the IFJ, ISCA and SIU the story… and Play the game!

The Play the game ❒REPORTERS All photos courtesy of Articles can be Play the game was supported by magazine is an edited, Steen Ankerdal Niels Nyholm (freelance) quoted in parts extended and translated Steen Bille Unless otherwise credited when crediting The Danish Ministry of Culture version of the Danish Kasper Lindberg ❒ the author and The Year 2000 Foundation weekly "Ungdom & Karen Balling Radmer LAYOUT the Play the game Danida Idræt" no. 34/ 2000 Marie Venø Thesbjerg Maja Bursøe conference Danish Gymnastics and Sports Association Jonna Toft The Association of Danish Sports Journalists Printed at Scanprint ❒EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Per Vinther (freelance) For all other kinds DK-8260 Viby J Jens Sejer Andersen of reproduction Denmark [email protected] ❒TRANSLATIONS written permission May 2001 © 2001 Sports Marcus Dylan Hoy must be requested at Intelligence Unit (freelance) [email protected] ❒PHOTOS www.play-the-game.org

Play the game 2 Drama over Donati's ongoing problems with the Italian Olympic Committee raised expectations ahead of his address

for banning Donati from a conference he had signed up for months ago? Last-minute licence On Monday Morning the organisers of Play the Game sent a fax to CONI's General Secretary Dr Raffaele Pagnozzi asking these very questions. And while to speak the conference's scheduled programme continued as usual, Donati's case was the major talking point in the corridors. Would he dare travel without permis- The fight to bring Sandro Donati to Denmark sion? Had CONI answered the fax? But Dr Pagnozzi did not react to the left a lasting impression on "Play the Game" questions until the fax was followed up by a telephone call. By then it was im- possible for Donati to make his schedu- By Kasper Lindberg led address on Tuesday morning. How- ever, on that same evening some good clearly audible murmur passed were proved correct. For many years, news arrived. Donati was to be allowed through the main auditorium the 53-year-old Donati has been a voci- to travel to Copenhagen - not as a CONI Awhen the "Play the Game" con- ferous critic of what he sees as CONI's representative, but as a private indivi- ference was told that Sandro Donati wo- failure to address doping problems, and dual. CONI defended its original posi- uld not be attending. During the pre- this was reflected in his address. tion by alleging that Donati had not ceding three weeks, Donati had in vain And as it turned out, the little Italian sought official permission to attend the sought permission to travel from his came to epitomise the conference's pri- conference - a claim that correspon- employers, the Italian Olympic Com- mary message of democracy and open- dence between CONI and Donati later mittee (CONI). ness in sport. confirmed to be false. Although CONI gave no official rea- In the early hours of Wednesday son for their stance, those aware of Do- Pressure on CONI morning, CONI's Head of Research fi- nati's background were in little doubt Immediately after news of the ban was re- nally boarded the plane to Copenhagen, that the committee's intention was to ceived, those with any influence agreed ready to step forward in front of the con- gag their own Head of Research. Could to exert pressure on CONI in an attempt ference the next morning as a private in- CONI's reluctance to allow Donati to to get the committee to reverse its deci- dividual - but an individual but with a travel be due to fears he would expose sion. What would it look like if the Italian compelling story about doping and cor- the committee's own unhappy role in Olympic Committee were seen to be gag- ruption. Play the Game had won an im- Italian doping over the past 20 years? ging its own Head of Research, they ar- portant victory central to its message of Many believed so, and in the end they gued. Could CONI offer a sensible reason openness and democracy in sport.

3 Play the game The little man versus the establishment After 19 years fighting against doping and corruption, Sandro Donati is now set to retire from the limelight

By Kasper Lindberg with public attention focused on events at the other end of the stadium, the Ita- 1981, Sandro Donati was offered lian is awarded a distance of 8.38 - eno- In the job of coaching Italy's middle- ugh to take the bronze medal. Even the distance running team. It was in this ca- athlete cannot believe his 'luck'. pacity that he first met Professor Con- Donati's attempts to expose the chea- coni of the University of Ferrara, and ting did not make him popular with began to first learn about the illegal use CONI. Shortly afterwards, he was fired of drugs in Italian athletics. Seeing him from his job as coach. Donati then deci- as part of the established order, the pro- ded to lay low and concentrate on wri- fessor told Donati about his experi- ting a book. The result, "Champions ments with blood doping in Italian ath- without Value" was initially a big suc- letics. Donati was amazed to hear of cess in his native Italy. However, it inex- such a programme, which apparently plicably disappeared from the books- had the full support of the Italian Ath- hops after just a few weeks, with de- letics Association. He immediately ex- mand far exceeding supply for months pressed his strong opposition to such a later. method of achieving success. Donati was forced to work under Becoming aware of EPO constant pressure from the association, In 1992, Donati was back in favour with which was keen for him to allow his CONI. Warming to the presence of their runners to take part in the doping pro- former coach, the Italian Olympic Com- gramme. It seemed that many of Italy's mittee offered him the job of Head of international runners were already ta- Research. Donati accepted the job, seeing king part, and Donati constantly found an official position as an ideal launchpad his objections suppressed. to continue his fight against doping. In 1985, through his parliamentary He was also offered a seat on the in- contacts, Donati succeeded in helping fluential Italian Anti-Doping Commit- bring about a change in the law, which tee together with - among others - Pro- effectively banned the practise of blood fessor Conconi. Again he accepted, but doping. In 1986 he discovered a list he soon found many committee mem- showing that systematic doping using bers held opinions contrary to his own. testosterone and anabolic steroids was He was dealt an early setback was when still widespread in Italian athletics. his suggestion to dope-test the Italian Then, in 1987, he passed on his story to cycling star Francesco Moser - an "assi- the newspapers. stant" to Professor Conconi - was voted Most contro- more commonplace in professional down. versial among cycling. And according to Donati, the The false jump However, Donati found plenty of ot- Donati's trail led right back to the heart of Italian During the 1987 World Athletics Cham- her work to do. He had noticed, for ex- findings have athletics. While officially researching pionships in Rome, Donati became ample, that CONI's laboratory in Rome tests to detect EPO, Donati relates that been the aware that doping was not the only was posting a suspiciously low number Professor Conconi was unofficially ad- widespread method of cheating. He got wind of a of positive dope tests, and he felt this ministering the substance to many of rumour that the long jump competition phenomenon should be investigated distribution of Italy's elite riders. would be fixed in favour of the home further. EPO from the In 1994, Donati penned a report con- fans' favourite, Giovanni Evangelisti. It was around this time that a new il- University of taining his findings. After it was delive- The rumour proved to be correct. Before legal substance was making its presence Ferrara red to CONI's president Mario Pescante, Evangelisti's final jump, TV pictures (la- felt in endurance sport - Erythropoietin, he received no response and the revela- ter viewed at Play the Game) show a or EPO. Donati's investigations brought tions were buried for the next two years. judge measuring out an electronic "mar- to light important new information con- Finally, in 1996, the case began to ker" to a length of 8.38 metres. Evange- cerning the substance. Since it was im- gather momentum. The Italian Sports listi's final jump is disappointing, certa- possible to detect by a urine sample, newspaper La Gazetta Dello Sport pub- inly well under eight metres. However, EPO abuse was becoming more and lished a number of articles on doping

Play the game 4 and made contact with Donati. After he spoke of the report's existence, journali- sts began to question Pescante on why Gene doping is CONI had let the report stand unchal- lenged and unreleased for two years. By 1997 CONI's relationship with its the next step Head of Research was at an all-time low. It was around this time that Donati belie- ves an attempt was made to set him up. A By Kasper Lindberg young female runner who he had been coaching tested positive for an unnatu- rally high caffeine count - equivalent to 30 cups of coffee. Although an indepen- dent investigation found the test flawed and secured Donati's reputation, he reali- sed that he had almost become the victim of a plot to discredit him In 1998 rumours grew about the wi- despread use of doping in Italian foo- tball and attention became focused on the doping laboratory in Rome of which Donati had previously voiced his suspi- cions. It turned out that they were cor- rect. The laboratory's tests were found Forget GM foods - it's time to address the challenge to be unquestionably lacking - they were unable to detect the presence of of gene doping, says Bengt Saltin anabolic steroids and other hormones. The scandal culminated in the resigna- rtificial improvements to the body's ge- ning of the blood, which may lead to clots or se- tion of CONI's president and prompted netic makeup are already a reality, and vere heart problems. But despite the dangers, a number of public investigations into Ait is only a question of time before this he is convinced that there will be no shortage of the activities of, among others, Profes- method is used in competitive sport. This is the people willing to experiment. sor Conconi. These investigations are prediction of Bengt Saltin, respected anti-do- In his address to Play the Game, Bengt Saltin still continuing today. ping campaigner and Chairman of Anti-Do- pointed out that the main problem with gene ping Denmark. doping is the fact that is almost impossible to Withdrawing from The 65-year-old Swedish sports physiologist detect. When asked whether it may be possible the spotlight is in no doubt. Gene doping is highly effective, to develop a test to identify this form of doping For over an hour, Sandro Donati fasci- it will be available soon, and cannot be ignored he replied: »I have to say that I am very pessi- nated the packed assembly as he reco- by those involved in the fight against doping. mistic. The artificial DNA that is added to the unted his experiences. After he finished In reality, he says, it is impossible to know muscle is only found locally. And the materials his address, he received the conference's exactly when elite sportsmen and women will that this DNA allows the muscle to produce are first standing ovation. start injecting gene-altering material directly identical to materials produced naturally by The 53-year-old Italian's long and ti- into their muscles - material that can, for exam- the body.« reless fight against doping is highly re- ple, allow muscles to grow, or produce the hor- Gene doping will not be detectable through spected, and the extra effort that was mone erythropoeitin (EPO). When gene do- urine or blood samples, he added. The only needed to bring him to Denmark certa- ping is ready for use, sportsmen and women possible method of detection would be through inly brought its rewards. But the man will no longer need to dope themselves with an actual sample of muscle fibre. This would who is portrayed by many in the sport- artificial hormones. This new method of do- require a large, painful insertion with a broad ing world as a hero is now tired of wor- ping will allow these hormones to be produced needle and would not be a popular - or practi- king within a system that has impeded by their own body. cal- test. his fight for a cleaner sport right from However, research into gene doping has al- Bengt Saltin's opinion is clear: »Biological the start. ready shown frightening side effects. Laborat- variation is fundamental to sport. You could "I am tired of the world of sport" he ory mice doubled their body weight in a single say it is what gives a person their talent. This stated after his speech, and hinted that month after being introduced to growth hor- can now be affected with genes, and this must he is set to leave his position at CONI mones. And in less than six months, Monkeys be wrong.« and concentrate on education and do- were recorded with a red blood count of 75-89 »Doping occurs because there are people ping prevention amongst children. against normal rates of 40 or lower. These re- out there with the knowledge and the will to Even though Donati feels that he has sults have convinced Bengt Saltin that for those make use of it," he continues. "As long as this is fought in vain against greater powers, who wish to break the rules, much can be gai- the case, it will continue. You cannot take do- his story is proving a real inspiration to ned from gene doping. Any alteration to the ge- ping out of life. This will only happen when others in the fight against drugs and netic make up of the body is permanent, and enough people turn around and simply say; corruption in sport. side effects in humans could include a thicke- "enough is enough. We do not want this.«

5 Play the game Hysteria and hypocrisy

»Doping is a logic consequence of achievement sport, and to fight it requires government action,« said Verner Møller, sports researcher at The University of Southern Denmark, whose book "The doping devil" stirred up controversy in Denmark in 1999. He concluded:

lready Pierre de Coubertin knew that: "Sport must have the freedom of excess", A ambition drives the weaker to train more to approach the level where he is able to threaten his previously superior rival.« It is this ambition that leads to excess. Excess is simply a consequence of sport. A person does not become an elite athlete if he is not inspired by ambition, and he is not likely to win in competition with the very best if he is not able to surpass himself - if he is not prepared to excess. Sport is, among other things, pain, suffering and sacrifice. It is these ingredients (in addition to talent of course) that are a precondition for the excitement that we as spectators experience. The fact that they are able to suffer the pain and bear the sacrifice makes them heroes and idols.We see their superb achievements as a transcending of the When a punishment human being.We acclaim them, in other words for the surpassing character of their achievements, for the sublime that they have accomplished. Here we are presented with the dynamism of led to a power struggle sport. It is this that induces athletes to persevere with their training, to force their weight down and to WADA is fighting to persuade all of sport's governing employ any methods to gain a competitive advantage. To change this, necessitates the end of achievement bodies - including cycling, football and tennis - to enforce sport. Political intervention needed hard, standardised penalties for doping It is indisputable that doping rules, just as football laws are necessary, but the belief that it is possible to By Jonna Toft most members wanted to find another combat doping within sport is naive.An effective solution.« prevention of doping must begin in an altogether it were up to Dick Pound, the go- Dick Pound, who is among the different area, and sporting organisations can not do If verning bodies of cycling, football favourites to succeed Juan Antonio this alone. It requires political intervention. For effective and tennis would all have been suspen- Samaranch as the next President of the doping prevention must be directed against the medical ded from the Olympic movement. The IOC, was referring to events at an anti industry, for example mandatory addition of biological reason - these bodies' continued failure doping conference in Lausanne in markers to drugs that can not be detected in doping to get into line with their sporting coun- February 1999. At the time, the IOC tests, or by systematic control of the distribution of terparts by implementing a standard was under pressure to harmonise the drugs. Only by such initiatives can there be any hope of punishment for doping. doping punishments being handed an effective limitation of the doping problem in the »That would have been more in kee- out by various sports associations. future. ping with my style» the World Anti-Do- However, the ruling bodies of cycling ping Agency Chairman told Play the (UCI) football (FIFA) and tennis (ITF) Read more at www.play-the-game.org Game on its final day. »Unfortunately, were unwilling to tow the line.

Play the game 6 Participants

The problems faced by WADA were existence, WADA was financed by the clearly illustrated by the case of Danish IOC to the tune of 25 million dollars. cyclist Claus Michael Møller. After However, at a recent anti-doping testing positive for doping, he receiving a conference in Norway, it was decided two-year suspension from his domestic that in order to retain influence in cykcling union body. However the UCI WADA, individual governments must overruled the ban, altering the penalty to collectively come up with half this just six months. Despite issuing the "cor- figure by January 2002. rect" punishment, the Danish Cycling »Education is more important than Union was subsequently threatened acting as the world's doping police,« with a hefty fine or even suspension from continued Dick Pound. »We must en- the UCI if it did not fall into line. sure that there is a global understanding »The Danish case shows why we need that this kind of cheating is not only to harmonise the rules, and make sure dangerous - it also destroys the essence they are followed by all governments and of sport. We will do everything in our sports associations,« said Pound. power to stop doping. Cheats are not He stressed the importance of getting welcome in the Olympic movement.« governments on board. Professional sports bodies would be more likely to The unfair fight fall into line if they knew the law was on The development of doping tests will in their side, he added. their nature always follow the develop- »If a football player is earning 10 mil- ment of new substances. As long as lion euros per year, and is handed out a there is the incentive of money, new ty- two-year suspension, it is important pes of drugs appearing on the market that the punishment is upheld by the for which tests do not exist yet. Cur- courts,« he explained. »Without legally rently, WADA is especially interested in binding punishments, it would be natu- developing reliable tests for EPO and ral for any association to fear a demand human growth hormone. for compensation. What if a civil court »We can test for growth hormone,« decided that the sentence should have said Pound, "but the test is only 85 per- been six months? The player would cent reliable, so legally, it is of no use to claim to have lost 1.5 million euros, and us at all. If you are going to suspend som- demand that his association compen- eone from their sport for two years, you sate him for the time he was wrongly su- must be 100% sure that they are guilty.« TIRED LEGS AND spended.« He also pointed out that although a »The punishment in itself is not a test for EPO has been developed, it can ENTHUSIASTIC HEARTS problem for the sports governing body. only detect whether the substance has But the legal system must accept our been used up to four days before prior What can cause one woman and 20 men from all sanctions,« he said. to the sample being taken. A sportsper- corners of the world to meet up in a sports hall? »We are still working to streamline son using EPO will typically stop taking Football, of course. sanctions, and if we could get the public the substance two or three weeks before After the first day's formalities, opening authorities on our side, it will only be a a major competition where testing may speeches, acclimatisation and evening meal, most matter of time before the sports organi- be carried out. No athlete tested positive Play the Game delegates were expected to be sations follow. Maybe I am making it for EPO during the Sydney Olympics. ready for an early night. Not so. Twenty-one sound a little simplistic - in effect it will »With unannounced testing, there is enthusiastic football lovers, all but one of them certainly be difficult to achieve. A total a real chance of identifying sports- male, still had the energy to meet in the sports hall of 220 nations, all with different legal people who use EPO,« added Pound, for an evening of "activity and games." systems, are involved.« who hopes that a more exact EPO test The four instructors had a hard task getting all Pound goes on to confirm that will be available for the Salt Lake City the participants (some slightly older than others) WADA is currently very anxious to Winter Olympics, as well as a new test through a vigorous warm up programme. move forward with the proposal. for growth hormone. He also confirmed However, those expecting a simple kickabout soon that WADA is aware of the threat posed found themselves involved in both a tug-of-war A year of pressure by gene doping, and is in contact with competition and a sack race. However, the fun and WADA was founded after the scandal- leading health experts across the globe. games were taken with a large dose of humour and hit Tour de France of 1998. It is a private »Gene doping is new and very, very a similar amount of sweat, and demonstrated that organisation that includes representati- frightening,« he admitted. Earlier in the sport has the power to create social bonds and new ves from governments, the medical in- conference, Professor Bengt Saltin, Chair- friendships. dustry, and different branches of the man of Anti Doping Denmark, had given When the two multinational football teams Olympic movement. Like the IOC, it has a qualified guess that gene doping in the finally took to the field to practise the beautiful its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzer- sports world could become a reality in game, they proved that background and age are no land. For the first two years of its sport within the next three years. (pp. 5) hindrance to playing the world's favourite sport.

7 Play the game How the IOC turned Andrew Jennings into a cult figure

Andrew Jennings is the International Olympic Movement's most vehement critic. Over the past decade, the English journalist has become known across the world for his revelations on corruption in the IOC. Now, he says, it's time for others to take over

However, amongst the younger, reform- After many rejections, Jennings was finally minded IOC members, the so-called "good accredited to the IOC's conference in Lausanne guys" like Gerhard Heiberg and Canadian Dick in 1999. His explanation of the committee's Pound, Jennings is accepted - not least because change of heart - that they "daren't keep me out he does his homework. Like the best in his pro- any longer" - didn't go down too well. fession, Andrew Jennings is able to back up his A couple of months later, two senior IOC allegations with qualified arguments borne out members met Jennings in the bar of the Hotel of painstaking research - and for this he has ear- Palace in Lausanne, and asked him directly to ned the respect of his peers. investigate corruption in the amateur boxing As Dick Pound, tipped as a possible succes- association, the AIBA. Despite their lofty posi- sor to Samaranch, commented recently: "Jen- tions, the IOC members could not - or dared nings is the only real opponent the IOC has not - take their suspicions further. ever had." But Jennings, they reasoned correctly, had During the Play the Game conference, Jen- both the method and the will. His subsequent nings found plenty of time to chat with Pound. book "The Great Olympic Swindle" clearly de- However, such civilities between the 54-year- tailed the corruption endemic in amateur box- old journalist and an IOC member would have ing. Jennings documented Uzbek IOC member been unthinkable eight years ago, when Jen- Rakhimov's mafia links so convincingly that nings released his book The Lords of the Rings the Australian government denied him an en- - a series of damning revelations that shook the try visa, forcing him to sit out the Sydney Olympic movement, first in print and later as a Olympics. TV documentary. Andrew Jennings' original investigation It was during the build up to the Barcelona into Olympic corruption should have ended in By Steen Ankerdal Olympics that I first met Jennings. He had a 1992 - but he is still pursuing it today. And in sharp sense of humour, a healthy lack of re- this capacity, Jennings' work across the globe spect for authority and conformity, and an en- has assumed mythical proportions. hen Norway's Gerhard Heiberg told thousiasm that inspired his fellow journalists. However, Jennings is now becoming tired of the Play the Game conference that - At that time, the "old boys" of the IOC hearing himself tell the same old stories about Walthough he didn't agree with all the would probably have liked to have seen Jen- the "same old criminals." »The villains are the views of Andrew Jennings - he was in com- nings burnt at the stake together with his same, and it is becoming more and more difficult plete agreement 'with Andrew's suggestion' to books, his co-author Vyv Simpson and their to find something new« he says. »I intend to stop ban boxing from the Olympics, any final like-minded colleagues in the press. However, completely before I begin to bore myself.« doubts disappeared. Jennings - the biggest at that time, the feeling among the IOC mem- This summer's selection of a new IOC Presi- thorn in the IOC's side - was at last being taken bers was that the accusations would end - that dent could be a natural cut-off point. After seriously by members of the committee! when the athletes began to perform, interest in then, the reporters that Jennings has inspired Few, however, believe that this new found Jennings and his "fellow fantasy writers" must take over his attempts to get a truthful comradeship could ever extend all the way to would disappear. However, they reckoned reply to the question: »Why are the lying ba- Juan Antonio Samaranch. Especially after Jen- without Jennings' perseverance. When they stards lying?« nings documented the IOC president's alleged denied him press accreditation to the IOC Whenever he chooses to say a final farewell fascist past in such exacting detail. Nor could the session immediately before the Olympics were to his friends within the IOC, Jennings' place in comradeship extend to many of Samaranch's due to begin (as they had done at the three history will be assured as the first journalist to close colleagues whom Jennings has had no previous games), it only served to publicise his expose a catalogue of widespread corruption qualms in referring to as "those old Nazis." allegations further. within that body.

Play the game 8 The IOC

The International Olympic Committee chooses its own members. It currently has 127 mem- bers and 20 honorary members.Around forty percent are from Europe.The IOC is governed by an 11-man executive committee. Since 1980, Spain's Juan Antonio Samaranch has been cha- irman.The 80-year-old Samaranch is expected to step down in Summer 2001.The IOC's pri- mary role is to supervise the organisation of the summer and winter Olympic Games.

Tales from the dark side

The International Olympic Committee is still doing all it can to live up to its bad reputation, says Andrew Jennings

By Jonna Toft claimed that IOC members cashed in air tickets bribery in its failed attempt to secure the 2004 provided by the bidding city and either bought Olympics. If a court case results, it could pave ou can't help paying attention when cheaper tickets or didn't even bother to visit. the way for other former candidate cities to English journalist Andrew Jennings be- »This practice is illegal,« said Jennings. »And blow the whistle in public, says Jennings. He Ygins to speak about his investigations because it is a racket that had been practised asserts that bribes are made regularly, and no into the IOC. Words like corruption, bribery by so many for so long - it qualifies as an city can expect to host an Olympic games and favour fly through the air, and you get the organised crime.« without paying money under the table. For ex- feeling that the small, grey-haired man with the »There is no democracy in the IOC," he con- ample, he claims that the civic and business sparkling eyes and nose for critical journalism tinued. "The power and the money is control- leaders of Salt Lake City, in their successful bid knows exactly what he is talking about. Over led by Samaranch, and most of the members for the 2002 Winter Games, paid 60.000 dollars the past ten years, Jennings has carried out are hand-picked by him.« just to find out which individual IOC-mem- exhaustive research into the lives of the IOC bers were open to bribes. leaders and written a number of critical books Massive freeloading »As journalists, it is our responsibility to detailing what he claims is widespread corrup- »Serious evidence about IOC freeloading and look behind the facade of the organisations tion in the movement, the latest being The corruption has been found in bidding countries that control our lives,« he said. »Politicians and Great Olympic Swindle. Andrew Jennings' en- nearly every year since 1986,« he said. »The governments will not do more to reform inter- tertaining address to Play the Game was based IOC's newly-formed Ethics Commission has national sport if we do not carry out our work on his disclosures surrounding the IOC. received evidence of massive freeloading and correctly and reveal the private face of sports He related that after Atlanta's victory in the exploitation of the Atlanta bidding team. But organisations. There is more than enough to be race to stage the 1996 games, the IOC received last year - after considering the evidence in pri- getting on with.« so many protests from the rival cities concer- vate - the commission decided there was need Although Jennings is certainly one of the ning the activities of their members that they for further action. And the IOC has come to the people that the IOC would like to see removed held a private hearing to examine the compla- same conclusions regarding complaints from a from the face of the Earth, he has never felt per- ints. The Toronto team produced a detailed re- dozen or more other bidding cities. Can you sonally threatened as a result of his journalism. port of the abuses they'd suffered. They calcu- blame the IOC for covering up?« he asked. »Far However, he faces court action at regular inter- lated they had been ripped off to the tune of at too many journalists don't look behind the vals and some years ago was sentenced to five least 800,000 dollars. One of the tricks they public face, and are satisfied with the press re- days in a Lausanne jail. claimed had been played on them was a ticket leases from the IOC's public relations bureau.« racket that had apparently been worked for In Sweden, an investigation is underway Read more in Andrew Jennings' books "The Lords years by some members. The Toronto team into whether the Stockholm bidding team used of the Rings" and "The Great Olympic Swindle."

9 Play the game Participants According to German journalists, corruption in FIFA is widespread Votes for sale in the night

»The IOC is still not taking doping seriously,« By Jonna Toft Said Jens Weinreich: »Hayatou said says Sunday Times sports that at around midnight he was called journalist David Walsh ow did the Swedish favourite over to the hotel used by the African for the FIFA president's posi- delegation. When he arrived, many of Htion, UEFA Chairman Lennart the delegates asked him how much Johannson, end up losing the vote to money he could get from the CAF to en- Switzerland's Joseph Blatter? What cau- sure they voted for Johansson. It see- sed the delegates - especially the Afri- med that they had already been offered cans - to change their minds and vote large incentives by the Blatter camp. LIES AND LATIN for former president Havelange's right- Hayatou confirmed what other obser- hand man, when a short time previ- vers had also alleged: that the voting ously they had committed themselves process was nothing more than a bid- In his comment to the Play the Game conference, to Johannson? ding business akin to a bazaar.« 46-year-old David Walsh did not mince his words. And how did South Africa lose the In his campaign for their votes, Blat- »It was a load of nonsense,« he said of Patrick fight to host the 2006 World Cup after ter allegedly gave a pledge to the Afri- Schamasch's earlier address on doping. »Scha- Joseph Blatter had promised the tour- can delegates: if he were elected, the masch only gave the political version - the version nament to Africa if he was elected? 2006 World Cup would be held on their in which the IOC is leading the fight. But they What accounts for Germany's victory? continent. However, this proved to be a have never taken doping seriously enough. In- The answer is money. hollow promise. stead, they have attempted to hide it from public According to two German journalists view. They have never tried to get to the heart of who addressed the Play the Game confe- Did Germany buy the the problem.« rence, money means everything in inter- World Cup? Walsh, who has been plying his trade since 1976, national football. Thomas Kistner of Süd- In July last year, FIFA's executive com- has had a special interest in doping since the full ex- deutsche Zeitung, and Jens Weinreich of mittee was charging with choosing the tent of the problem was realised in the mid 1990's. Berliner Zeitung have written a series of country best suited to host of the 2006 He admits that things improved in Sydney, ma- articles and a book entitled "Das Milliar- World Cup: With all other nations eli- inly because more tests were carried out - but he denspiel" (The Game of Billions). minated, the final choice was between accuses both the IOC and the Sydney officials of When Joseph Blatter put himself up as South Africa or Germany, and the vote wrongly giving the impression that the problem is FIFA presidential candidate in April ended up 12-11 in favour of Germany. under control. 1998, it was the less-influential nations The deciding factor was widely repor- »The IOC wants to protect its image,« he conti- such as Algeria, Libya, Lebanon and Gu- ted as the abstention of New Zealand nued. »Therefore, it needs to show that it is car- inea that supported his candidature. Few delegate Charles Dempsey. Had he vo- rying out lots of tests - but it does not welcome po- of the nations from football's central ted for South Africa, Blatter's deciding sitive ones. There is still no definitive test for EPO power blocs of Europe or South America presidential vote would have handed or growth hormone. In fact, there are drugs that we were in favour of his nomination. How- the tournament to the African conti- don't even know about yet. We simply cannot tell ever, two months later, Blatter was ele- nent. So what prevented the New Zea- whether our champions have been using drugs.« cted president with a total of 111 votes land delegate casting his vote in favour Walsh's own opinion is clear. He abhors the fact against the 80 of Lennart Johansson. of South Africa? »Dempsey would not that in some areas of sport, "clean" competitors The following day, Kistner and We- vote because he had been subjected to stand little chance of success. »I often try to remind inrich spoke to Issa Hayatou, Vice Pre- intense pressure - including attempted myself that we all have the right to play fair,« he sident of FIFA and representative of bribes from both sides,« said Weinreich. said. »It is a fundamental right that everyone has. FIFA's African offshoot, the CAF. The two journalists point out that The right to play according to the rules. As journa- Hayatou revealed that shortly before Germany won the vote because of lists we should defend the person who plays fair - the vote was to take place, most of the support from Asian nations that had and that person is not necessarily the champion.« African delegates had confirmed their previously pledged their support to KL intention to vote for Johansson. South Africa.

Play the game 10 Jens Weinreich: »We are not saying that German firms and the government conspired to buy the World Cup 2006. But they displayed astonishingly good timing«

»Brazilian football is full of corruption,« says Thomas Kistner. »It is impossible to become a powerful football administrator in South America without counting former FIFA Chairman Joao Havelange among your list of friends«

this was decisive to the final outcome of the vote.« The reaction in South Africa was an- ger and frustration. As journalist Julia Beffon from the Mail & Guardian re- lated: "Initially the anger was directed at Charles Dempsey. But gradually it turned into bitterness towards at Europe and the rest of the industrialised world. People felt that no matter what happened, the European countries would always get what they wanted. They have the power, the money and the best footballers. »In my opinion, the entire African fo- otball world saw the vote as yet another example of money controlling sporting interests.« After Kistner and Weinreich's ad- dress, a Swedish journalist asked whet- her - given Lennart Johannson's stated commitment to openness, especially in economic matters - the situation within FIFA would now be different if Johansson had become president

PHOTO: JENS NØRGAARD LARSEN/NORDFOTO »Yes, I think he would have done bet- ter than Blatter,« said Thomas Kistner. »All eight European countries on the »We must look at some of the big »Blatter is at the time involved in a executive committee voted in a bloc - German businesses that were active be- corruption scandal in Brazil which has this was the first time in many years hind the scenes,« continues Weinreich. now turned into an investigation into they had done this. After Johansson's »DaimlerChrysler, Bayer, BASF and Sie- his predecessor and good friend Joao loss in Paris they dared not risk another mens proclaimed new investments and Havelange and his former son-in-law catastrophe so they decided to stick to- joint ventures in Thailand and South Ricardo Teixeira, who is also a member gether. There were 24 members on the Korea worth two billion dollars. This of FIFA's Executive Committee. executive committee, so they needed took place in the final ten days before It is extremely bad news for football five more votes to win. In the end, they the FIFA vote. And eight days before, if their top leaders talk more about got just four,« continued Weinreich. the German Federal Parliament - in a se- money than sport,« he added. »But South Africa's supporters knew cret meeting - agreed to sell weapons to things will only change if society takes they needed to secure at least one of Saudi Arabia. the initiative to alter the rules, politics the Asian votes to take their total to 12 We are not saying that these firms and referees. Some of this has happe- and force a deciding vote by Blatter. and the government conspired to buy ned: when Andrew Jennings first began But their optimism drained away the World Cup. But we think that they writing about corruption in sport in when it emerged that the Asians were displayed astonishingly good timing. It 1992, he was sentenced to five days in voting en bloc for Germany. But why was precisely these nations that ended jail. Now, however, many people are was this? up voting for Germany. In our opinion, writing about it.«

11 Play the game Participants Continued need Shan Ip Ting Wah is considering hosting a future conference on for IOC reform sports and medicine in his home nation, Mauritius. The International Olympic Committee has recently introduced fifty wide-reaching reforms. IOC member Gerhard Heiberg thinks that this is not enough

By Jonna Toft

espite the introduction of fifty »The IOC did not keep up with the ti- new reforms after 1999's Salt mes,« he continued. »Some would also DLake City bribery scandal, Nor- say that we did not act responsibly wegian IOC member Gerhard Heiberg enough. The media was interested in is far from satisfied. In his contribution what was happening at the IOC, but we to Play the Game, he questioned whe- thought that since it was not public ther the reforms went far enough: »We money we were dealing with, our are getting to the stage where we will be accounts could be kept private. We did SWINDLE IN MAURITIUS forced to look at the structure of the IOC not act openly. In the past, very few and ask if it is modern and representa- people knew where the IOC's money Shan Ip Ting Wah, Sports Editor of the largest tive enough,« he said. »We must ask came from - and where it went to.« newspaper in Mauritius, found himself in trouble ourselves whether we are working in When Juan Antonio Samaranch be- after printing a series of articles critical of his the correct manner. We should be highly came IOC Chairman in 1980, one of the country's Olympic Committee (MNOC). The artic- aware of the ethical arguments, and the main challenges facing the committee les claimed that a grant from the IOC support pro- IOC's Ethical Commission will come to was to scrape enough money together gramme "Olympic Solidarity" destined for MNOC play a highly important role in the fut- to fund the work of the Olympic move- projects disappeared without trace. Whatever be- ure. We must ensure that Europe, North ment, he said. "The inhabitants of Mon- came of it, he told Play the Game, the money did America and Japan do not continue to treal are still paying for the 1976 Games. not make it to the sportsmen and women whom it dominate - we must endeavour to in- Since then, however, the flow of money was intended to benefit. clude all continents in our work.« has grown at a tremendous rate. At the »After I had documented the problem, our Gerhard Heiberg was Chairman of Sydney Olympics, eleven top sponsors Sports and Youth Minister put a block on all the Lillehammer Winter Olympics in paid 550 million dollars to the IOC." further contributions to the MNOC,« said Shan Ip 1994, and despite his well-documented The price of TV rights has rocketed. Ting Wah. »The chairman of the organisation then scepticism of the IOC he became a mem- Before the games began the IOC's in- threatened to sue me, but nothing happened in the ber of the organisation soon afterwards. come totalled 2.6 billion dollars. While following six months. I'm not sure if they have a Now he wholeheartedly supports the most of this money was shared out be- good case.« ideals behind the Olympic movement, tween the national and international Together with English journalist Andrew Jen- and has been known to comment: Olympic committees, a total of 7 percent nings, he now plans to contact the IOC's Ethical »Actually, I don't see myself as a mem- headed directly to the IOC coffers. Committee detailing the allegations. ber of a mafia-like organisation. It feels »But something has gone wrong,« »I am continuing to work with the case, and am quite funny to be in such a position.« continued Heiberg. »With so much very happy about the new contacts I have made at money in the system, some have seen this conference,« he added. »They are worth just as the job of hosting the games simply as much as the speeches.« Closed Circle a chance to improve their country's in- Shan Ip Ting Wah also participated in the 1997 But how did things get so bad that the IOC frastructure. Money has been misdi- conference, and is looking into the possibilities of was forced to introduce so many reforms in rected. This has been taking place for hosting a future event. a single year? years, leading up to the so-called Salt

Play the game 12 »We have come a long way, but we must continue to ask whether the IOC's structure is representative enough,« says Gerhard Heiberg

Lake City scandal at the end of 1998.« In contrast to many of the IOC's cri- tics, Heiberg believes that the reforms carried out in 1999 were entirely rele- vant and effective. »The Salt Lake City scandal changed the IOC's mindset,« he said. »We undertook an aggressive reform process in which ten members left the organisation more or less vo- luntarily.« How does he respond to the fact that although allegedly tainted by corrup- tion, other IOC members such as FIFA's Joseph Blatter and Joao Havelange remain. »Some people in the IOC simply should not be members of the organisa- tion," he continued. "But the situation was different when they were nomi- nated. The method in which today's members are chosen makes me confi- dent we are now more protected aga- inst the few who put self-interest before that of the movement.« Open for scrutiny But are the reforms worth anything - or is the IOC just playing to the gallery? »I think we have come a long way. The IOC is much more open now," said Heiberg. "Everyone is aware of the money flowing through the organisa- tion. The IOC's meetings are open to the press and an ethics commission monitors our work. We have rules that state that IOC members may not rece- ive gifts from candidate cities, and we may not visit these cities. The fight aga- inst doping was maybe not taken up wholeheartedly in the past. But now we have set aside 25 million dollars to get WADA up and running as an inde- pendent doping agency. All in all, I don't think we are doing so bad.« In Heiberg's opinion, the wide-rea- Boxing threatened with expulsion ching reforms of last year give the IOC a sound basis to work further on the So many inexplicable results occurred in the boxing tournament at last year's Syd- improvement of its entire structure - a ney Olympics that Gerhard Heiberg is now investigating whether fraud took place. task that the committee's new chair- »What occurred in Sydney was entirely unacceptable,« he said. »The IOC is the man will undoubtedly have a large in- fluence upon. only body that can do something about it.We will investigate the flow of cash within »It is very important that we choose international amateur boxing and investigate how they choose their judges.« the right person to succeed Juan Anto- »We are working towards a new scoring system in which everyone can see how nio Samaranch in July,« added Heiberg, the points have been awarded.There is plenty of work to do, but I hope we can without hinting who he feels is favou- come up with a solution that allows boxing to remain in the Olympic programme,« rite for the job. Strong candidates in- added Heiberg, who was one of the most vocal objectors to the results in Sydney. clude WADA's Canadian chairman Dick Pound (see pages 6-7) and Bel- gium's Jaques Rogge.

13 Play the game The Olympic Games in Sydney were not only notable for sporting achievement. More drug tests were carried out than ever before, resulting in an unprecedented number of athletes withdrawing from the competition before it even began. For the first time, a test was intro- duced that could directly detect the presence of EPO through a combination blood / urine sample. However, the test was only able detect traces of the drug taken between three and four days before the sample was ta- ken.Typically,a competitor using EPO will stop using the substance weeks before any major competition.A total of 300 EPO tests were carried out in Sydney - and none proved positive.In addition,the Sydney Olympics did not test for human growth hormone, which is being increa- singly used by athletes to gain an unfair advantage.

king illegal substances increasingly Leading the way - or difficult to detect. This cynicism was echoed in the fol- lowing debate. Both Mendoza and Scha- masch admitted that the battle is still a following the trend? long way from being won, but both were of the opinion that the "powers of good" now have the upper hand. However, some delegates questioned whether it is What is the current state of play in the fight against doping? possible to talk about a turning point when no reliable test for EPO or growth Two experts linked to the IOC had a tough time convincing hormone has yet been developed - and when other substances are being devel- Play the Game that the battle is being won oped that few are yet aware of. The debate began to resemble a game of ping-pong, with both Mendoza and Schmasch reiterating the positive mes- By Kasper Lindberg 2043 - were carried out on competitors. Patrick sage while journalists queued up to qu- Many of these tests were unannounced, Schamasch estion the validity of their arguments. he Sydney Olympics represen- and took place before the games got (above) and John Mendoza's final contribution was, ted a significant turning point in underway. An EPO test was used for for many, the most telling. »I believe that »T John Mendoza the fight for fair and equitable competi- the first time. The test results were ac- the gathering of information is our best (below) claim tion. Drug cheats are now finding fewer cessible to all, and independent obser- chance of solving this problem,« he said. and fewer places to hide.« This was vers were invited to view the whole pro- that doping cheats »If we are to stamp out doping, we need John Mendoza's message to Play the cess. Speaking shortly after John Men- are facing tough to make a strong investment over the Game. The acting Chief Executive Offi- doza, Patrick Schamasch told the confe- times ahead next 10-20 years.« cer of the Australian Sports Drug rence how the IOC persuaded a record Agency backed up his claims by listing number of laboratories across the world an impressive array of anti-doping initi- to carry out doping tests before the atives taken by the organisers of the games commenced, and that most Sydney Olympics. Later, speaking on samples were taken out of competition. the same theme, IOC Medical Director Patrick Schamasch underlined the mes- Ping pong without a winner sage, claiming: »The IOC is - and has No one could deny that positive devel- been, over the last 30 years - leading the opments in the fight against doping way in the fight against doping.« The are always welcome. However, some two speakers backed up their claims delegates expressed the opinion that with plenty of statistics relating to the Mendoza and Schamasch had under- number of tests and positive results in stated the size of the problem. The Sydney. However, many of the assem- achievements of Sydney, claimed one bled journalists remained sceptical. sceptic, should be taken in the context John Mendoza pointed to a number of the continued worldwide rise in do- of milestones he claimed were reached ping use and the constant develop- in Sydney. A record number of tests - ment of masking agents that are ma-

Play the game 14 Playing a dangerous game

A growing number of sportsmen and women are developing ter extremely hard training, which can have a costly effect on the body's subsequent develop- disorder. Researchers fear the tendency is especially pronounced ment. When women do not menstruate, it can mean they have an abnormally low fat level and in young people and children lack a balanced diet. »If women are not menstruating, then this is abnormal," she warns. "Most simply do not re- alise they are risking permanent damage to By Marie Venø Thesbjerg their bone structure.« Coaches focused on results he death of a female gymnast in the early »But what is certain is that the rate of eating She also provides examples of coaches who 1980's made a lasting impression on Jor- disorders in sport is double than of society as a convince their athletes to lose weight, but are Tunn Sundgot-Borgen of Norway's Natio- whole.« unable to offer sound advice on the correct nal School of Sport. The girl, who was an acqu- »The problem is especially pronounced in way to cut down on fat. Trainers are all too of- aintance of Ms. Sundgot-Bogen, had developed aesthetic disciplines such as gymnastics, we- ten focused on results, she claims, and often anorexia, and lost weight due to extreme me- ight-class sports like judo and endurance only have a layman's knowledge of nutrition thods of training. As a result of her friend's sports. Women are not alone in suffering from and diet. This can result in athletes employing death, Jorunn Sundgot-Borgen began to inves- this problem. Men are also at risk. Ski jumpers, starvation methods, which can result in serious tigate eating disorders among young athletes, for example, whose success depends on losing consequences for health. If athletes force their and found some alarming results. She pro- weight, are also potential victims.« weight down to improve their results, such a vided Play the Game with some startling evi- Jorunn Sundgot-Borgen points out that not cycle of abuse can damage the body and in the dence from her research - such as the fact that enough information is available on the dama- long run, have a negative effect on perform- 18 percent of top handball players suffer from ging effects of eating disorders. The fact that ance some kind of eating disorder. many top female athletes stop menstruating Jorunn Sundgot-Borgen expresses her hope In a society where anorexia is a growing pro- due to hard physical training has been com- that a raising of awareness can make real inro- blem, Jorunn Sundgot-Borgen is especially mon knowledge for many years. However, few ads into the problem. However, she believes worried about the effect of extreme training athletes or coaches are aware of the dangers that expert professional help must also be methods on young people. Although the media that arise when the body ceases to produce the made freely available. If athletes wish to generally focuses on elite athletes, she points hormones it needs to keep the bones in good achieve a high level of performance without out that eating disorders are increasingly affe- condition. »I have seen a 20-year-old girl with destroying their body, good advice is essential. cting amateur sportspeople - including chil- the skeleton of a 70-year-old,« she says. »What »One solution could be that all those taking dren. is destroyed cannot be repaired.« part in sports where eating disorders are com- »It is difficult to say whether society's focus All too often, she adds, young people enter monplace are required to have a set percentage on body, weight and is having an effect on top sport too early, when the body is not yet of fat in their body. In addition, the age of sport, or whether sport's extreme use of the fully developed. The young body can only participation in major competitions should be body is having an effect on society,« she says. adapt to give the highest level of presentation af- raised,« she adds.

15 Play the game Former top tennis player Torben Ulrich has been involved in journalism, music, film, radio and Buddhism. He also paints pictures by volleying a tennis ball marinated in paint against an easel Philosophy and absorption - a breathing space

The conference gave an opportunity for 71-year-old Torben Ulrich to share his thoughts on movement and play

By Marie Venø Thesbjerg competitive thoughts to emerge. »Yes, well, I think it is possibly to be friendly and still beat xcuse me, Mr Ulrich. Should we wear the shit out of people,« he jokes. But seriously, »Esports clothes for your event over in the the answer is yes, he thinks so. sports hall?« I venture. »For me, it's all about finding other ways of »No, I don't think so,« he replies. »Actually, playing. To be close to the game, to become at yes - you can hang on the wall bars or run one with the ball, the physical exercise and the around a bit if you like. But we will certainly play. To move deeper into the game before it not be doing any gymnastics.« develops into a simple question of winning »OK« I tried again - »so are you giving a and losing.« speech?« Even during his long career as a professio- »Um, no, I hope not,« he smiles. nal tennis player, Ulrich has always decided And he is right. Unlike the rest of Play the which events should take priority in his life. He Game's delegates, Torben Ulrich does not offer famously arrived late for an important match a traditional speech from the podium. at Wimbledon because he had been out liste- Although the 71-year-old man with the long ning to jazz the night before, and on anot- grey beard cannot be categorised, his talent is her occasion he decided that he would rather undoubtedly still blooming. Multi talented, watch the football world cup final on TV than with a musical, sporting and journalistic play in a national tennis final. background, Torben Ulrich still plays tennis »I am so old now, and I know that greed has (even though it sometimes involves an easel always been a feature of sport,« he says. »Now and a tennis ball coated in paint), writes, there are just a few more zeros added on to the participates in sport and has even made a film figures. But for me, sport is not always about detailing everyday motion and exercise in his achieving a goal - it's more to do with moving adopted home city of Seattle. forwards. Seeing moment - seizing moment - And this evening in the sports hall he fills bingo!« the air with his soft, eloquent tones. He takes Torben Ulrich is a renowned artist, and this us with him into a world where philosophy outlook manifests itself in his pictures. His and motion merge to become one. A million philosophy is to view everyday situations with miles from the conference's debating points on a fresh approach and react differently to the doping and corruption, he shares with us his norm. In this way, he feels, it is possible to belief that we should practice sport with deep achieve change. feeling, and compete as friends, not enemies. »I cannot say if there is a purpose in sport,« Instead of focusing on winning and losing, we he says, »But for me, the thinking behind sport should strive to realise sport's deeper values. is to play deeper.« A reference to his beliefs on The ability to participate in sport is a gift, he the spirituality of sport, in which the five says, that allows us the opportunity to reflect, elements of Buddhism - water, earth, fire, air and examine our selves. and space - are both a part of the body and a Afterwards Torben Ulrich is asked whether part of the game. he can play tennis without allowing aggressive,

Play the game 16 »When money is seen as more important than values, sport loses its cultural and political relevance,« said Elsebeth Gerner Nielsen

WHEN THE MONEYMEN TAKE OVER

Denmark's Minister of Culture sounded a warning against sport allowing itself to be dominated by the profit motive

o-one can deny that plenty of luntary sector, sport has been an impor- »Nmoney is being made out of tant factor in the construction of modern sport today,« commented Denmark's welfare systems, and in advancing dem- Minister of Culture Elsebeth Gerner ocracy and responsibility to all levels of Nielsen in her address to Play the society,« she continued. »However, I Game. »But if the pursuit of large profits have some difficulty detecting recogni- leads to sports organisations thinking tion of these principles among the lea- and acting like private companies, then ders of international sports organisati- sport's cultural dimension will suffer.« ons.« The Minister cited the example of Today, she said, sport is producing a major international doping conference greater profits than ever before. It is esti- in Lausanne in February 1999. Top re- mated that global sport-related turnover presentatives of world sporting instituti- amounts to three percent of the world's ons listened to addresses by no fewer total economic activity. Champions than 40 government representatives. All League football annually furnishes UEFA speakers were united in their demand with approximately one billion Swiss for the establishment of an independent Francs from sponsorship and TV rights. doping agency and the harmonisation of Manchester United FC is a limited com- sanctions. However, as soon as the go- pany, with a turnover of approximately vernment representatives had left, the £100 million, while the IOC's income sports leaders immediately began to di- from sponsorship and TV rights amounts scuss ways of avoiding harmonisation. to almost $2 billion. »I think that the democratic deficit is »These are sums that would make a a barrier to the advancement of sport minister of culture green with envy. But built upon mutual responsibility,« she when money becomes more important added. »And furthermore, I believe than values, sport loses its cultural and that some kind of reciprocity is neces- political basis. Sport must feel it is bo- sary if we are to prevent modern, top le- und to certain to fundamental values - it vel sport simply degenerating into en- should not have profit as a primary tertainment for profit.« goal. If this tendency continues, it will In order to maintain their credibility become more and more difficult to pro- and help sport to become a positive factor tect the cultural vision in sport, and re- in a globalised society, sports organisati- ceive public support on a broad scale,« ons must be fully open to the press, war- said the minister, adding that if the ned the Minister. She added that journali- trend continues, sport also risks losing sts must cover sport with a more critical financial support from governments. eye, and not simply print news about However, despite their huge influence world records and champions. on the world of sport, Elsebeth Gerner »I hope this conference will enable Nielsen pointed out that the IOC, UEFA journalists to adopt a more critical, passi- and many more of sport's highest gover- onate, committed and independent view ning bodies are still suffering from a of sport,« she concluded. »A view that conspicuous lack of democracy will commit sport to ethical values, cul- »Along with the tradition of the vo- ture and cultural policy.«

17 Play the game A small number of sports will dominate the future

Football's own goal By Karen Balling Radmer

One of the most influential figures in that own the rights hold all the cards, hat is the future of sport? Can TV stations continue European TV Sport is Stefan Kürten. and there is no shortage of TV stations to pay larger and larger fees to transmit the big German-born Kürten is Vice President willing to do business with them. Wsporting events? Who makes the decisions - the of TV station ZDF and Chairman of the However, he warned that many com- sports clubs or the sponsors? In the intense fight for TV airtime, European Broadcasting Union, (EBU) mercial channels are now on the verge minority sports are facing a fight for survival. The effect that the which represents public TV stations in of reaching the economical "pain bar- Internet will have on sport is still unclear. And in the future, 50 European countries. Addressing the rier" - a barrier that has already been sports journalists will be faced with conflicting loyalties. Play the Game conference, he asked reached by many public broadcasters, A number of media representatives attended the Play the whether viewers are beginning to tire which are often the only channels Game conference, each with their own prediction for the fut- of TV's current coverage of sport available to many households. ure of sports coverage in a globalised and increasingly »We have certainly not yet reached money-fixated world. »Viewers don't want to see more sport the final breaking point,« he said, »but on TV,« he said. »All over Europe we are the growth in the cost of broadcast witnessing a drop in the popularity of rights will certainly be slowing down in TV football. Only the top games come the future.« close to attracting the large audiences of One consequence of the high cost of the past. If TV stations wish to avoid a sports transmissions is that major TV Defending major drop in interest, they must limit stations are choosing to concentrate on their transmissions and concentrate on what they see as the most important quality.« events - football's Champions League freedom of According to Kürten, TV soccer's being a prime example - leaving enormous costs are increasingly forcing viewers and the broader sporting com- the major channels to extend their trans- munity as the losers. If the public TV expression missions far beyond the length of a stations cannot even afford to broad- football match. A 90-minute Champions cast minority sports, these sports' League clash can typically take up 140 popularity will drop further due to Sports journalists of the future must work to safeguard their minutes of broadcast time - including lack of exposure. right to free expression, says Aidan White, General Secretary lengthy analysis and plenty of advertise- What would it mean for a country if of the International Federation of Journalists ments, which help the TV station foot the the national football team's important huge cost of the broadcast rights. matches were only available to a select In his address to Play the Game, Aidan White of the Internati- Kürten pointed out that while many few, he asked. Should the average fan be onal Federation of Journalists predicted a complex future in channels broadcast sports events, very forced to pay the often very high costs of which sports coverage includes many different forms of com- few show events of high quality. He following the game on satellite or cable? munication. As a result, he said, sports journalists could be suggested that TV sport is approaching In an effort to avoid this scenario, Kür- forced to work even harder to safeguard the right of free ex- a point where viewers are starting to ten revealed that the public TV channels pression. lose interest. in the EBU have already secured the rig- »As a former newsman whose career has included report- At the moment, he said, a large num- hts to cover a number of important ing from the touchline and editing big match reports, I un- ber of TV channels are competing with sporting events in the future. UEFA, for derstand why there is no popular movement around the each other for the rights to broadcast big example has decided to deal with EBU- world that can match the cultural richness, economic clout sporting events such as top football ga- affiliated public TV in a different way and political power of sport,« said Aidan White. mes. The sports clubs and associations than its commercial counterparts. »Sport means much to the people who play and someti-

Play the game 18 mes a lot more to the audience - it inspires childhood dreams, »With the advent of national passions and feelings of community that help people global broadcasting, to identify themselves in a world which is changing rapidly the sky's the limit for and in ways that are not always for the best. The ability to re- the earning potential of ach global audiences through television has created a billion- dollar sports industry involving powerful multinational cor- big clubs,« says Benny porate sponsors, advertisers, sports organisations, consumer Peiser goods producers and media companies.« »The globalisation of sport has created wealth for many people and institutions in the sports and media world. It has also changed the role that sport plays in society. In the quest for market share, the cultural, democratic and community va- lues previously synonymous with sport are steadily losing importance,« he continued. In spite of daily pressure from sponsors, sports clubs, as- sociations and their own employers, Aidan White pointed out that ensuring truthful and objective coverage of the world of sport is still the ultimate responsibility of each individual journalist. »It is not unrealistic for us to picture a world where money does not mean everything for sport,« he said. »Democratic values also exist that are essential for sport's well being. We must take these values into account in our reporting. We have a responsibility to the society we live in.« He warned of a future in which sports coverage is control- led by fewer and larger media giants, each with the financial muscle to buy a controlling stake in any number of professio- nal sports clubs. This, he said, represents a challenge to the journalistic principle of free speech. In the world of sport, too few journalists are willing to speak out against wrongdoing, The big boys take over and many feel the pressure to comply with the interests of the commercial organisations they represent. »Therefore we must act as a watchdog,« he added. »At the »In the future, information will be glo- selves across the world. In such a situa- moment we are not doing this as well as we could. We all balised. Larger and fewer media giants tion, Peiser expressed fears that objective know about big stories that for one reason or another have will own the lion's share of the market. sports journalism could vanish, to be re- never made it into print. We must ensure that there is a clear This can mean only one direction for placed by homepages and publications dividing line between journalists and the economic interests sport,« said Benny Peiser, Sports Histo- biased in favour of the clubs they repres- of sport. We must fight for independent sports journalism rian and Sociologist at Liverpool's John ent. »With global broadcasting, the sky's that retains the three basic ingredients of truth, objectivity Morris University the limit for the top clubs' earning poten- and accountability.« tial,« he said. »In the future global mar- »Professional sport - whether viewed on ket, the big clubs will employ journalists the TV or the Internet, read in the new- to report from their own games - and this spapers or transmitted through other is where journalistic principles will be media - will be more popular than any threatened.« other form of entertainment. But this will With the growth of global media com- not include all forms of sport. Just a few panies, many lesser sports will experi- disciplines such as tennis and football ence a drop in popularity, and in some will dominate the market, because more cases, traditional sports will vanish alto- and more viewers across the world will gether, he added. Research shows that be watching the same satellite channels many viewers enjoy watching the less- owned by just a few media organisati- popular sports - but would be unwilling ons. In other words,« claimed Peiser »we to pay for the privilege of doing so. are heading towards the global standar- On the other hand, he also saw fresh disation of sport.« hope in the Internet and other new technology, which could allow minority The Sky's the limit sports their own niche in the form of a At the same time, larger football clubs channel or homepage. »Not only will we will start to transmit their games through see English football become popular in their own media companies. And with India,« he said, »we could also see Indian more and more Internet users, the clubs football clubs achieving cult status in will also be able to sell and market them- England.«

19 Play the game Participants

Indian journalists Virtual riches on Siddharth Saxena and Rahul Sivasankar told that their country's By Karen Balling Radmer lowly sports budget is currently being spent arge sums of money are waiting on arms to be made from Internet sport. LSports clubs and associations are aware of this - but they have not yet discovered how to effectively tap into the riches on offer. Until they do, the British Broadcasting Company is devel- oping a public service Internet site de- THE AFTERMATH OF A SCANDAL voted to sport, with the stated objective of delivering clear, objective informa- tion to its visitors. »Sport is not in good shape in India,« says Siddharth Saxena Called BBC Sport Online, the com- of the Hindustan Times. »It receives only a very small part of mercial-free site was launched in July the national budget, and currently, even this money is now last year and achieved almost immedi- being spent on arms. But still, there are two sports that are ex- ate success, logging up to three million tremely popular in India - cricket and football.« visitors each day. The site is notable for »But many people - both children and adults - have given offering a wealth of information and up playing cricket because it is becoming so difficult to ar- news on a large number of sporting to- range a game,« adds Saxena's fellow Play the Game attendee, pics. If, for example, the user wishes to Rahul Sivasankar of the Times of India. »Many sponsors have view news of the latest golf tourna- withdrawn from the sport.« ment, BBC Sport Online will provide Last year, India witnessed one of the biggest ever scandals the background and statistics, break- in the long history of its national sport. Cases of players " downs of each hole, information on the providing information to bookmakers" - in other words, best method of approaching the course, attempting to throw matches or individual innings' for cash - features and video clips - all available led to four top players being banned for life. Accusations free of charge. have also been levelled at the self-appointed national cricket Although a countless number of authorities, who have allegedly entered into an "under the commercial sports websites already ex- table" deal with TV companies. ist, BBC Sport Online is attempting to The two journalists express fears for the future of local take the concept a stage further. The Bri- sport if Indian TV becomes dominated by global media tish media giant already has access to giants. »We need new laws,« continues Sivasankar. »I'm thousands of video clips, a worldwide afraid that the international TV stations are on their way into network of journalists and vast archi- India - and they only rate a few sports worthy of coverage. ves. Its ambitious plan is to pool all Therefore, the local, more Indian sports will become more these resources to become a new inde- and more marginalised.« pendent online medium offering an In India, he adds, very few sports facilities exist, and the enormous amount of information on concept of "sport for all" is often nothing more than a lofty sport across the world. ideal. »Nothing is well-organised here,« he says. »But you Up to now, thanks to its wealth of in- must remember, we are talking about a country of one billion dependent material, BBC Sport Online inhabitants.« He points to the fact that women are taking more has avoided entering negotiations with of an interest in sport and that more of the big athletics stars are the world's various sports governing female, as positive developments. »This may sound a little bodies over broadcast rights. crazy, but in India, the beauty-ideal for many women is to be as light-skinned as possible,« he says. »Many women believe Loss of Independence that the darker you are, the more difficult it is to find a hus- Speaking to the Play the Game confe- band. Therefore they stay indoors and avoid the sun. Many fa- rence, BBC Sport Online Director Pete milies simply do not allow their girls to enjoy sport out in the Clifton said he was aware that sports sunshine. This is proving to be an obstacle to the progress we clubs have not yet discovered how to are making. On the other hand, luckily, there are many women make best use of the Internet - but they who have an independent profession. Attitudes are changing.« know that they could be looking at a

Play the game 20 Companies like Carlsberg choose to sponsor sporting n the Internet events because they see sport as entertainment, a lifestyle, and a method of transcending cultural Pete Clifton, BBC: »The Internet is set boundaries. However, to provide a fresh source of income for according to Keld sports clubs. However, the loser could Strudahl, the task of be journalism itself. Well-written, finding the right clubs or objective sports articles could become events to sponsor is very hard to find« becoming harder goldmine. Even the International Olym- pic Committee is now beginning to use the Internet as a serious commercial tool, and is monitoring its rivals closely. During last summer's Sydney Olym- pics, he said, BBC Sport Online natu- rally wanted to provide the best cover- age possible. However, the rights to stage the games had been bought exclu- sively by TV companies, which meant Sponsor with a heart that journalists representing Internet- based media were not even allowed ac- ike most of its competitors, beer as a major source of commercial income, cess to the stadium area. Despite the fact Lproducer Carlsberg is happy to while at the same time are neglecting that BBC TV was one of the accredited sponsor selected sports clubs, organisa- the sporting ideals with which the spon- TV stations and a major sponsor of the tions and events. However, the com- sors would like to associate their pro- games, its online arm was restricted to pany is concerned about recent devel- duct. showing pictures from outside the offi- opments in sport. Are those clamouring As a representative of a major spon- cial stadium area. The IOC went to a lot for sponsorship only interested in sor, Strudahl was asked if he and his col- of trouble to ensure that their conditions money? Are the general interests of leagues are putting too much pressure were strictly enforced. sport losing out? on the organisations they sponsor by »The IOC had a group of lawyers in For moral reasons, Carlsberg stays demanding more and more events to in- England who, while the Olympic Ga- well away from associating itself with a crease their public exposure. mes were taking place, sat and surfed number of activities such as children's »It is not us that wants this,« he the Internet,« explains Pete Clifton. »At sport. Carlsberg's Director of Sponsor- answered. »It is the sports associations one point I received a call in the middle ship Keld Strudahl told assembled dele- that are putting the pressure on.« He of the night, where I was asked to pro- gates at Play the Game that the com- added that he hopes to get clubs and as- vide evidence that one of the clips we pany would not like to give the impres- sociations to understand that they sho- showed was not filmed inside the sta- sion that it is trying to sell its product to uld focus less on money and more on dium area. At the same time, enormous anyone under age. the sport itself - values that he claims his pressure was put on the BBC outside »But the sports organisations do not company identifies with. Otherwise, the broadcast team in Sydney. They were seem to share these concerns,« he said. commercial possibilities presented by told that we would be denied future ac- »I get telephone calls almost every sport will become much less attrac-tive - creditation if they stepped out of line.« day enquiring if Carlsberg would be to his company at least. He is sure that in the future, the interested in sponsoring young people's Finally, Keld Strudahl issued a stark sports world will be able to find a viable events.« warning about the attitude of sponsors solution that will allow information to Companies like Carlsberg choose to in the future. He referred to a court case be displayed online. At the same time, sponsor sporting events because they in France in which a number of spon- however, he cannot guarantee that BBC see sport as entertainment, a lifestyle, sors got together to sue the Tour de Sport Online will remain free of adver- and - not least - a method of transcen- France's teams and individual riders. tising. The fact that it is such a popular ding cultural boundaries, he continued. The sponsors are demanding compen- site means that it will find it more and However, according to Strudahl, the sation for the fact that their names are more difficult to resist commercial over- task of finding the right clubs or events now, they claim, inextricably linked tures. If this occurs, he said, it could to sponsor is becoming harder. This is with the doping scandals that recently mean the end of the BBC's independent because sports clubs and bodies are in- affected the world's biggest cycling online sports coverage. creasingly focusing on sponsors' money event. KBR

21 Play the game Over the past years, English football fans have started voicing protests against the commercialisation of a game they consider theirs

»Football has altered from a sport based on teamwork and co-operation

to a collection POLFOTO / of individuals making as SPORTSPHOTO

much money / as possible,« David Conn said DAVID DAVIES : PHOTO Profiting from the People's Game

By Karen Balling Radmer players and the local communities. made most of their income from selling Those who have always been aware of tickets for games. Fans arrived at the ecently, a total of 24 new basket- the game's social benefits and responsi- stadium to see their team, and all over ball teams were founded in 12 bilities. Europe fans followed "their" club - with Rcountries to take part in a new But how have we reached such a allegiances usually lasting a lifetime. "super league" outside the control of the stage? Andreff painted a frightening In the 1990's, however, major changes international basketball federation, picture of the economics of professional began to take place. Many more TV FIBA. Likewise in football, the richest football, which is nowadays dealing in stations were appearing. With football clubs in Europe have all the financial larger and larger sums of money. seen as one of their greatest attractions, reasons to want to form a breakaway English author and football journa- these TV stations began to bid against league. This is the view of Wladimir list David Conn spoke on a related each other to secure the rights to broad- Andreff, Professor of Economics from theme, warning that the ugly side of the cast the important games. The result is the University of Sorbonne in Paris, and commercialisation of the English game that today, over 80% of many large Vice Chairman of the Organisation of is set to be imported to the rest of clubs' income comes from the sale of TV Sports Economists. Europe - just as the game itself was rights. With these large sums of money Andress told Play the Game that many years ago. came the new job of "commercial direc- money is controlling the destiny of tor" whose main task was to ensure that professional sport. As evidence, he TV economy the club was commercially exploited to pointed to a recent statement by According to Wladimir Andreff, the most the full. From pencil cases bearing the Spanish telecom giant Telefonica. The dramatic change in the economies of club logo to concerts at the stadium, company recently stated that if a new, today's large football clubs has been the Europe's top clubs began to earn breakaway European League were to sale of TV rights. With the advent of enormous sums of money from commer- become a reality, it could double the in- satellite TV and the digital revolution, cial spin-offs. As a result, they can now come it currently receives from spon- these rights can now be sold almost afford to buy the new talent that helps soring football's Champions League. anywhere in the world where a demand them remain among Europe's elite. The losers in the money game, said exists. »One of the problems with this eco- Andreff, will be the fans, the amateur In the 1960's and 70's, football clubs nomic model is that football is now do-

Play the game 22 future, while the rest of us must be content watching our favourite team on TV. And if the trend continues unabated, there is nothing to stop it spreading to Europe. Fans confident However, there could be evidence of light at the end of the tunnel. Malcolm Clarke of the English Football Suppor- ters' Association presented Play the Game with a more optimistic message. He pointed out that many clubs are beginning to realise the importance of their grass roots fans. All public companies, including those football Professor of clubs listed on the stock exchange, are Economics obliged to satisfy their shareholders - Wladimir Andreff shareholders who would not be pleased if the company's customers were seen to painted a be unhappy. frightening picture Clarke pointed to recent signs that of the current fans are again being seen as an important economics of asset to a club. He points to recent events professional in which fan pressure prevented the football. Without owners of Manchester United selling out government to media mogul Rupert Murdoch as an intervention, optimistic sign for the future. Al- tho- ugh we are still in the early stages, he the problem will said, the tide could finally be turning. continue to grow minated a handful of rich clubs,« said iceberg.« He warned that without more Wladimir Andreff. »In Europe, the government intervention, the amount results of matches are often determined of "dirty money" in sport will continue by each clubs' economic ambitions. The to increase. richest clubs can tempt the most talen- ted players away from their rivals. Ther- The disappearance of the efore they win more games, earn more role model money and are then able to buy more ta- The new order also has plenty of losers. lented players. These clubs are far more Youngsters for whom football has likely to win major honours.« traditionally provided role models, for example, or fans that have supported The rich get richer their club over many years. According Andreff pointed to another trend as a to David Conn, very few youngsters harbinger for the future. TV stations are from his home city of Manchester can now increasingly attempting to exercise afford to watch a United game. Most their control over the actual sporting must be content watching the reserves. event. In a number of sports, rule »Football has altered from a sport ba- changes have been discussed with live sed on teamwork and co-operation to a TV in mind. A suggestion to divide collection of individuals making as soccer games into four quarters, to much money as possible for them- allow more time for advertisements, selves,« he said. »Now its values are was looked upon favourably by many primarily the values of business, not TV companies. those of sport. The owners of the »We are also seeing more and more football clubs have made vast amounts corruption in European professional of money. They have allowed tickets sport, especially football.« he said. »We prices to rise, built new stadiums using are seeing blatant breaches of the rules, taxpayers' money and make a fortune in and even matches where the result is the process. The losers are the spectators fixed. And it is well known that the and the game itself.« Russian Mafia "washes" its money Conn warned that in England at through European professional sport. I least, only the richest will be able to see these examples as just the tip of the afford to attend football games in the

23 Play the game »It is evident that the journalist of European championships or the portrait of big who suffers from chauvinism and stars. nationalism is more dangerous Under these conditions, the question is very because of his mobilizing power« rarely asked about why so much space is given to European sport and so little to Africa,Asia or said Fékrou Kidané Central and South America. So why does the West, which monopolizes the information distribution system, not try to provide news on sport from developing countries. That is why it is said that one-way information is an arbitrary trademark of an unequal communi- cation system. Until democracy rules in Seeking sensations It is clear that the perception of information the developing coun- varies from country to country, depending on its political system. tries, sports fans there However, I do not think that the situation will change as long as democracy, the right of will continue to know expression in all its forms, have not been consolidated in the vast majority of developing more about Manchester countries, and that modern technology and the necessary means are not made available. United than about their Sports fans in developing countries will therefore continue to be knowledgeable about own people's merits European football, Manchester United, Ronaldo and will know less or nothing about the Olympic football champion, Cameroon's national team, or the new Asian football champion, Japan. In any event, Olympism and sport development do not really interest many journalists, unless it is of a sensational nature. I still believe, anyhow, that journalists in developing countries should be Unequal communication concerned with overall social and cultural development, of which physical education and sport are an integral part. Fékrou Kidané,The Director of International Co-opera- Censorship is therefore the main weapon which In addition, I believe that we have to assume tion of IOC, proved in the 1980'ies that 80% of sports controls the behaviour of the mass media. the responsibility of participating in the education journalists from developing countries are football speci- Self-censoring has even become a qualification of the masses. If violence around sport and racial alists and the remaining 20% covering other sports for journalists in developing countries. discrimination has become a common practice which are more popular than football in their respective Meanwhile, the government-controlled media, al- today and if the message on fair play and tolerance countries. Once a journalist himself, Kidané stressed the though heavily subsidized, owes more to the sports is not clearly understood, this is partly due to the importance of the media in development processes. columns that provide sales, rather than politics. fact that we have failed to do our job well. It is evident that the journalist who suffers here are no well-established information Buy TV rights in spite of crisis from chauvinism and nationalism is more and documentation centres on physical Sports broadcasts on radio and television are the dangerous because of his mobilizing power. T education and sport to consult, or most popular. In spite of economic crisis, the Unfortunately, we live in a society which is enough libraries and bookstores from where to Ministries of Information do their utmost to more attracted by sensational news which helps borrow and buy books. obtain TV rights for major sports events, such as newspapers make profit and good business.The This situation alone makes it difficult for the Olympic Games and the football World Cup. good newspapers are still around regardless, even journalists, technicians and researchers to improve It is true though that even in the field of sports though you read more news about football than their knowledge and follow the changes and news, negative aspects are emphasized much more any other sport. innovation in world sport. than positive aspects as far as developing countries Criticism is good when it is constructive and The history of sport of our countries and regions are concerned in the Western media. not destructive. I believe that the sports press can has yet to be written.The historical documents of You will rarely find a reference to Asian or play a significant role in the society by using sport our forefathers have disappeared or been misplaced. African sport in the so-called international press. as an instrument to promote peace, human rights, Those who have witnessed the history of sport of It is only when athletes win gold medals at the justice and democracy, the fight against racial their countries and continent are taken away by age Olympic Games,World Championships, or when discrimination, drug abuse and violence, the or other causes without having written their teams perform well at the football World Cup, that protection of the environment, eradication of memoirs.We say in Africa that the death of an you can read a short account on them. poverty, and for sport for all. It is not sensational elderly person is like a library which burns. On the other hand, the developing countries' but it is worthwhile. (…) The media in most developing countries press has unconsciously become a relay for the is state-owned, apart from a few exceptions. Western press by presenting, every day, the results Read more at www.play-the-game.org

Play the game 24 Exploitation or a mutually beneficial business?

What happens when white Europeans want to get involved in the development of African sport - but have their own business agenda? Women demand poverty that surrounds them. »This pro- ject is a prime example of good business their place in sport bringing benefits to the community,« he said. »We believe that some African you- ths have a future in football. We would also like to make a profit through invest- The media has a duty to help make ment in the development of talent.« He stressed that all those involved in women play a more meaningful role in By Per Vinther the project are aware of their social re- sponsibility and pointed out that the sport, says Carole Garoës, General presentation about an African school also provides a full education. The soccer school supported by one idea for the project originated in South Secretary of "African Women in Sport" Aof Scandinavia's biggest foo- African, and currently receives sponsor- tball clubs led to one of Play the Game's ship from the Danish government most vigorous debates. Detractors de- through its overseas aid programme. scribed the project as exploitative, a me- »But this is still a business, not a cha- he was one of the few female speakers at the Play the ans of acquiring cheap talent and only rity,« he continued. »The school has the Game conference - a fact she used as an example: »We benefiting a few. However, the project's backing of local South Africans, many Sare underrepresented everywhere in sport - just look supporters saw the school not only as of whom are involved in its day-to-day around this hall,« said Carole Garoës. »We are finding it very providing a decent education, but also running. The local university is also difficult to take an active role in sport. There are a number of as providing a chance for some boys involved in the project. From personal reasons for this. Firstly, it is very tough to find money - espe- and their families to break out of a cycle experience I can only recommend it as a cially for African women. We lack decent sports facilities of poverty. good model.« and opportunities.« In a plea for male journalists to devote It was a predominantly white audi- After his presentation, Niels Chri- more time and column width to women, she added: »The ence that heard FC Copenhagen's Ad- stian Holmstrøm joined a panel that biggest hurdle is the fact that women are traditionally tied to ministrative Director, Niels Christian included the former Kenyan Olympic their roles in the kitchen and as child minders. Journalists Holmstrøm describe his club's involve- medallist Mike Boit, Fekrou Kidane of can help by highlighting the problems we face.« ment in a soccer school in the South the IOC and professor John Hoberman In her role as General Secretary of AWISA - African Wo- African city of Port Elizabeth. The of the University of Texas. The football men in Sport - Carole Garoës was one of three African wo- ensuing debate questioned whether any school was discussed in depth, with men who were given the title "Chef de Mission" at the 2000 positive benefits can emerge from white both praise and criticism coming from Sydney Olympics. However, she still sees herself as a rare ex- Euro-peans getting involved in black the floor. ception in a male-dominated world. African sport. »I see the project as providing posi- »If we, as women, hope to develop and better ourselves, A former international soccer player tive benefits to the young people of Port we must give up some of our traditional habits and culture,« himself, Holmstrøm portrayed his clu- Elizabeth - not as exploitation,« said she continued. »For example, women should not be forced to b's football school as a joint venture in- Mike Boit, whose view was echoed by wear long skirts - they ought to be always allowed the option volving Danish and South African busi- most of the African delegates in the hall. of playing in shorts.« ness interests. He told the conference »It is a positive project, and certainly »Is there a limit to what sports women can physically take that the school's first team consists of 19 not comparable with colonialism," said part in?« asked one male journalist. »What about hammer youths aged between 14-18, who live, Fékrou Kidané. »The important point is throwing and weight lifting, for example?« study and play football together. He that it is better to have a sport-based »We would like to see women involved in all sports,« she claimed that the school provides them education than fall into a life of poverty replied. »Boxing, weightlifting, whatever. It is all about be- with a chance to break away from the or crime.« ing given the opportunity.« pv.

25 Play the game Developing nations should In Los Angeles in 1984, developing countries won 13 percent of the medals. No money forget Olympic glory In Seoul in 1988 the figure was just 6 per- cent. In Barcelona 1992 it was 11 percent, and focus on a broad sports and in both Atlanta and Sydney the total was 22 percent. Out of the 199 nations ta- programme instead king part in last year's Sydney Olympics, - no sport 139 were classified as "developing" na- tions. While "developed" nations won an average of 7.85 medals each, their coun- terparts in the third world only avera- ged 1.5 medals per nation. Since the start of the modern Olym- pics in 1896, those medals won by de- veloping countries have generally been concentrated in very few sports. In fact, 80 percent of all medals won by African nations have been in the disciplines of running or boxing. The rich hold all the aces The fact that the 2006 soccer World Cup was awarded to Germany ahead of South Africa came as no surprise to Wla- dimir Andreff. He pointed out that that historically, the right to host major sport- ing events is almost always awarded to the richer nations. »Around 30 countries host 95 percent of the major sporting events each year,« he said. »The rest of the world - including all developing na- tions - have to share the remaining five By Per Vinther "No queremos goles - queremos frijoles" If the Olympics percent. We are seeing it happen again - We don't want goals, we want beans. are granted to with the applications to stage the 2008 his speech to the Play the Game »It is very difficult for developing na- Africa or Latin Olympics. Both Cuba and South Africa conference, Wladimir Andreff tions to set aside money for sport when were among those countries hoping to In America, it could outlined the link between the prosperity the citizens often do not have enough host the games, but both countries have provide the of a nation's economy and the existence money to feed themselves,« he conti- been told by the IOC that they do not of sports facilities and opportunities. nued. »How can people afford new opportunity they possess adequate sporting, transport and Andreff, who is Professor of Economics sports shoes when they cost more than a need to develop telecommunication facilities.« at the University of Sorbonne, pointed month's wages? This is a real problem in their facilities Andreff put forward a number of out that the number of Olympic and many developing nations.« and infrastructure, suggestions to break the cycle in which World Championship medals won by says Professor the process of staging top sports events Lack of medals each country is directly linked to the na- Wladimir Andreff is controlled by money and commercial tion's wealth. With very few exceptions, Wladimir Andreff provided some start- interests. "Why shouldn't they approach the rich, western countries win the med- ling statistics illustrating the uphill the decision-making process from anot- als. For developing countries, the chan- struggle facing third world sportsmen her angle?" he asked. "If the Olympics ces of joining the world's sporting elite and women. Both the time spent prac- are granted to an Africa or Latin Ameri- are limited to disciplines that require lit- tising sport in schools, and the ratio of can nation, it would provide the oppor- tle equipment or facilities such as foo- coaches to athletes are much lower in de- tunity they need to develop their facili- tball, running and boxing. veloping nations, and public sports faci- ties and infrastructure." According to Andreff, lack of econo- lities rarely compare with those in the »First and foremost, governments mic development means the world's industrialised world. A 1995 UNESCO must have the political and economic poorer nations are still finding it diffi- report into sporting opportunities in 16 will to follow the motto 'sport for all' in- cult to provide sporting opportunities to developing nations revealed that what stead of concentrating exclusively on their citizens. »Any analysis of the rela- facilities do exist are rarely maintained, the elite and the fleeting glory of Olym- tionship between sport and economic and little if any money is set aside for pic success,« he continued. »I also feel development cannot avoid the fact that renewal. These countries' athletes there- that we should do more to stop the that the less developed a country is, the fore find it much harder to achieve opti- drain of talent from the poorer nations less it spends on sports facilities,« he mal training conditions, and this is re- to the developed countries. However, said. He quoted a piece of graffiti pain- flected in the number of Olympic and to alter the current position, we need ted on the wall of a stadium during the world championship medals being won to achieve a consensus among de- 1986 World Cup in Mexico that read: by such nations. veloping nations.«

Play the game 26 families to sign a contract they cannot under- stand. He mentioned typical cases in which the unscrupulous agent enters Kenya under cover, rounds up the best runners in a rural area, then simply leaves the country with them. From world record holder to Mike Boit, the former alcoholic Olympic 1500 metres bronze »Of course, a few runners do get rich,« he medal winner, takes a critical continued. »These stories spread like wildfire in Kenya. On the other hand, little is known view of system that persuades about the much more common instances young Kenyan athletes to where runners arrive home broken and di- interrupt their schooling and straught with their dreams shattered. Many leave their homes in the of these runners refuse to speak to the media, pursuit of fame and glory and journalists are reluctant to investigate such cases.« One example that has been well publicised is that of the former world 10,000-metre record holder Richard Chelimo. After being pressed by his agent into running too many races, often Power in the hands while carrying injuries, he received very little of his prize money and returned home virtually penniless and an alcoholic. Makori adds that not all agents act in this of the agents manner - some have a good reputation in Kenyan sports circles. By Per Vinther newspaper and chairman of the Kenyan sports Another problem highlighted by Elias Ma- journalists represented at the conference. Ma- kori is the fact that many western agents on the few Kenyan athletes have become mil- kori is one of the few journalists to have hig- hunt for new talent have strong links with the lionaires through their success in big hlighted the problem in Kenya. Kenyan Athletics Association. Mike Boit, for- Amoney meetings in Europe and the »In too many cases it is the western agents mer Olympic bronze medal winner and Head USA. However, it is only the best that make it who ruin the lives of the young runners,« said of Physical Education at Kenyatta University this far. For each runner that makes it to the top, Makori, »They exploit them for every dollar was among the audience and commented: plenty more are living extremely poor condi- and deutschmark they can get. Many of the »This exploitation is reprehensible, but it tions after being brought over to the west by agents who come to Kenya and hand pick the also presents a dilemma. Many parents are cash-hungry agents. It is not unknown for 10 to young runners are looking to make some fast willing to send their children away while they 15 hopeful athletes to share a single apartment, money - nothing more. They are not the slight- are still far too young, in the hope that they can sleeping on mattresses on the floor. Most will est bit interested in the athletes' lives or make all the family rich. But in all too many ca- never become rich, and many will simply be background.« ses they do not think enough about the si- abandoned to their own fate. In a country with a population of 25 million, tuation. All the time we are trying to explain to The story of this unpleasant "trade" in athle- the majority of whom earn less than one dollar parents that their children should go to school tes was relayed to Play the Game by Elias Ma- per day, Makori stressed that it can be highly first, and learn some skills to use in life. But kori, Sports Editor of Nairobi's Daily Nation tempting for both young athletes and their many simply do not listen.«

»For many politicians, including Africans, sporting success is very important and presti- Broad ranging solution gious. This is difficult to achieve for most Afri- can nations because they often have many other serious problems deal with. Many cannot even Ghana, sport was instrumental in the re- political leaders that they do not need to attend provide "bread for all" and must therefore work In conciliation of two warring tribes after a the Olympics with delegates and administra- with realistic priorities. Sport has an unbelie- violent orgy of burning, and looting. The was tors. This money could instead be used much vably important role to play in daily life - but we one of the stories related to Play the Game by more wisely for the benefit of the entire popula- should not be blind to all the facts.« Usman Yakubu, who is a co-ordinator of a num- tion instead of an elite few. It could be used at lo- Former top Kenyan athlete Mike Boit is con- ber of local sports and cultural projects in his na- cal level for sport in a very simple framework.« vinced that sport has a naturally important role tive Ghana in association with - among others - Terry Monnington, Director of Physical to play in the development of society. »Sport the International Sport and Culture Association. Sport and Education at the University of creates a sense of solidarity,« he says. »All the »The best way of introducing sports activities Warwick, England, is also a strong advocate of negative attitudes and wickedness in Africa to the population as a whole is to offer a broad the concept of "sport for all" as a framework for can be improved by sport, because it teaches range of sports,« he said. »We must inform our development in Africa. our children character and manners.« pv

27 Play the game Furthering integration or perpetuating a stereotype?

Integration through sport seen as "breaking down racial barriers," Hoberman reminds us that it is still is nothing more than common for white football fans to abuse black players. symbolism, and does little »Politicians are desperately searching for answers to the problems of to further the social and integration - and in Europe, what could be more popular than football?« he asks. economic situation of »Everyone who watches football on TV is given the illusion that successful black blacks, says US author athletes are creating social mobility for their entire race. A black sports star's John Hoberman. Europe smiling face hides an entire system of race-related injustices. The illusion also can learn much from the serves to camouflage the catastrophic health problems that exist among lessons of sport and race African-Americans and others of African origin.« »It is false integration,« he says. he popular claim that sport has »The fact that multinational football is »Ta positive effect on racial screened on TV each day does not integration is overstated. It is a trap. improve the social and economic Even though some blacks achieve ex- situation of blacks.« He adds that it is not cellence in sport, it does not give them surprising that the myth of blacks as any more jobs or a better education.« "superior" sportsmen lives on, when the Author of the book Darwin's predominantly white trainers and Athletes, Professor John Hoberman of managers are constantly buying young the University of Texas offers some African talent to be tested, trained, thought-provoking views on sport and most often discarded by Europe's and race. Although the USA has had a professional soccer teams. head start on many European nations in the field of racial integration, he Social status is equitable says, some areas of Europe are integration. generally finding fewer problems in Hoberman goes on to state that the the assimilation of minorities than the familiar images of black athletes in the USA experienced when integration United States do not serve the social first began. Although major obstacles advancement of African Americans. In exist, he suggests that some European recent years, black athletes have been nations benefit from long-standing tra- involved in a highly publicised series of ditions of equality, more pronounced criminal cases that, he says, have only anti nazi views, and sports associa- served to perpetuate stereotypes. »All of tions that are not just concerned about these social phenomena demonstrate that creating stars and making money. it is time to relieve black people of the However, he warns that there are of African origin are physically superior athletic identity our colonial legacy has plenty of parallels between race relations in some way. This cements myths about inflicted upon them,« he says. in Europe and the USA. For example, racial differences, and does little to At the same time, Professor Hoberman the stereotype image of blacks being improve their status.« is more optimistic about the integration physically superior in sports, but unable of children through sport. However, he to achieve social status elsewhere, is The politics of desperation points out that successful integration also found in Europe. Hoberman points out that elite sport cannot be achieved through sport alone. »It is wishful thinking to say that has never been a positive means of It must include opportunities to achieve there is not a problem in Europe,« he integration for blacks in the USA or in social status and advancement off the says. »There is a global myth that those Europe. Even though football is widely playing field.

Play the game 28 Education and employment inevitably get higher priority than sport in a poor country

ceremony has been changed without notice and public transport to the Stadium has been commandeered for the athletes. The mass of the population of Harare cannot even reach the Stadium, even if they could afford the entrance charge. The show, as they say, must go on. Unfortunately, the start is delayed by half an hour as the Torch is caught in the traffic of Harare. When it does arrive, it has to be constantly re-lit on its lap of honour. Disaster follows disaster, culminating in the failure of the public address system, thus precluding our listening to the swearing of the Games oath, the welcome of the President and the playing of the National Anthem. My aim here is not to belittle or ridicule the quality of the Game's organisation.The events them- selves were, as sporting spectacles, both competitive and exciting, with many outstanding performances by some of the world's finest athletes. The issue here is that the event was staged very much to provide President Mugabee with the opportunity to reinforce his position as a major African sport player in African politics. He was only doing what generations of American Presidents had always done before him. Many African leaders, most notably President in danger Kenyatta of Kenya, had taken full advantage of the supposed political capital that could be gained through associating with the country's athletic talent. Sporting heroes have long been regarded as Sport is in danger of becoming increasingly marginal in continent of Africa,good and bad. But since the rush valuable ambassadors on the world stage, providing Africa's fight to survive. to independence since the 1960s, the new nations, a means to enhance a nation's credibility and status. Education and employment inevitably and rightly their people and their political leaders have not only In Kenya, Kip Keino and Mike Boit were, and rank higher than sport, states one of Europe's most endeavored to establish sovereign states. still are, legends.Their successes were seen as the prominent experts of African sports, the British For many, creation of an African identity as an nation's success. professor Terry Monnington. expression of common interests has become a For many new nation-states in Africa in the Moreover, winning sport is becoming increasingly priority and few African leaders have had the 1960s and 1970s creation of an identity was less valuable in a failing society. vision of President Nkruma of Ghana as to the re-garded as important, so too the need to attract Terry Monnington introduced his message by giving importance and value of celebrating rather than inward financial investment. a first-hand account from All Africa Games 1995. apologising for Africa's cultural inheritance. During these years the apparent progress of The history of the All Africa Games has been Kenya was evident. Sport was helping in the magine the scene. I'm in the new thwart with problems, most notably as a cre-ation of an identity as well as providing its National Stadium in Harare, Zimbabwe, consequence of mismanagement and political people with a common bond and so a sense of I waving my Kenyan flag, alongside my exploitation. But in 1995 it was planned to be nationhood; essential in a society that was divided Kenyan host, a stadium funded by the Chinese in different. by long established tribal and cultural differences. recognition of their support for the country's President Mugabee is seated only a few metres For President Mugabee an opportunity to Marxist leader, President Mugabee.The year is away, eager to impress his guests with the enhance his personal reputation, as one of Africa's 1995 and the event is the opening ceremony of expertise of the Zimbabwean people to organise a senior politicians was to be lost through the the 6th All Africa Games. showpiece Games. incompetence of the Games administrators. This pan-African event was regarded by many His guests include many African and The opening ceremony was a political as one more means by which modern Africa could international leaders and senior representatives of embarrassment, a lost opportunity to paper over express its common ancestry, celebrate the the International Olympic Committee and other some of the cracks that were already in evidence individuality of its multifarious cultural traditions, suprana-tional governing bodies of sport. in the country's economy and political system…." but also its unity. Unfortunately, there are not many other 19th Century colonialism brought much to the spec-tators in the stadium.The time of the opening To be continued at www.play-the-game.org

29 Play the game The many different we's

Sport is not one,nor is nationalism.Dr.Phil Henning Eichberg drew an amazing picture of how our different sports cultures are always interwoven with nation building and politics

»We use to regard the market as the driving THE SECOND story is about quite another force of globalisation, but when you look closely type of movement - the Danish tradition of at sport,you can see an alternative globalisation gymnastics. In 1931, the Danish gymnastic driven by people-to-people relations.« leader Niels Bukh organized a tour around This was the message of Dr. Phil. Henning the world with his gymnastic team.This- is Eichberg, who as a start told three everyday what he experienced in Korea, which at sports stories illustrating his theories. that time was under Japanese military rule. "Our good reminiscences from China and Korea are related to crowds of people HE FIRST was about a Danish and Danish flags at the reception at the boy of twelve years who railway stations of Mukden and Seoul and T experiences the European to childrens' choirs singing Danish songs soccer championship in 1992, which there.When we demonstrated our brought Danish football to the top. gymnastics in the stadium of Seoul and let "We travelled to Copenhagen some our flag down in front of 35 000 amazed hours before the match should start, so we people who were jubilating for Denmark, got some good places in front of the large and when the large students' choir was screen which was erected on the place of singing 'King Christian' (the Danish national the city hall.At first we sat down on the anthem), we all felt stronger than ever asphalt and regarded the singing roligans before how wonderful ist was to be Danish (fans), but later on we had to rise because and to serve Denmark." more and more people arrived ...After 19 The Niels Bukh gymnastics had its roots minutes, the first goal was shot.The mood in the democratic farmers' folkelig raised extremely high, and the jubilation gymnastics, but was in its new form met by became wilder and wilder. (…) When 31 an especially warm welcome in Japan as minutes of the second half-time were played well in Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany. and the second goal was shown on the Niels Bukh was himself- impressed by the screen, the mood really was up to the heat Germany of 1933 which he, though not of cooking.A total chaos seemed to break exactly a National Socialist himself, out, and in the midst of the crowd one regarded as a model for Denmark. really had to take care in order not to fall and to be kicked down. (…). But even if it THE THIRD situation differs fundamentally became dangerous at last, this was one of both from the sportive and the gymnastic the greatest experiences I have had in my pattern.The story is about a tug-of-war life." contest, which was the high-light of The soccer victory and especially the "Fagenes Fest", the workers' "festival of fact that the final match was won against professions" in Copenhagen 1938.The Germany, became a national event in Danish daily "Social Demokraten" Denmark. Its significance transgressed described it like this: by far the limits of sport. Some observers "There were gigantic achievements. related this triumph in sports to the The blacksmiths quickly defeated the referendum the same year, when the bakers, and the tailors could not stand long majority of the Danish voted "No" time against the coal-heavers who weighed against the Maastrich treaty of the at least twice as much. But there arose a European Union. gigantic competition between the dairy

Play the game 30 “ Participants There is not only politics in result can release strong emotions: "We sport and not only identity have won" - or: "We were defeated." This building in movement culture. model is hegemonial in the most of modern sport, especially in Olympic sport But also the other way round: and consequently in the media reception of There is sport in politics - there sports. WE NEED is experience of movement in identity ANOTHER PATTERN stresses discipline and fit- YOUR HELP ness for the purpose of an identity of Dr. Phil. Henning Eichberg integration. Gymnastics contrasts to sport »Here in Kosovo, sport is only by being independent of the measurement of slowly recovering from the war. results. Competition is not needed here We have 23 sports associations, “ either,and it can be one single team alone and tournaments are arranged which arouses the impression of collective in many disciplines. But we identity and the feeling of community. In this badly need facilities, equipment workers and the brewery men - and much case the presentation and production of and international contacts. We to the distress of the agitators for "we"-feeling is effected by discipline and a need help from the international abstinence, the beer won.The final was collective demonstration of fitness.A team community.« between the brewers and the coalmen, and of dynamic young people moves in rank and So says Driton Latifi, Sports here the brewery workers had 'to bite the file, with flag and hymn, radiating by its joint Editor of the newspaper Koha dust'. 'This is not at all surprising', said the force and precision, "who we are". Ditore from Pristina, Kosovo - captain of the coal-heavers. 'You only carry one of the cities bombed by the beer, but it is us who drink it.'" THE THIRD PATTERN centers around festivity NATO in 1999. Addressing a The "Festival of the Professions" started and play, leading to popular identity. fringe meeting of Play the Game, in 1938 as an annual sport festivity of the In popular festivity, dance, play and game, all Latafi showed a video from soc- Danish workers' movement, stimulated by people can participate, old and young, male cer team FC Pristina's final first similar arrangements in France and and female, people from different ethnic division game before the war - a Germany. It combined sports events with origins and different languages, top athletes game that was brought to a halt more carnivalistic competitions like as well as handicapped persons.The feeling by Serbian police. The video running-matches of domestic servants with of "we" is produced by the encounter, the shows police arresting a player in buckets and scrubbers, going-matches of meeting in a temporary community of front of 30,000 fleeing fans. pottery workers with piles of plates on participation. In this situation, tradition and »Some sports were forbidden, their heads, hammer cast of blacksmiths surprise are mixing, competition and and many sportsmen and and obstacle races of socialist scouts eating laughter, drunkenness, role game and women were arrested« he says cream puffs on their way. During the masking. Local associations may function as of the time under Serb domina- Second World War when Nazi Germany elements of continuity for popular sport, tion. »Clubs were thrown out of held Denmark occupied, Fagenes Fest but the festive encounter is the important their stadiums because they developed towards a demonstration of event - a moment of discontinuity, surprise were of Albanian origin, and national togetherness.As this, the festival at- and becoming "high" in the here-and-now. when they tried to play at ano- tracted the largest spectators-hip in its The differences inside the group are not ther venue they were arrested. history. treated by streamlining or uniforming them, Among other things, a 12-year- but by displaying or even overstressing old boy was arrested whilst them, often in grotesque and carnivalistic playing football. We have been In the three described situations of sport, forms.The excentricity of popular culture through some very hard times. I very different patterns of identification follows the logics of mutual communication: would not want anyone to suffer (…) become visible, different ways of The truth is neither here nor there, it is like we did - not even the Serbs.« "we"-building and belonging. in-between. After the war of 1999, the picture has now changed. ONE PATTERN IS CHARACTERIZED by THE THREE CASES show that there is not Whereas football was the most competition and result, and what comes only politics in sport and not only identity popular sport in the region, out of it is an identity of production. Sport building in movement culture. But also the basketball has now taken over. of achieve-ment produces "wares" in other way round:There is sport in politics The need for better facilities is centi-metres, grams, seconds, points, goals, - there is experience of movement in underlined by demographics, medal listing ranks or victorious names, identity.And we find neither only one said Driton. Around 53% of which are taken as an indicator for "who sport, nor only one type of national Kosovo's inhabitants are under we are". By linking identification to these identity, but a structured multiplicity." 19, an age in which sport is results, the competitive encounter in highly important to growth, sports is stirring up feelings of connection Henning Eichberg is a German-born, Danish social integration and well and togetherness. Out-comes and records sports researcher at Idrætsforsk, Research being. He expressed his hope that of sport are regarded as representative, as Institute of Sport, Body and Culture in Gerlev. sport can play an important part collective results: "Two-zero for us." The Read more at www.play-the-game.org in easing tension in the area.

31 Play the game Making a difference

Canada's Gilles E. Neron, lost everything due to an untrue article - and the subsequent "pack instinct" of journalists. However, he still believes that a close relationship with the press is an effective means of promoting fair play

was one of the few delegates to the head of an opponent would be He the Play the Game conference enough to risk permanent brain damage. not working in the field of sports In his capacity as president of the journalism. He was, however, speaking organisation, he proposed a rule which to journalists every single day of the would limit the use of bandages - conference. The pleasant middle aged because, as he stated at the time, the man, always smartly dressed in shirt 'head is more important than the hands.' and tie, did not speak too much about However, many in the boxing business himself - but he was very interested in were unhappy at his views - including the international journalists' stories the large bookmakers that covered the from their respective homelands. He sport in Canada. appeared especially interested in stories At the same time, Gilles E. Neron was regarding the unveiling of corruption in the process of building up a commu- and wrongdoing in the world of sport. nications business to provide for him- Then, on Wednesday, it was his turn self and his family, including two chil- to speak. His address came as a surprise dren. Shortly after he had made his to many. It detailed the story of a views known, he says, he found himself man standing face to face with real the victim of a major smear campaign. danger - for the sake of justice. Slanderous articles were written about Gilles E. Neron is a strong believer in him by a journalist who, says Neron, Gilles E. Neron fact, it was only during the "Play freedom of speech, democracy and the had related interests in the field of launched a the Game conference he received his value of a free press - but not a press that boxing promotion. strong attack first personal contact with a Canadian can do as it likes. He stressed that ethical After the articles began appearing, journalist regarding the case. on, among rules must exist in the gathering of the rest of the media did little to support »I am not angry or disappointed - I'm other things, information, analysis and publication. him. The resulting accusations saw him just fed up with it,« he said. »We must lose his reputation, his business, and his excessive vio- now look to the future. What we can do What would you do? post as sports safety officer. He even lence and un- to prevent cheating and how we can Gilles E Neron was educated in received threats against his family. fair practice in promote the notion of fair play.« physiology, and lives in Quebec, Canada. After countless legal battles and Canadian box- »You can warn all you like against His story dates back to the 1970's when he numerous court appearances, a court ing. His opin- negative developments,« he continued, penned a damning report on violence in finally ruled that he had been the ions cost him »but you are not necessarily going to be ice hockey - one of the reasons he was victim of slander, and awarded him heard. Often it takes a catastrophe to get dearly. He lost subsequently named President of the compensation of 2.3 million dollars. changes implemented. This happened in newly-founded Quebec Sports Safety This was the first time in Canada's his position as Canadian boxing - a boxer died before Board - a public organisation which was history that such a large sum was Sports Safety the sport's safety was given priority.« set up to ensure safe practice in sport. awarded to an individual due to Officer, »Journalists should remember,« he In this capacity he decided to take a their misrepresentation in the media. his business said »that they have an important job in closer look at the sport of boxing, and However, the case is still ongoing, as the and his reputa- passing their knowledge on to educate soon discovered that many boxers were media group that he sued is appealing tion - and even their readers. We can all do small things routinely adopting a highly dangerous against the ruling. in our daily lives that can make a his family was practice. They were wrapping so many Despite his victory, the Quebec difference. Whether it is writing a story or subjected to hard bandages around their hands that a Sports Safety Board has since been helping a fellow human being. The clenched fist could punch a hole through disbanded and his case has received threats of question is, how we go forward after a wall or a toilet cistern. With the almost no coverage in the media. Few violence this conference. Based on what you bandage in place, they could punch so other sports journalists have been have learnt here, what have you hard that just a small number of blows to interested in the way he was treated. In decided to do tomorrow?« KBR

Play the game 32 PHOTO: EMIR MORINA The daily sport: A gift to the media

»If the media really wants to make an impres- Which newspaper bothers to take a sion in the fight against doping, journalists must close look at the sports facilities of a local - somewhat paradoxically - learn to write about community? something completely different.« Questions such as who is in charge of This was the message of one of the the facilities, who gets the best deals and conference arrangers, editor-in-chief Jens Sejer training times, and which members of the Andersen. community find themselves excluded? »Just as journalists often take their role in a Which media analyses how the big democratic society seriously when reporting on national associations receive more funding politics, culture or the economy, they must also from central government, and higher play the democratic card in the area known as subscriptions from their members? - just to physical culture,« he said and continued: throw money out of the window on a new Fun for democracy "elite" project or luxurious lunches? is strange that the media For the past ten years, I have been For Anders Levinsen, project leader at the successful "Open Fun seemingly couldn't care less about working as an editor of both weekly and Football Schools", the sports sector has a tremendous It the culture of the body - the same monthly magazines that exclusively concern unexplored and under-utilised potential with regards to social culture that engages their readers, listeners themselves with average people's sporting cohesion and the rebuilding of a democratic civic society.This is or viewers on a daily basis. It is a colossal, activities in the very average country of proven in the war-torn Balkan where the football schools are uncharted area that offers itself. Denmark. I can guarantee that there are spreading at an impressive pace: Think about the forces set in motion every plenty of interesting stories to write day by completely average people practicing about - also following normal journalistic ach Open Fun Football School last 5 days. It is sport.Think of the passion that hundreds of criteria. […] organized according to our comprehensive sets millions of people put into their daily sporting E of manuals, and it comprise approx. 200 boys routines.Those very same people that the Affect youngster's perception and girls from 8-14 and minimum 15 leaders/trainers that media is in daily contact with. To underline how important this is, I would all serve Open Fun Football School on a voluntary basis. OK, you'll say, no-one is bothered about one more time like to remind you of the Its basic idea is a "Fun Concept":What is important is reading about chubby Mrs Smith's cycle ride discoveries that Baron Pierre de Coubertin the playful aspect, the joy derived from playing, rather than in the countryside or Mr Smith's exertions and other great sporting thinkers have made the results, the score, the advancing skill levels.The many in the aerobics centre. - that there is no stronger method of exercises and small games are so designed as to make And who cares about a junior, third shaping people's character than through the everyone feel successful again and again […] division ice hockey game? To this I offer the body, through play and through sport. It is not about developing and harvesting talented answer: Should the sports sections of Therefore, a change in the focus of the players, but about giving kids a rich and rewarding newspapers be the only pages where people media is not just a gift for the media's own experience with ball playing, so as to promote the game, do not want to read about themselves? development. recruit players for football and develop their talents.Thus, Of course, there should still be a place The pictures and examples that the in our Open Fun Football School players are not divided for David Beckham and the Laudrup media brings forward do also affect according to skills, gender or ethnic or social background. Brothers - but this does not mean that all youngsters' perception of what is good and Trained and un-trained,boys and girls, "black and white" is sports coverage shall be of similar content. what is bad in sport. playing on the same teams during a whole week. It is an inconvenience to take this kind of Similarly, the media has a great effect on As mentioned above the Open Fun Football Schools sport seriously: One cannot, as in elite sport, global, national and local sports policy. - and was transferred for the first time to war-torn Bosnia turn on the camera and the microphone, with it on the framework that people use to Herzegovina in 1998. It is built from the memory of lean back and be sure that a group of characterise and influence each other in broken communication lines and the immobilities of the well-trained millionaires will create the their daily sporting lives. war, so harmful to peace and the public's mental health. drama. It needs an active and investigative Any media committed to building Using ball games and pure play, the schools aim to be a journalistic contribution. democratic values has not only an strategic instrument to move people, physically and opportunity, but an obligation to promote psychologically, across the numerous, invisible front lines Ruling by fear or trust future development in which sport's current that still cut through the country. But which TV station follows a team of minor motto - Faster,Higher,Stronger - be replaced Thus, they aim to counteract the fear and claustrophobia players over a long period, and reports on with forms for the culture of the body - such of war and stimulate the process of minority return by which ideals the youth is taught in their as "healthier,more fun and more enriching”. re-establishing old but broken friendships and sport everyday life in the sports club? Does the For every step that the mass media dare co-operation among the football clubs involved their trainer appear as a stopwatch dictator,or to take into this new land, they remove trainers, leaders and the children. does he teach the boys the value of themselves a little more from their sorry co-operation? Does he rule by fear or trust? role as the victims of passive doping. Read more at www.play-the-game.org

33 Play the game About SIU The Sports Intelligence Unit (SIU) is a voluntary, Facts about Play the game independent network for individual sports journalists and sports researchers. SIU regards the free flow of 156 media professionals and sports researchers sport as a bearer of local, regional and natio- information and an open public debate as essential from 52 countries participated at the conference nal cultural identity. See www.isca-web.org for democratic development. held in at the sports and conference centre DGI- SIU sees neither sport nor journalism as byen in the heart of Copenhagen. Sports Intelligence Unit: See left and standardizable commodities accessible to the 58 participants from less privileged countries www.play-the-game.org highest bidders on the market. On the contrary, could participate thanks to travel subsidies gene- sport and journalism should stay easily accessible rously granted by the donors (see below). goods, being manifold expressions of the cultural Finances richness of mankind. The total costs of the conference Goals were close to 2,000,000 Danish Kroner/ The purposes of SIU The goals of Play the game are: 265,000 Euro. to defend freedom of expression in sports - at to raise awareness of sport's role in local, all levels, under all circumstances and in any national and global development The participants contributed with place of the world to support democracy, transparency and cultural 428,000 DKK/57,000 Euro in to promote a free flow of information and variety in sport and media world-wide conference fee's. stimulate public debate on the economics, to provide media professionals with inspiration politics and culture of sports and research tools for reporting on key topics The rest was financed by the conference's to further international contacts and exchange including the cultural, political, social and Danish supporters: between journalists and researchers working economic aspects of sport on the above mentioned matters to strengthen cross-border and cross-sector Danish Gymnastics and Sports Associations: to raise the level of sports journalism through contacts between the participants to help them 575,000 DKK/77,000 Euro. internet and printed publications, seminars, to meet the challenges of a globalised sports meetings etc. and media world The Year 2000 Foundation SIU does not forward information on sports (Danish government foundation): results, international championships or other highly 500,000 DKK/67,000 Euro. advertised sports events. Membership is open for any individual media The Ministry of Culture: professional or scientific researcher interested in 300,000 DKK/40,000 Euro. the history, sociology, medicine, psychology, economy, politics, culture or other vital aspect of Danida/The Ministry of Foreign Affairs: sports. 100,000 DKK/13,500 Euro.

Members must Danish Sports Journalists' Association: accept giving the necessary data for a public 20,000 DKK/2,700 Euro. membership list. be prepared to support and advise each others IFJ, ISCA and SIU want to thank all these to the widest possible extent, when help for Organisers donors whose contributions ensured the national or international research is required. The International Federation of Journalists promotes realisation of Play the game. do their best to provide the SIU-editors action to defend press freedom and social justice, regularly with brief summaries of important representing more than 450,000 members in more national or international news, articles,TV and than 100 countries. IFJ is opposed to discrimination radio programmes, sports events relevant to of all kinds and believes in freedom of political and Latest news SIU-purpose etc. cultural expression. See www.ifj.org As this magazine goes to print, the board of Danish Gymnastics and Sports Associati- You can join SIU by registering through: International Sport and Culture Association, with 85 ons has committed itself to donate 1.5 mil- www.play-the-game.org member organisations from five continents, lion DKK/200,000 Euro to the next confe- where you'll also find the actual members' list. promotes understanding across borders and views rence in late 2002.

Play the game 34 This has been the most important sports conference I have ever attended. It was highly impressive to see people like Dick Pound, Sandro Donati and Andrew Jennings all gathered together under one roof. I was thoroughly impressed John Hoberman, author and Professor of Germanic Studies, University of Texas

I was extremely grateful for this chance to take part in a very, very important conference full of relevant subject matter. It really opened my eyes to many problems in sport. At the same time, it was a chance to meet new friends from different countries across the world, and learn much. For this I thank you Sophia Kudjordji, Ghana News Agency

This conference was extremely useful. It was particularly enlightening to hear the views and experiences of sports journalists and administrators from across the world David Conn, journalist and author

I hope the world in general will take note of what has been said here. It was very interesting and very revealing. We are presented with very factual issues. The corruption that exists is frightening and shocking. To think that the people we entrust with running our associations can be so corrupt. I am glad that questions are being asked Carole Garoes, President of African Women in Sport

In my opinion, the conference has been a resounding success. The great value has been the fact that journalists from all continents have been able to share their expertise, creating a unique opportunity for co-operation between different continents and cultures. To sit down with journalists from Africa for example, has been highly enlightening. We know one half of the story - they know the other half Andrew Jennings, journalist and author

35 Play the game Contents

3- 4 LICENCE TO SPEAK 20 NOT FOR THE PUBLIC EYE A prominent doping fighter, Italy's Websites owned by big clubs could Sandro Donati, was almost banned threaten sport in public media, says from speaking BBC's Pete Clifton

5 NEXT STEP: GENE DOPING 21 ETHICS IN BUSINESS Genetic manipulation is an Sponsors work with ethical impending reality in sports standards - why don't sports organisations? That was the question risen by Carlsberg's 6 POWER STRUGGLE sponsor director WADA's president, Dick Pound, urged governments to support sport's anti-doping battle 22 MONEY IN - VALUES OUT English soccer culture has been shaken by commercialisation, and 8 THE MAN THEY LOVE TO HATE many other countries feel the heat of British reporter Andrew Jennings is a new professional sports structure gaining ground in the IOC he whips 24 UNEQUAL MATCH Play the game… again 10 CORRUPTION IN FIFA African football lovers read more German sports editors Kistner about Manchester United than and Weinreich hit hard on football's about their local teams. Why? November 2000, media professionals and sports establishment asks IOC director Fekrou Kidané In researchers from 52 countries gathered in Copenhagen to discuss issues of vital importance for modern sport. Doping, corruption, eating disorders, media globalisation, 12 WANTED: MORE REFORM 26 MASS SPORTS NOT MEDALS sport in development strategies, the quest for democratic Norway's IOC-member Gerhard Third World countries should focus reforms and freedom of expression… these were just a few Heiberg pleads for continued on people's sport, says economy of the topics covered during "Play the game", the second democratisation professor Wladimir Andreff world conference for media professionals in a globalised sports society. Some of the world's most prominent sports leaders 14 OPTIMISM UNDER PRESSURE 27 EASY EXPLOITATION faced their sharpest critics; young reporters faced their Two antidrug officers fought hard African track and field talents are journalistic idols; rich countries faced their poorer to make optimism prevail fair game for European money neighbours - and in these encounters, sports journalists makers, tells experts were given valuable inspiration to their future work.. In this magazine, we invite you to share the inspiration 15 DANGER ZONE created by "Play the game". Eating disorders are widespread 28 FAILING INTEGRATION If you want to know more,you'll find in-depth coverage of in elite sports, told expert Jorunn Elite sport doesn't serve racial the whole conference, including full-text version of most Sundgott-Borgen integration, says US professor papers given there, at John Hoberman 16 BINGO www.play-the-game.org Painter, poet, philosopher, tennis 29 ELITE LOSING GROUND player - at the age of 72, Torben Winning sport is becoming a Ulrich, is a true sports artist risky business for African leaders, Given the success of creating this new forum for debate concludes Terry Monnington, on sport, the arrangers are now preparing another confe- expert in African sports rence in November 2002. 17 MONEY AT RISK At our homepage, you can register for constant updates, Governments might withdraw meaning you too can be a part of this exciting development their support to sport, warned the 30 THE MANY WE'S IN SPORT in sport. In other words: Danish Minister of Culture The troll, the golem and the joker: We would like to invite you to Play the game again. Key figures in sport according to Dr. Phil Henning Eichberg 18 THE BIDDING GAME The bonanza of televised sport poses a threat to democracy, said 32 THE PRICE OF PROTEST two of three media experts Canada's Gilles Néron paid a high price for his fight for fair play