Christine Sinclair - More Than an Elite Althlete

                              "Unthinking respect for authority
                                is the greatest enemy of truth."

    I published this post about Christing Sinclair in 2012.  Now that she has retired from international soccer it is fitting that it be republished.
                                        

     The above-noted quote from none other than Albert Einstein caputures the essence of why Christine Sinclair was a fitting candidate to be Canada's flag-bearer during the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics yesterday.  Individuals who stand up and speak their mind on issues of fairness and social justice are rare.  History shows us that it is those individuals who are almost always the ones responsible for progressive social change.  Althletes who are prepared to speak up on issues of fairness and social justice are perhaps even rarer still.  The vast majority of us would prefer to go along with the status quo  however morally reprehensible that status quo may be because it is secure. It is that yearning for security that impeades us from standing up and taking action in circumstances like the Sandusky/Penn State affair.  The late Joe Paterno understood that bringing the crimes he had knowledge of to the attention of the authorities had a price.  For him and for most individuals in society that price is too high a cost for them to commit and do the right thing.

     Christine Sinclair - through the courage she displayed in speaking out on what she and many others around the world saw as a pattern and practice of unfair and questionable officiating in FIFA regulated soccer - has elevated herself to a class of elite human beings.  It is one thing to be on top of your game. Christine Sinclair is clearly on top of her game.  However, to be on top of your game and have the courage to stand up - speak one's mind - in an effort to bring about change - regardless of the cost - is what puts Ms. Sinclair in that elite class of human beings.   

Perdita Felicien Victim of Arbitrary I.A.A.F.Rule-Making

     Canadian track fans and Perdita Felician herself were both wronged when Ms. Felecian was banned from participating in the 2012 Olympics on account of one false start during the recent Canadian qualifying meet.  Ms. Felician who is clearly the most talented and accomplished female hurdler in Canada was awarded a false start during the Olympic qualifying event earlier this year.  In order to qualify for Canada's national team Ms. Felicien required a minimum third place in the qualifying race.  She ran the race under protest of the false start.  She came in third but on account of the false start she was disqualified and consequently not eligible to represent Canada at the London Olympics.

    I understand and appreciate the necessity for rules and regulations.  No one - including myself - would argue against the need for rules and regulations with respect to the governance of sports like track and field.  However, rules and regulations that make no sense and are arbitrary and oppressive have no place in sport or any other endeavor for that matter.  False starts in events like the event that Ms. Felicien was involved in are clearly a regular and normal occurence for which one ought not to be punished unless it can be shown objectively that the act was deliberate.

     A single involuntary or inadvertent act is not something that sports regulators  or decision makers ought to use as a basis to deny an athlete from participating in the Olympics.  How such a rule was passed and has yet to be challenged is something I find most disturbing.  Of course the I.A.A.F. and its supporters will point to the fact that none other than The World's Fastest Man - Usain Bolt has endorsed the rule.  However, I am not impressed by this.  The rule is arbitrary and oppressive on its face.  Inadvertence should never be the basis for disqualification.  Under the predecessor rule a warning was provided to the field and any subsequent false start resulted in disqualification.  I see the logic in that rule.  I fail to see any logic in this "new and improved" rule.  I just do not.  I am most curious to know whether or not Athletics Canada's hands were tied on account of this "disqualification".  If they were not so bound then they failed Perdita Felicien and Canadian track and field fans.