Why shouldn't governments control sports?

by Keith Noel

We nearly all agree that governments should not have direct control of sports in a country and should not be able to have a controlling influence on the picking of teams to represent that country.

But is this as it should be? Does the idea underpinning it really bear up to objective scrutiny?

The impasse between the government of Guyana and its cricket board raises this question. Even those persons who defend the government's position say once the constitutional problems have been sorted out, the government should step aside. Cricket fans who agree that CARICOM political leaders should step into the chaos that is West Indies cricket administration say this is because the problems cannot be otherwise resolved.

Why is it so widely agreed that the officials we elect to run our countries should have no say in deciding who represents us? Why do we all think that organisations that emerged over a period of time, some in a most ad hoc manner, should be entrusted with decisions that affect us so deeply?

When a team represents a country at the Olympics or the World Cup, or any other international competition, it sometimes carries the hopes and aspirations of that nation. And I do not say this glibly.

Stories abound about the impact of sporting success on nations. Football gave Argentina a pride that took it through the dark years of political oppression and the Falklands War. It put the samba back into the Brazilian stride during the bleakest years of its history. It impacted the history of post-war Italy. And the police still claim that the most crime-free night in Jamaica's recent history was the night after our qualification to football's World Cup Finals.

Boost in national psyche

The performance of our sportsmen and women has, in the past, done wonders for our national psyche. I have spoken in the past of the impact of Bert Cameron's relay run when Jamaica was under post- Hurricane Gilbert distress. And we all remember when Beijing came to Half-Way Tree!

We should also read C.L.R. James on cricket! I remember my father speaking to me of the impact on Caribbean people in Britain sparked by the first victory of the West Indies cricket team over England at Lord's. He said they were all walking on air for weeks!

International sport is a socio-political activity. So why is it that we all agree that our political leaders should stay away from it?

This thinking has its origins in the early years of the modern Olympic Games. It belongs to the group of ideas which were valorised in that era. The 'true' sportsman was an amateur, a gentleman, who performed not for money or fame but for the love of the game, for the spirit of competition.

In those days, to have a professional coach was considered cheating, and to beat your chest when winning a race was unthinkable. Remember Jacques Rogge's comments about Bolt?

In times past, sport was organised by these gentleman players in clubs and associations, which made rules and organised competitions. But then the world began to recognise the importance of international sport and the countries in the communist bloc were using sports to build their image.

Laughable notion

The organisation of the Olympics was in the hands of the Western countries and they did their best to stymie the communists by enforcing rules that insisted that sporting associations in each country be 'free' of government control. The Eastern bloc, however, did whatever it thought best.

Today, we still act as if national associations, however badly run, are intrinsically superior to governments.

It is really laughable that we should assume that these international groups would serve the interests of sport best. Corrupt as many governments are, is there any that is as bad as FIFA?

Remember how those in charge of international cricket constantly changed rules because of the prowess of West Indians from Ramadhin to Hall to Holding?

Remember when athletes were banned from an Olympic village because, on the podium, they made a gesture that resonated with all black people?

It is time for the sporting world to rethink this idea.

Keith Noel is an educator. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.