Parents of swimmers on the national synchronize swimming team say they have been regularly paying cash to officials in the Korea Swimming Federation. They have either been giving them money in the name of expenses ahead of international competitions and out-of-town training sessions, or have had federation officials demand the payments directly. The allegations are even more shocking for coming at a time when Korean water ballet is suffering from unprincipled team member selection, harsh training, and the use of abusive language. It was only a few days ago when referees at the preliminary match of the president's high school baseball competition came forward with a "declaration of conscience" to say that high-level officials within the baseball association had ordered the results of the competition manipulated. When a victory is manipulated there are bribes involved, and in that case there were bribes given by athletes parents.
The news shows you that the sports world continues to have irregularities no less serious than in other areas of society for the same worship of victory. It means there is a serious lack of ethical sensitivity. Buying victory with money is something that belongs to back alleys and shady places rampant with con artists, imposters, and gangsters.
Sports has game rules. The beauty and purity of sports is to be found in fair play based on observance of the rules, unpredictability, and the competitive measurement of hard work. That is why people hope to see it remain clean when maybe the rest of society is largely stained by impurity. The fact that the sports community is stained with bribery and manipulation is not unrelated to the fact that athletes receive privileges such as exemption from military service, lifelong pensions, and advantages in university entrance. In other words, irregularities are occurring in what is a structure that puts priority on elitist sports. Baseball and synchronized swimming, a medal event at international competitions, both involve university entrance. Short track skaters selected for the national team are given exemptions from military conscription and receive lifelong pensions. That is why athletes and parents turn their attention to things not directly involved in the competition instead of focusing on genuine ability.
The sports community needs to rid itself of this bad habit. There needs to be new leadership that is in step with the times. The Korea Olympic Committee and its member organizations need to prevent organization management from dominance by leaders sharing personal connections. It needs to establish a system that guarantees fair judgments and it needs to set the climate and culture there straight so as to correct the prevalence of bribes.
The Hankyoreh, 14 April 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
[Editorial] Dark Deals Continue in Sports World |
