What local sport, national sport organisations, the TTOC, local sportsmen and women—young, old, abled and disabled need are genuine friends who are free from, hypocrisy, pretense or corruption? Not high handed or irrational friends either.
Local sport cannot, must not, lose its bottle in the quest for legitimacy and relevance. Bottle is used here to mean courage for those of you not familiar with the use of the word in a sport context. Sport administrators must not lose their bottle, never be afraid to ask and always be prepared to answer. Don’t be like those who are happy to ask questions and never prepared to answer a question. Have no regrets because if you don’t try, you have no chance in succeeding; but there is no way you can get it right every time. Don’t lose your bottle or lack bottle under pressure. There are those who will say “let the dead bury the dead” in an effort to be a law unto oneself. The dice may appear loaded against those who adhere to values and principles such as fair play, honesty, tolerance and excellence.
In such a sea of lip service, sport is merely collateral damage. Those who live off the fat of the land must be avoided like the plague. Sport can be a catalyst for social and economic change but this can only happen if there is sincerity of purpose; not merely window dressing or a photo opportunity. Let’s not lose our bottle and be seduced by short term gain in the process sacrificing the welfare and opportunity for the future generations. Let’s not lose our bottle and run and cower when confronted by those who will malign and spread vicious gossip and untruths. If it is wrong, say it is wrong. Even if we win ten gold medals at the London 2012 Olympic Games and during that period 20 of our sons and daughters die by the bullet what have we won?
Sport mirrors life and life mirrors sport. Olympic success is only window dressing if all else is failing. Leadership ought to have one primary outcome—to look after the welfare of the group.
It’s about having a duty of care for people. Leaders must show they care, and that they care about helping people in every aspect of their life. In sport it can mean helping young men and women, youths and children to be the best they possibly can, but as important is helping them be the best person they possibly can even if it means offering them second, third, and fourth chances. There can be no Olympics without Olympism, Olympic values and spirit. If we sold our soul for fame and glory is it not fool’s gold? All may not be lost but there is a sense that time is running out for this generation and possibly the next. If leaders paid close attention they would discover the majority of young people are ambitious, like to learn and like to communicate. They want to learn, to be educated and to improve. Those in charge ought to have a sense and appreciation that they have a duty of care. It is about people. Treat them as human beings. What are we doing to the young people of this nation? What values, lessons in integrity and principles are we teaching them? How can there be integrity in sport if we conduct our everyday lives without integrity and ethics? Some of you only want the medals without making a positive difference. Interested in ethics in sport, Olympism, sport management, governance, sport marketing, financial management, strategic planning and leadership?
Source: www.guardian.co.tt