Youth sports more valuable than gold

(published in the daily SME)

Slovakia’s Olympic disappointment in London is an opportunity for reflection. The focus should be on youth, not just on the number of medals.

Games where Slovaks failed. The Olympics confirmed it: Slovak sport is in decline. For the first time, Slovakia left without a gold medal. Such unflattering headlines appeared in Monday’s newspapers and continued on Tuesday: Where have we ended up? The biggest drop compared to Beijing! The evaluation of Slovak Olympians and the overall sports system wasn’t any different in the main evening news of the country’s most-watched television channel last week. Harsh criticism. The reactions from Olympic officials, however, were completely at odds with how the public and the media perceived the situation: “It would be irresponsible to say that we were unsuccessful in London.” The differing evaluations are not what matters. Neither does the comparison with others. Alongside figures like 10 medals for the Czech Republic (4 gold), 18 for Hungary (8 gold), there’s also Austria’s zero. Changes in Slovak sport are needed either way.

Helplessness and silence
The Slovak sports movement has failed for years to produce effective solutions. Its demands are always for more money. More taxpayer money, and preferably the return of lottery revenues to the sports movement to distribute itself. With no thoughtful concept, it sighs toward the finance ministry, asking for tax breaks and lifetime pensions. Before the Olympics, the debate revolved around how many votes each federation would get in the new umbrella organization. Nothing about the actual content. A fitting subtitle from SME two days ago quoted the president of the Slovak Olympic Committee: “We have to change something.” Something needs to change even after successful performances. But what, exactly?

The intellectual helplessness of sports officials is matched by the silence of relevant politicians. Sport has never been an election issue and hasn’t been a priority since the last election either. The minister for sport remains quiet. His first measure was to keep the existing non-transparent system of sports funding. The mandatory third weekly PE lesson approved by the previous government was cancelled. Only PE teachers protested—there was no reaction from the officials.

Success as a tool to create role models
What kind of systemic changes are needed? To begin with, there should be an honest public discussion about the public interest in sport. It should be regular sports participation by children and youth, and national team success that attracts attention, not success itself, not just the number of medals, even Olympic ones. Achievements should be seen as a way to create role models and to draw kids into sports. The impact of Peter Sagan, the green-jersey cyclist, is enormous for Slovak sport, even without a medal.

Almost 25 years after the communist regime, it’s time to account for all public funding flowing into sport through three ministries - education, defence, and interior - and other channels. Starting in 2013, sports funding should be based on transparent and measurable criteria, including success, the social significance of a sport, and the number of children participating. It’s possible to improve the proposal made by Minister Jurzyca, co-authored by the author of this article. These criteria should apply to all public sports funding across the three ministries. A single, central ranking of athletes—primarily based on achievement—would ensure that all potential medalists have undisturbed preparation. Breakthrough athletes at the Olympics like Klocová and Hagara, and others who succeed, would automatically receive more support the following year, and part of the funds would go to the federation that raised them. Professional state-funded athletes without results must be removed. Already next year, the state must stop funding many bizarre and pointless events with taxpayers’ money. Transparent rules should be adopted for distributing marketing funds from Tipos and other state entities. Local government funding for sport should also be mapped and linked to clear criteria.

At least half the funding should go to youth
At least half of all central funding should go to youth sports, as proposed last year. The cancelled third PE class should gradually be reintroduced and transformed into an engaging experience. Children should be introduced to multiple sports. Sports vouchers should be separated from education vouchers and made available to sports clubs. Reviving school sports competitions, developing youth sports, modernizing local sports facilities, and improving cooperation between sports clubs and schools should be top priorities, not just for British Prime Minister Cameron (65 medals, 29 gold), but also for the Slovak Prime Minister.

The outdated and overly complex system of specialized sports classes and sports gymnasiums should be untangled, and the additional layer of Olympic preparation centers should be streamlined. The education system in sport must be connected with sports federations in order to support real talent.

And what about the officials and the public?
Slovak sport is built on many decent people who dedicate lots of time and energy, often unpaid, in clubs and federations. Progress will happen if a critical mass of these people realizes that not only are the sports federations responsible for national representation and youth development, but that they themselves are responsible for electing officials both within their federations and at the national and Olympic levels. The pressure must come from below. Better governance in clubs and federations will reduce scandals and attract more private funding. The public should demand the publication of contracts and invoices to an extent that does not paralyze operations. Parents should care about whether PE classes are being taught, whether children enjoy them, whether quality sports clubs are available, whether the schoolyard is open in the afternoons, and what their mayor and local council are doing for sport.

The London disappointment must be a moment of reflection. If the Hochschorner brothers hadn’t touched the gate and had won gold, would the officials - sheltering behind Barteková’s IOC success - have tried to convince us that everything in sport is fine? There’s no need to criticize athletes who went to collect pins at the Olympics. The entire Slovak sports system needs to be pushed in the right direction—even if it means bringing home fewer medals from Rio.