Paid to lose
Paid to lose
QATARsthrophe and sport politics?
12.12.2022
Sport has long been considered a celebration of our humanity. The human right to play, the right to a "fair game," and the right to a "level playing field" are key ideas that have influenced many aspects of our lives, including positive interpersonal, business, and political relationships. For generations, we have taught our children core values through sports. Sport is learning to play and learning to transact with reality (the playground, the field, the ball, the goal, the skill, the teamwork, and the incentives and strategies of victory).?
Participating in sports can help individuals develop important life skills such as leadership, communication, and problem-solving. Sports can teach values such as fairness, team spirit, discipline, inclusion, endurance, perseverance, respect for others, honesty, and sportsmanship.
Sport brings people together to celebrate the human spirit in so many ways, but opportunists and criminals looking to make large profits can create distortions, deceptions, and disillusionments that undermine its integrity and core values. From the bribery of decision-makers for the selection of high-profile locations, corruption in bidding and procurement relating to sporting events and infrastructure, match-fixing during the games to generate high profits for organized syndicates, and unique brand-washing opportunities for sponsors and partners who purchase "sports values" as a commodity to associate and rejuvenate the tainted organizational brands.?
When the integrity of sports is undermined, it can have multiple serious negative consequences. For example, it can lead to unfair competition, as some athletes or teams may cheat to gain an advantage over their opponents, or agree to be "paid to lose" the game in exchange for monetary benefits, political influence, or strategic command and control. Corruption in sports leads to a loss of public trust and confidence in the sport, which can lead to a decline in participation and brand support for the sport. This can have serious financial implications for the sport and those involved in it or associated with it. We are uncovering the extent of illicit bidding processes at many high profile events, like the recent Tokyo Olympics games and the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Neither Qatar nor Tokyo can be scapegoated as exceptions to the rule of past and current practices. Furthermore, corruption in the sports "industry" may just be the tip of the iceberg of corruption in other domains in individual life, non-profits, business, and government.?
Corruption can destroy a nation in several ways. It can undermine the rule of law, erode public trust in government, and divert public resources away from where they are needed most. It can also create an environment in which businesses cannot operate effectively, leading to economic decline and social unrest. Over time, widespread corruption can destabilize a nation and make it more vulnerable to external threats. In extreme cases, it can even lead to the collapse of a government or the disintegration of a country.
Corruption has a damaging effect on nations, as it undermines the rule of law, weakens institutions, erodes public trust in government, and makes them more vulnerable to external threats. Corruption can create an environment in which it is difficult for individuals and organizations to operate in a fair, efficient, responsible, and transparent manner, and this suffocates innovation and creativity. It diverts public resources away from where they are needed most and reduces access to opportunities for growth, leading to social and economic inequalities, social unrest, which can lead to regime change and violent conflict.?
In some cases, a nation may be conquered or absorbed by another nation, leading to its dissolution. In other cases, a nation may undergo a fundamental change in its political system, such as a revolution or a change in government, and be unable to provide its citizens with basic security, governance, and public services. In severe cases, corruption can lead to the collapse of governments and the destruction of nations. The 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) lists Ukraine and Russia as the most corrupt countries in Europe. (source: https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2021).?
Reducing corruption
Why is it so difficult to reduce corruption in our organizations and in the world? Some argue that we have lost our moral compass. Others say greed, hubris, and impunity have hijacked our value system, and that corruption is a persistent dark shadow that crawls with human nature. Yuhal Harari may be correct that humans are hackable animals, but it is not only about AI, technology, or big data. Humans are hackable animals, as we are very easily tempted, deceived, and corrupted by Mammon, the biblical fallen angel of money. Man is seduced, and so is the Woman. There is no doubt that we live in an ever more intoxicated world, and money is the hard drug desiring the next fix.?
It's all happening in the boardrooms, backrooms, bedrooms, and corridors with thousands and millions of dollars exchanged in bribes and kickbacks; gift apartments in London, Paris, and Dubai; private tuition fees for the children; luxury watches and cars; to "secure the deal" and sign the pact in secret with the devil. It's simple: some are paid to lose their integrity in exchange for Caesar's coins, and for others, integrity has a tradable price.
"Corruption" is the abuse of entrusted power for private gain. It can take many forms, such as bribery, embezzlement, biased meritocracy, and nepotism, and can occur at all levels of society, from local government to national government, supranational organizations like the European Union, the United Nations, and of course sporting organizations like FIFA or the Olympics and their brand partner organizations and corporations. Already in 2015, several high-ranking FIFA officials were arrested and charged with corruption. Ultimately, it is up to the judges and courts, (and their incorruptibility, if possible)? to determine if an individual or organization is corrupt.
Despite the widespread awareness and numerous organizations working to mitigate corruption, the 2021 Corruption Perception Index report suggests that progress has somewhat halted, and worrying signs of backsliding have emerged in many different parts of the world. In some countries, corruption is normalized as business as usual. The use of complex offshore accounts, cash, and cryptocurrency to conceal illegal financial transactions. Many of the anti-corruption agencies and institutions struggle to meet the challenge, some are merely window-dressing measures without full independence or sufficient resources to get the job done.?
Reducing corruption in sport and politics can be a challenging task, as it often involves complex issues related to governance, ethics, and the intersection of government, business, and sports. Some strategies that have been effective in reducing corruption in sport include increasing transparency and accountability in sports organizations, implementing strong anti-corruption policies and codes of conduct, and providing education and training to athletes, coaches, and other stakeholders to help them understand the issues and how to address them.?
When the integrity of government officials and parliamentarians is undermined, it can have serious consequences for the functioning of a democratic society. Parliamentarians are elected representatives who are tasked with making decisions on behalf of their constituents and upholding the rule of law. This can have far-reaching effects, such as a decline in the effectiveness of government, a decrease in public participation in the political process, and a lack of confidence in the institutions of democracy, security, and overall well-being. Corruption also leads to a misallocation of resources, a reduction of cooperation, a waste of public funds, and a decrease in the effectiveness and efficiency of public services. Additionally, corruption can create an unfair playing field for businesses, leading to a loss of competition and innovation.
领英推荐
Yes, I imagine we all know that part already. We have known that for decades.
Some people may believe that some supernatural force is responsible for corrupting society and creating evil, others may attribute this phenomenon to a range of factors, such as a lack of strong ethical values, inadequate legal and institutional frameworks, or a failure to hold individuals accountable for their actions. Ultimately, the root causes of corruption will vary depending on our understanding of the human brain and psyche, the specific context and circumstances in which it occurs.
The root cause of evil in the world is a complex and highly debated topic that has been considered by theologians, philosophers, and psychologists for centuries. Some people believe that evil arises from the inherent nature of humanity, while others argue that it is the result of external forces or influences. Ultimately, the root cause of evil will vary depending on one's perspective on reality and understanding of the world.?
Corruption can take place in government in a number of ways. For example, it can occur when public officials abuse their power for personal gain, such as by accepting bribes in exchange for awarding contracts or granting permits. It can also happen when public officials engage in conflicts of interest, such as by using their position to benefit themselves or their family members. Additionally, corruption can take place through the misuse of public funds, such as by embezzling money or using it for unauthorized purposes. Corruption in government can also involve the abuse of power to influence the outcome of elections or suppress dissent. These and other forms of corruption can undermine the integrity of government institutions and the rule of law.
Fairness is important because it helps to promote social cohesion and trust within a community. When people believe that they are being treated fairly, they are more likely to have confidence in the fairness of the social and political institutions that govern their lives. This, in turn, can lead to greater cooperation and collaboration within a society, and help foster social and economic development.
It is difficult to say what the goal of humanity is, as different people may have different ideas about what constitutes a successful or fulfilling life. For some, the goal of humanity may be to achieve happiness, fulfillment, or spiritual enlightenment. For others, the goal may be to advance knowledge, create new technologies, or explore the universe. Still, for others, the goal may be to create a just and equitable society, to preserve the natural environment, or to leave the world a better place for future generations. Ultimately, the goal of humanity may be different for each individual, and may change over time as people's priorities and values evolve.
Please pay attention, there is no need to get paid to lose, or we may lose more than what we bargained for, sooner than we imagine.
Rajinder Jhol
Summary of a recent book published by Rajinder Jhol:
Shine by Rajinder Jhol is a dialogue novel between the Fallen Angel and the Fallen Man. They meet to explore the nature of reality, truth and the multilevel crisis of humanity in search of a luminous way out.
Shine explores the roots of fears, ignorance, manipulation, and misinformation in different aspects of contemporary society. As the Devil claims to have captured and corrupted the minds and hearts of 99% of all humanity.
The questioner's quest for truth and knowledge, and his mystical journey take us on an epic, philosophical, spiritual, and sometimes humorous dialogue that seeks higher knowledge in the dark corners of perception as a beacon of hope for all humanity.
Is reality a shared hallucination, a play of light and darkness or a game of mirrors? Do humans really have free will and what will become of us when control technology is connected to our brains?
The story is a literary entheogen - it provides the reader with a super- observer position from which to know thyself and discover the lost treasure that resides within us all.
Published on 11/11/2022 (First edition in English)?
Available on Amazon stores worldwide (kindle and paperback formats)