Are We Too Harsh on Sportspeople?

Do we need to lay off?

If we've learnt anything from Cricket Australia's recent "sandpaper scandal", it's that we sometimes hold sportspeople to a standard higher than we hold some politicians. Should our international sporting ambassadors and role models be scrutinised over their conduct (on and off the field)? Or, do we need to lay off these (usually young) players? We asked our members. Here’s one great response.

Australia takes immense pride in our sporting ability and our sportsmanship, and thus, we take immense pride in our sportspeople.

These people represent our nation, becoming our representatives and our role models.

Unlike our politicians, however, our sportspeople are wholly trusted and wholly loved. Therefore, a betrayal of our trust by sportspeople results in overwhelming criticism of their behaviour, and extreme repercussions.

But is this fair?

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I believe that as soon as you make the choice to pursue a career as a professional sportsperson, you make the choice to become the focus of the public eye. You have chosen to place yourself under public scrutiny, and thus have chosen to bear the responsibility that accompanies it. It is only fair to be held to the standards of the nation you have chosen to represent.

Cheating, discrimination and violence are not tolerated in Australian workplaces. Arriving at your office for the day and attempting to hinder somebody else's work to improve your own is unacceptable. If discovered, you would be at least warned, though most likely you would be fired. It is for this reason sportspeople who don't abide by the rules of professional conduct must be reprimanded. Why hold them to a different standard, when the only difference is their field of work?

If anything, their public image should create stricter boundaries and penalties on what is and what is not appropriate conduct. Furthermore, these sportspeople are role models. More specifically they are role models for the children of Australia. In an era of childhood obesity and social media, sport is more important than ever, providing physical exercise and social interactions to kids who might otherwise be lying on their beds staring at their phones. And for children, the thing that helps most in promoting a sport is finding someone they can look up to. A good role model will lead by example, helping kids to chase their dreams. A bad role model can do the exact opposite.

A cheating scandal can destroy the child's trust of the sportsperson, making them in turn question their love of the sport or their dream.

I do believe sportspeople who display blatantly inappropriate behaviour should be penalised, in the same way that anyone who displays that behaviour would be.

However, I would like to finish by saying that, like anyone, sportspeople should be given another chance. Mistakes are made, and once atoned for, those who make them should be allowed to try again, else they will never learn and only become bitter.

Congratulations to Taylor for winning this week's writing challenge: Are We Too Harsh on Sportspeople? Taylor wins a $50 Westfield gift card for her submission. For your chance to win, check out our latest writing challenges in our Competitions section. Also, be sure to follow this guide on how to win the writing challenge.

Photo: iStock.com/suman bhaumik