Don't lose faith in sport or the Olympics

By Scott Russell

This Russian doping thing is brutal.

Professor Richard McLaren's findings are so sickeningly damning.

Confirmed evidence of widespread, state-sponsored cheating in Russian sport, swapped urine samples, mouse-holes in lab walls, and a state secret service aiding the success of something called "the disappearing positive methodology." 

All in an effort to win medals, races, and matches. 

The bad guys have clearly run amok.

But there's an even more disheartening narrative to all of this. Legions who matter, namely the fans, are outwardly questioning their belief in the value of sport and the Olympic Games.

On CBC Toronto's Metro Morning, which is the number one radio program in Canada's largest community, the host, Matt Galloway interviewed McLaren at great length about the results of his investigations. McLaren was outwardly astounded, not to mention alarmed, at what he'd been able to bring to light.

'Are you losing faith?'

At the end of the interview Galloway asked the most pointed question:

"Do you find your faith in sport and what you see performed in front of you, do you find that faith questioned or rattled?"

"I do," McLaren responded without hesitation.

This is both sad and telling.

McLaren has been around sport a long time.  He's made it his business to help ensure it's played by the rules.  It's clear he's feeling more than slightly defeated.

But in conceding this, one would hope more people like McLaren don't lose faith in sport and the concept of the Olympic Games altogether. 

That's because sport and the Games are essentially worthwhile pursuits.

They represent achievement, fortitude, a competitive spirit, universality, teamwork, effort, physical well-being, potential, global understanding and countless other valuable traits which make humanity unquestionably better.

Sport and the Olympics are meant to be about honest competition between rivals of similar abilities at the height of their powers on a level playing field.  Someone wins and someone loses but it only really matters if it unfolds under the umbrella of fairness.   

Conspired to ruin

What might be shaken by McLaren's findings is our collective faith in human nature.  To understand that corrupt individuals and groups have conspired to ruin what is undeniably good and honourable is sobering to say the least.

Sport is no different from business, religion or politics in this sense.  Enterprise, faith and government are important and laudable things, pillars of survival and fulfillment.  But as it is with sport, there will always be those fanatics who persecute others, cut corners and live outside the law in order to assume more power and further personal gain.

Cheaters are everywhere.

The motivation behind sport, at least in the eyes of some, is all out of whack.  More medals mean more money, both for individuals and governing bodies.  And in the case of Russia, a win-at-all-cost mentality has developed out of a misguided sense of patriotic fervour. 

It's becoming all about national pride, finishing at the top of the table, and the propaganda machine that drives the myth of supremacy.

These stakes are altogether too high.

Sinister vision

Increasingly more countries are subscribing to a sinister vision of the Olympics.  They strive to pay for medals, to "own the podium," and to use various means to ensure this happens including, as the McLaren report shows, a systematic approach to cheating. 

Not because they value sport, but because they value winning above all else.

If people end up losing faith in sport, then that's the real crime.  In its purest form it might even be argued that sport is sacred and well worth fighting to protect.

But that means drawing a line in the sand and attempting to restore what faith remains.

It means punishing the cheaters and hitting them where it hurts.

It means telling them loudly and clearly they're no longer welcome to play.