The recent ball-tampering scandal that has rocked cricket throughout the world wasn’t just about winning at all costs – if it was, the suspensions handed down to the players would’ve been dramatically shorter.
Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were deceitful in their actions when they represented possibly this great nation’s biggest team. Some say being the captain of the Australian cricket team is the second most important job in the country just behind holding down the title of Prime Minister, and some would even argue captaining our nation is far more important.
The three players involved knowingly sat together and hatched a plan to gain an unfair advantage over an opponent who was negligibly better but not unbeatable. The mindset of the players was bred from the current culture in the Australian dressing room to win at all costs, no matter how blurred the lines become to achieve that outcome.
This latest dark chapter in cricket raises more questions than it does answers and we may never know the truth, but this winning at all costs mentality is a cancer, not just in cricket but in sport throughout the world.
We have seen Lance Armstrong systematically cheat the system to ‘win’ the Tour de France seven consecutive times, we witnessed Ben Johnson run a 9.79 in the 100m at the Seoul Olympics and closer to home we saw the demise of the Essendon Football Club with the supplements saga.
Winning at all costs isn’t a new trend by any stretch of the imagination, but we do need a reminder of the benefits of participation every now and again.
This is where the Commonwealth Games comes into the equation.
You will be forgiven for not knowing the opening ceremony took place last night, particularly if you are a Channel Nine viewer or caught in the abyss that is reality television. The popularity of the event has dwindled over time and with every sport trying to saturate its corner of the market you would argue a very valid point of you stated the Commonwealth Games are no longer relevant.
I will argue the other point, that sport in Australia needs a Commonwealth Games at this very point in time. 71 countries will compete in 19 events over the course of 11 days. Sure, the winners will receive nice shiny medals, but there will be a heavy emphasis on participation.
“Share the Dream” will be the motto promoted throughout the games and for many of those competing that will be enough for them. Yes, winning is great, but we need a reminder every now and again about the joys of sport through participation and the Commonwealth Games will provide that for all those who bother to tune in or attend.
(AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
In 2006 I was lucky enough to attend multiple events at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games and the buzz was infectious. One moment that will live on forever with me was the men’s 5000m. Australian Craig Mottram was one of the favourites for the event and the atmosphere surrounding the cauldron of the Melbourne Cricket Ground will live on forever for those who were present.
The crowd lifted Mottram as much as they could but ultimately, he came in second behind the Kenyan Augustine Choge with fellow Kenyans filling third and fourth. For almost thirteen minutes the crowd rose as one celebrating the incredible talents of these athletes. The event would also provide a springboard for the athlete who finished ninth that night, one Mo Farah.
Over the next ten days, enjoy the expected Aussie gold rush but take in all the athletes competing at the games and remember the power of participation. Australia needs this timely reminder about how you don’t have to win every time you step up to the plate.
It may be nice, but don’t let that cloud the bigger picture.
If the Commonwealth Games isn’t your thing, check out Matt Parziale walk around Augusta for at least the first two rounds if that can’t help you get back to following the dramas of Dean and Davina, or whoever they are.
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