The document discusses threats to true sporting spirit in modern sports. It notes that the pursuit of victory at any cost has undermined the ethical code that makes sports meaningful. One threat is the use of technology like TV replays to challenge officials, which some argue has compromised the spirit of cricket and tennis by purposefully delaying matches or interrupting opponents. Modern sports are also highly funded, so players are willing to overlook sporting spirit for financial rewards, seen in behaviors like diving in soccer to deceive referees or trying to get opponents sent off for tactical advantages. Overall, the document argues the desire to win at all costs has challenged the basis of worthwhile competition in sports.

1. The rest of the A2 General Studies course (both Section B of the first paper and both
sections of the second A2 paper) involves bringing together the cultural, social and
scientific domains that make up the AS course.
These are 50-mark essays which you will have 45 minutes to answer.
Task: Decide whether the news stories that you have been given are cultural, social or
scientific in nature; there may be some crossover.

2. What is meant by true sporting spirit?
 playing to the rules
 respect for opponents
 no cheating
 responsible role models
 compete but have fun
 actions to foster good relationships

3. ‘couch potato’ lifestyle
performance-enhancing drugs
lack of government investment
influence of the media
teams as businesses/commercial ventures
negative sub-cultures of the supporters
violence before/after events
other forms of medical assistance
Task: Decide if the following come under cultural, social or scientific and write them in your
table accordingly. Once you have done this try to come up with some of your own ideas.

4. Threats to survival include:
Social Cultural Scientific
teams as
businesses/commercial
ventures
lack of government
investment
violence before/after events
influence of
money/sponsorship
agents and fees
negative sub-cultures of the
supporters
‘couch potato’ lifestyle
influence of the media
international betting and
match-fixing
‘win at all costs’ culture
performance-enhancing
drugs
other forms of medical
assistance
equipment & technology
TV replays to challenge
umpires

5. In recent years many have suggested that true sporting spirit has come under threat, as
the pursuit of victory at any cost has started to undermine the ethical code that makes
sporting participation meaningful.
One notable threat to sporting spirit is the development of technology, specifically the
capacity for players to question umpires and officials via TV replays. This is now
embedded within the rules of both cricket and tennis, whereby players have a certain
number of ‘appeals’ during the game. This has increased the accuracy of decisions;
however, it might be suggested that it has also compromised the spirit of the two sports
as some players have used this facility to purposefully delay the match or interrupt the
rhythm of their opponent. Although this isn’t against the laws of the game, it is hard not
to see it as a breach of the sporting spirit that is the basis of any worthwhile competition.
This desire to win at all costs might be seen as a result of the way that modern sport is
funded. Football is an example of a sport that has arguably become more about money
than sporting spirit. Players and manages know that achieving success brings with it huge
financial rewards meaning that many are willing to overlook the unwritten ethical code
that made the game so popular in the first place. For example, ‘diving’ is an increasing
issue in football as players simulate fouls to try and trick the referee. Players also
frequently try to get their opponents sent off so that they can gain a numerical and
psychological advantage. Both of these things are not only against the rules of the game,
but also against the moral values that define true sporting spirit.