The Youth Olympic Games – Some Ethical Issues

Abstract

This paper presents some of the background to the development of the Youth Olympic Games, the principles underlying them, and some of the practical challenges in implementing them. Regarding the sports programme, modifications from the Olympic Games programme are noted, and innovations examined in terms of underlying values, such as immaturity and harm, talent identification and early specialisation, and the exploitation of young athletes. Issues arising from the first edition of the YOG include participation and equality of opportunity, selection of sports and nations for the programme, age and fairness, age falsification and cheating, victory and defeat, participation and excellence, and political discrimination, peace and international understanding. The paper concludes that, although many of the above issues present already-existing challenges for the Olympic movement, albeit in a novel form, there were also some novel issues thrown up by a ‘youth’ edition of the Olympic Games, and many of the ethical and other value questions raised have much wider applications and consequences. It is to be hoped that ethical issues arising out of the YOG will provide a fresh impetus towards discussions as to the nature and promotion of ethical sport.

Resumen

Este artículo presenta parte del telón de fondo de la evolución de los juegos de la olimpiada de la juventud, sus principios subyacentes, y algunos de los desafíos prácticos a la hora de implementarlos. En cuanto al programa deportivo, se resaltan las modificaciones realizadas al programa de los juegos olímpicos, se examinan las innovaciones en cuanto a los valores subyacentes, tales como la inmadurez o el daño/lesión, la búsqueda del talento y la especialización prematura, y la explotación de los jóvenes atletas. Problemas que surgen de la primera edición de los JOJ [ YOG, siglas en inglés] incluyen la participación y la igualdad de oportunidad, la selección de deportes y naciones para el programa, la edad y la imparcialidad, la falsificación y la trampa, la victoria y la derrota, el participar y la excelencia, y la discriminación política, la paz y el entendimiento internacional. El artículo concluye con que, aunque muchos de los temas mencionados anteriormente presentan desafíos ya existentes en el movimiento olímpico, pero con matices diferentes, también hay algunos temas nuevos que han salido a relucir a raíz de una edición „de la juventud” de los juegos olímpicos, y que muchas de las cuestiones éticas y otras cuestiones de valor que surgen tienen aplicaciones y consecuencias mucho más amplias. Es de esperar que los asuntos éticos que se presentan a partir de los JOJ proporcionaran un nuevo ímpetu a las discusiones sobre la naturaleza y la promoción del deporte ético.

Zusammenfassung

Dieser Beitrag stellt einige Hintergründe zur Entwicklung der Youth Olympic Games (YOG), die ihnen zugrunde liegenden Prinzipien sowie einige der praktischen Herausforderungen bei deren Umsetzung vor. Im Hinblick auf das Sportprogramm sind Modifikationen des Programms im Vergleich zu den der Olympischen Spiele zu vermerken. Weiterhin wurden Innovationen in Bezug auf die zugrunde liegenden Werte, wie Unreife und Schaden, Talentsichtung und frühe Spezialisierung, sowie die Ausbeutung junger Sportler untersucht. Zu den Problemen, die sich aus der ersten Auflage der YOG ergeben, gehören Partizipation und Chancengleichheit, Auswahl an Sportarten und Nationen für das Programm, das Alter und Fairness, Altersfälschung und Betrug, Sieg und Niederlage, Partizipation und Exzellenz und politische Diskriminierung, Frieden und Völkerverständigung. Der Beitrag kommt zu dem Schluss, dass, obwohl viele der oben genannten Probleme bereits Herausforderungen für die olympische Bewegung darstellen – wenn auch in einer neuen Form –, es auch einige neue Probleme durch eine „Jugend“-Auflage der Olympischen Spiele geben wird, und viele der ethischen und anderen gehaltvollen Fragen, die zudem aufgeworfen werden, haben viel weitreichendere Anwendungsbereiche und Auswirkungen. Es ist zu hoffen, dass ethische Fragen, die die YOG mit sich bringen, frischen Schwung in die Diskussionen über die Natur und die Förderung des ethischen Sports bringen werden.

Résumé

Cet article présente des éléments de contexte sur le développement des Jeux olympiques de la Jeunesse, les principes qui sont à leur base et certains des défis pratiques posés par leur mise en œuvre. En ce qui concerne le programme sportif, les modifications du programme des Jeux Olympiques sont rapportées et des innovations examinées en termes de valeurs sous-jacentes, comme l'immaturité et le mal, l'identification des talents précoces et les premières spécialisations et l'exploitation des jeunes athlètes. Les questions résultant de la première édition des JOJ incluent la participation et l'égalité des chances, la sélection des sports et des nations pour le programme, l'âge et la justice, les tromperies sur l'âge et la tricherie, la victoire et la défaite, la participation et l'excellence et la discrimination politique, la paix et la compréhension internationale. L'article conclut que, bien que beaucoup de ces questions constituent des défis déjà existant pour le mouvement Olympique, mais sous de nouvelles formulations, certaines nouvelles se posent pour l'édition ‘jeune' des Jeux Olympiques et beaucoup des questions soulevées sur l'éthique et autres aspects ont des implications et des conséquences beaucoup plus larges. Il doit être espéré que les questions éthiques provenant des JOJ fourniront une nouvelle impulsion aux discussions sur la nature et la promotion de l'éthique sportive.

KEYWORDS:

• youth
• Olympic Games
• Olympic values
• ethics
• ethical sport

Notes

Tom Degun, ‘Basketball stealing the show at Youth Olympics’, 16 Aug. 2010, available at http://insidethegames.biz/blogs/10314

Ed Hula, ‘New basketball event for YOG’, 8 Aug. 2010, available at http://aroundtherings.com/articles/view.aspx?id=35381; ‘Monaco's Prince Albert praises 3-on-3 basketball’, 19 Aug. 2010, available at http://www.singapore2010.sg/public/sg2010/en/en_news/en_stories/en_20100819_monacos_prince_albert_praises_3on3_basketball.html

Duncan Mackay, ‘Rio 2016 wants to stage 3-on-3 basketball on Copacabana Beach’, 23Aug. 2010, available at http://insidethegames.biz/summer-olympics/rio-2016/10361-exclusive-rio-2016-wants-to-stage-3-on-3-basketball-on-copacabana-beach-; ‘Rio 2016 president calls for sporting innovations at senior Olympics’, Sportsbeat, 18 Aug. 2010, available at http://www.morethanthegames.co.uk/youth-olympics-2010/1812157-rio-2016-president-calls-sporting-innovations-senior-olympics"; ‘Junior Womens Archery World Record Shattered In Singapore’, 19 Aug. 2010, available at http://www.singapore2010.sg/public/sg2010/en/en_news/en_stories/en_20100819_daily_wrap_junior_womens_archery_world_record_shattered_in_singapore.html

Jeff Ang, ‘World's First Moonlit Dive Impresses All’, 23 Aug. 2010, available at http://www.singapore2010.sg/public/sg2010/en/en_news/en_stories/en_20100823_worlds_first_moonlit_dive_impresses_all.html

Ibid.

‘Differences between the YOG and the OG, issued by FIG Media Operations‘, 3 Aug. 2010, available at http://www.sportcentric.com/vsite/vfile/page/fileurl/0,11040,5240-202655-219878-166493-0-file,00.pdf

‘Historic first horse draw in Olympics’, 15 Aug. 2010, available at http://www.singapore2010.sg/public/sg2010/en/en_news/en_stories/en_20100814_historic_first_horse_draw_in_olympics-.html

Lee Min Kok, ‘Laser pistols to be used at London 2012’, 23 Aug. 2010, available at http://www.singapore2010.sg/public/sg2010/en/en_news/en_stories/en_20100823_laser_pistols_to_be_used_at_london_2012.html

Ibid.

‘Sailing boss determined to learn from other sports’ innovations’, 24 Aug. 2010, available at http://www.singapore2010.sg/public/sg2010/en/en_news/en_stories/en_20100824_sailing_boss_determined_to_learn_from_other_sports_innovations.html

Leonard Lim, ‘China glitter in pool as crowd roars’, 16 Aug. 2010, available at http://www.singapore2010.sg/public/sg2010/en/en_news/en_stories/en_20100816_china_glitter_in_pool_as_crowd_roars.html

Tom Degun, ‘Bolarinwa and Tagoe win relay medals at Youth Olympics’, 10 Aug. 2010, available at http://www.insidethegames.biz/youth-olympics/singapore-2010/10366-bolarinwa-and-tagoe-win-relay-medals-at-youth-olympics

Kimiya Shokoohi, ‘Modern Pentathlon at the Youth Olympic Games makes history’, 8 Aug. 2010, available at http://www.olympic.org/en/content/YOG/YOG-news-face/YogNewsContainer/Modern-Pentathlon-at-the-Youth-Olympic-Games-makes-history/

‘Countries unite for mixed NOC fencing event’, 19 Aug. 2010, available at http://www.olympic.org/en/content/YOG/YOG-news-face/YogNewsContainer/Countries-unite-for-mixed-NOC-fencing-event/

Lin Xinyi, ‘Best partnership: Gu Yuting and Adem Hman’, 10 Aug. 2010, available at http://www.singapore2010.sg/public/sg2010/en/en_news/en_stories/en_20100825_Best_partnership_Gu_Yuting_and_Adem_Hman.html

‘Jacques Rogge praises triathlon relay’, 19 Aug. 2010, available at http://www.singapore2010.sg/public/sg2010/en/en_news/en_stories/en_20100819_jacques_rogge_praises_triathlon_relay.html; ‘Triathlon hope mixed relay has taken first step on road to Rio 2016’, 19 Aug. 2010, available at http://insidethegames.biz/youth-olympics/singapore-2010/10339-triathlon-hope-mixed-relay-has-taken-first-step-on-road-to-rio-2016

Fabius Chen, ‘Singapore archer Dayyan wins mixed team bronze’, 19 Aug. 2010, available at http://www.singapore2010.sg/public/sg2010/en/en_news/en_stories/en_20100819_spore_archer_dayyan_wins_mixed_team_bronze.html

‘Triathlon hope mixed relay has taken first step on road to Rio 2016’, 19 Aug. 2010, available at http://insidethegames.biz/youth-olympics/singapore-2010/10339-triathlon-hope-mixed-relay-has-taken-first-step-on-road-to-rio-2016

Xinhua, ‘Europe win fencing mixed team title at YOG’, 18 Aug. 2010, available at http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90779/90867/7108889.html; Fabius Chen, ‘Work together for Australasia’, 18 Aug. 2010, available at http://www.singapore2010.sg/public/sg2010/en/en_news/en_stories/en_20100818_work_together_for_australasia.html

Xinhua, ‘Europe win fencing mixed team title’.

‘Chinese confident over age checks for gymnasts’, BBC Online, 29 July 2010, available at http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/gymnastics/8866162.stm

‘Countries unite for mixed NOC fencing event’; Xinhua, ‘Europe win fencing mixed team title’.

‘China FINALLY loses 2000 bronze medal’.

‘Chinese confident over age checks for gymnasts’.

Ibid.

Dwight Normile, ‘Regarding the Youth Olympics’, International Gymnast Magazine, 2 July 2010, available at http://www.intlgymnast.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1691:usa-gymnastics-official-statement&catid=2:news&Itemid=53

Duncan Mackay, ‘Bolivian Youth Olympic gold medallists were over-aged, it is claimed’, 12 Sept. 2010, available at http://insidethegames.biz/youth-olympics/innsbruck2012/10500-bolivian-youth-olympic-gold-medallists-were-over-aged-it-is-claimed

Ibid.

Les Tan, ‘Youth Olympic football: Were some of the Bolivians overaged?’ Red Sports, 7 Sept. 2010, available at http://redsports.sg/2010/09/07/youth-olympic-football-bolivia/

Mackay, ‘Bolivian Youth Olympic gold medallists’.

Tan, ‘Youth Olympic football’.

Joseph Blatter, ‘Bringing youth together. Boys’ Youth Olympic Football Tournament Singapore 2010’, FIFA.com, 11 Aug. 2010, available at http://www.fifa.com/mensyoutholympic/news/newsid=1283578.html

Ibid.

‘Youth Olympic Games are about far more than just medals’, 24 Aug 2010, available at http://www.olympic.org/olympic-games?articlenewsgroup=-1&articleid=95904

Jacquelin Magnay, ‘Youth Olympic Games 2010: Iranian fighter pulled out of Israeli clash’, Daily Telegraph, 15 Aug. 2010, available at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/taekwondo/7946792/Youth-Olympic-Games-2010-Iranian-fighter-pulled-out-of-Israeli-clash.html

Jacquelin Magnay, ‘Political row overshadows Youth Olympic Games in Singapore’, Daily Telegraph, 16 Aug. 2010, available at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/7947737/Political-row-overshadows-Youth-Olympic-Games-in-Singapore.html

Tom Reynolds, ‘Israeli team claim Iranian withdrawal was politically motivated’, 16 Aug. 2010, available at http://www.morethanthegames.co.uk/youth-olympics-2010/1612111-yog-2010-israeli-team-claim-iranian-withdrawal-was-politically-motivated

Magnay, ‘Political row overshadows Youth Olympic Games’; James Toney, ‘Sad Soleimani the only loser and Rogge must act’, Sports Beat, 16 Aug. 2010, available at http://www.morethanthegames.co.uk/youth-olympics-2010/1612125-sad-soleimani-only-loser-and-rogge-must-act