Why governments get involved in sports

Several weeks ago, obviously in response to my series on unsolicited advice for President-elect Benigno Aquino III on his Administration’s sports program, Rafael (Paeng) Hechanova, co-captain of the Philippine basketball team to the 1952 Helsinki Olympics and chairman of the Philippine Olympians Association, sent emailed me his thoughts on the current sports situation.

In his email, Hechanova says “(I agree) with your (my) suggestions of a development program for sports. He said that “he had previously suggested to Congress certain amendments to the law creating the Philippine Sports Commission but with no success”. Hechanova ends his email by stating that “the oft repeated claim that governments shall not interfere in sports is an old adage which no longer exists as evidenced by China and some Eastern European countries which even have department of sports (under a Cabinet member)”.

Hechanova is correct. Governments do get involved and, interfere, when needed. The power to intervene in any governance matter shall never be relinquished by any sane government. To do so, is to limit its flexibility and may even be considered committing institutional hara-kiri).

In past columns and speeches, I mentioned sport has gone beyond just being a game. The Philippines is probably one of the few countries in the world not to realize that sport goes beyond organizing games and declaring the winners.

To begin with, sport has become an instrument of diplomacy. The general introduction to the book, “Not Just a Game” states that modern states – capitalist and socialist – are also influential agents in the area of sport. Major international events have become episodes of cold war propaganda for each of the great political blocs, and at the same time symbolize the North’s domination of the South.” 

Hosting Olympic-style games, whether it be the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games or the Asian Games or the Olympics itself or the World Cup of football (featuring 32 of the world’s finest football players), is a political statement worth billions of dollars of public relations and prestige. If a nation wants to be taken seriously and be characterized as a world power or a nation that has “arrived”, hosting the Olympics or anything like it is the most strategic way of doing it. Given the magnitude of such competitions, government has to get involved, and if they don’t, it would be at the (great) risk of the organizers and sponsors.

Perhaps an example will be very instructive. With terrorism is a major threat anywhere especially in international public gatherings, government’s involvement is essential. Governments exchange information and it is only through official government channels that such sensitive information is exchanged, assessed and evaluated prior to taking joint action. 

In addition, the structure of sports, as stated in “Not Just a Game”, encompasses more than might be imagined. For example, it includes physical education in the schools, which is not always the same thing as sports education’ physical fitness clubs....and all the activities related to sports which are engaged in by the middle class.”

The above statement applies very well in our case if we are to accept the premise that producing a solid and consistent sports development program that will support our drive for Olympic gold medals will need the participation of the DepEd and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). The DepEd would be needed for the simple reason that the foundation of a mass-based sports program starts with school or youth sports through physical education (PE). 

Once the youth start expressing interest in a life-long commitment to sport, wellness and physical activity as a result of well-thought and implemented PE program, the communities, through the DILG take over in ensuring that such a commitment is carried over into adulthood.

No way therefore that government cannot get involved since there is a need for a holistic approach that involves all stakeholders. What the private sector can do to minimize so-called government interference is to become totally immersed in the intervention so that it can perform the role the government is supposed to play. This is the reason why we have Non- Government Organizations (NGOs) which do the work that government does not want or cannot do for either lack of expertise, resources or even interest. At worst therefore, one can consider government part of the problem and part of the solution.

The involvement of government in international elite sport is in fact desired and even mandated by organizers. A recent example is the cutting of a ribbon on May 22, by South African President Jacob Zuma in Johannesburg to officially open the 94,000-seat, US$ 300 million Soccer City, venue of the opening and finals of the World Cup and Africa’s biggest stadium. More on the World Cup next week.