The Olympics. The most prestigious, watched, anticipated sporting event in the world, consisting of over 10,500 athletes from 204 countries, competing in 26 different sports across an action packed 16 days of competition.
Coming only once every four years, it represents the culmination of a lifetime’s hard work and dedication for the athletes, all for one race, match or contest in whatever sport it may be.
Representing your country at the Olympic Games is universally known as the ultimate honour in sport; an honour that cannot be gained in any other sporting event on the planet.
Yet, in the last few days the world has witnessed a complete disregard of these important ideals, facts and Olympic values. It was in the racquet sport of Badminton, when a remarkable eight players in the women’s doubles event from China, South Korea and Singapore were caught tanking their matches, when it was obvious to even blind Freddy that they were doing so.
The tanked matches occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday with one match in particular sparking major uproar from fans, players and officials alike. The match was between the Chinese number one seeds and world champions, Wang Xiali and Yu Yang up against South Korean pair Jung and Kim.
To anyone watching the match it was pristine clear that both pairs were attempting to lose, with all four players hitting an irregular amount of shots long, wide and into the net. The players simply didn’t go after the shuttlecock, as is evidenced by the fact that the longest rally of the match consisted of a meagre four shots.
Another match between Indonesian and South Korean duos was also clearly manipulated, with the disgusted sell-out crowd booing all eight players off in their respective matches.
Within hours all 8 players were subsequently disqualified from the tournament and sent packing from London, with the tanking believed to be an attempt to manoeuvre the group standings so the respective players would have easier matches in the next round.
However that is no excuse, it is in fact appalling. The Olympics is the pinnacle of sport, and it is of the outmost disrespect to the Olympic values and traditions if all athletes do not try their hardest under all circumstances.
One might say that these tactics aren’t tanking as the athletes were simply attempting to secure for themselves an easier match in the second round. But I say that is a load of rubbish.
We are all taught at such a young age to do our best, and to not do that at Olympic level is mind boggling. I struggle to comprehend it.
These athletes have dedicated their lives to glory at the Olympics, yet have thrown it all away in the space of just a few minutes. Even if they have to play a tougher opponent next round if they won the match, what about that winning feeling they would’ve carried through?
Or the underlying feeling of success at Olympic level?
What about the values that we all taught at such a young age, and that what you they are doing is completely against what the Olympics is truly about?
That’s why athletes who tank should be given at least three year bans, with a minimum four year ban handed out to athletes who tank during Olympic competition.
The Olympic chief Sebastian Coe described the events as “unacceptable” and he is dead set right. Tanking must be stamped out of sport, or else participation in sports, as well as attendances and TV audiences of all sports, will take a massive plunge.
So I say to the IOC, make a statement now, or you will certainly regret not doing so in years to come.
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