FORUM: It's Not The Code That Counts But Its Implementation
In Part 2 of our series looking at what's retarding swimming's growth, we consider the governance fortress and the flags of "Integrity" and "transparency" flying for all outside the walls to see and observe, while those on the inside appear to apply different standards to themselves
THEMA: TRUST
Integrity: the buzz word of choice for self-styled reformists the length of breadth of Olympic sport. There's a catch. It's just a word, void of the action required to honour its meaning.
This month saw a sports politician accept an award on behalf of the continental swimming federation he leads from an organisation on whose ruling council the same man sits.
In Part 1 of our latest Forum series, looking at some of the key barriers to the evolution of swimming, we considered Contracts:
Craig Lord
Now, in part 2, we question what often still feels like a governance fortress adorned with an 'Athletes First' banner and a flag of "INTEGRITY" flying for all outside the walls to see as a reminder of the code they must honour, while those inside the walls appear to be held to a different standard of behaviour and performance.
Our series explores such questions as:
- what holds the sport back from adopting professional standards and genuinely independent oversight of the top tables of governance?
- what are the positives in taking that route, and what are the drawbacks of following 'pro' models that work for other sports but swimming is, and would be, wise to avoid?
- in the wake of such crisis points as the China-23-go-free controversy; the challenge to competitive sport adhering to anti-doping codes brought by the Enhanced Games' legal threat, and the consequent challenge that poses to integrity units and codes associated with clean-sport rules, where do governors have to work harder to regain trust lost among athletes who assume they are being held to a higher standards of accountability to come opponents and some of the guardians and governors who set rules, write codes but sometimes struggle to enforce them.
- Contracts ...
