SIGA SPORT INTEGRITY WEEK

Fair opportunity in sports for all athletes

As part of SIGA Sport Integrity Week we take a look at the need for fairness and transparency in athlete selection across the sporting world.

Update: Sep 6th, 2023 07:34 EDT

In this video a panel, moderated by AS journalist Reem Abdalazem, herself a two-time Olympian in artistic swimming for Egypt, tackles the question of transparency and fairness in athlete selection, with Nour Shamala, U.S. collegiate student athlete and artistic medallist in artistic swimming and former member of the Egyptian national team and Ben Gollings, current head coach of Fiji Mens 7s.

Gollings emphasised the significance of integrity in shaping a healthy sports culture, stressing that it underpins a coach’s or sports organisations’s presence, power, and respect. He noted that fair opportunity not only fosters team success but also prepares individuals for life’s challenges, teaching them about objectives, dreams, and persistence.

Shamala shared her experiences in the US and Egypt, highlighting how the US provides equal opportunities for athletes to find their place on a team, while Egypt currently lacks such pathways, specifically in her sport. She discussed the cultural differences and the challenges she faces in pursuing her Olympic Dream due to limited tryout opportunities in Egypt.

Coaching challenges in diverse cultures

Gollings went on to discuss coaching challenges in diverse cultures, emphasising the importance of maintaining one’s coaching principles and ensuring every athlete receives a fair opportunity, no matter the circumstances. He recognized the lasting mental impact on athletes when they face unfair circumstances, drawing from his own experiences.

Both Gollings and Shamala also touched on topics like the relative age effect and the need to evaluate athletes based on their capabilities, not just years of experience. Abdalazem contributed insights as an international coach.

To conclude, Abdalazem asked both speakers for initiatives to advocate for fair opportunity and transparency. Gollings stressed the importance of education at all age levels to pave the way for team success. Shamala reiterated the role of integrity and transparency as pillars that build trust, cohesion, and growth within a team, maximizing each member’s potential.

Sport Integrity Week

AS is proudly hosting SIGA Sport Integrity Week this morning, Wednesday 6 September. Over the week SIGA, the world’s leading organisation for sport integrity, is advancing the integrity agenda with a thought-leadership event taking place across the entire planet.