Should athletes be role-models for young people?
Society puts a lot
of emphasis on sport. With the London Olympics widely considered a success,
many athletes were touted as positive role models for young people in Britain.
This platitude
doesn't extend to all athletes, with footballers in particular vilified by
the media.
Despite this
vilification, footballers are expected to set a good example to the swathes of
young fans that support them.
This expectation
isn't extended to more 'honourable' professions, with both MPs and
the police involved in many scandals but not considered as accountable in
the eyes of the media.
Maybe this is
because of the reach football has. Football is one of the most accessible and cheap
games to play. All you need are a few jumpers and a ball to emulate
your favourite star and many of the adverts using footballers are
aimed at children.
Even with the
current cult of celebrity, actors and singers aren't expected to be role models
for children and at times behave much worse than their
footballing equivalents.
Do athletes
really deserve this ‘burden’? Despite the massive amounts of money that some of
them earn?
IF we look at
CEO's of large banks and their bonuses we can see that the amount a person gets
paid has no bearing on their ethics, or how good of a job they will do. If
anything, some of their nefarious practices show how greedy and out of
touch such money and power can make a person become.
As sad as it is to
say, more people probably know Wayne Rooney than David Cameron.
This isn't though
lack of trying, but in England a large portion of the population just doesn't care for politics and don't even vote despite the importance.
Football has been
mooted as a bridge to get the public more interested in both politics and as a new hub for the community, but these are strains that a club shouldn't have to bear.
Sport and football definitely have a major role to play in the social landscape, but only as entertainment and as a form of escapism.
Footballers shouldn't have to navigate a media circus every time someone high profile makes a mistake, although this doesn't excuse their actions.
We're all human and nobodies perfect, no matter the pay packet.
Also, as for positive role models, as long as they don't emulate their heroes off the pitch, I don't see a problem with young people following sport.
If you have anything to add ect please comment and let me know below.
Should athletes be role-models for young people?
Society puts a lot
of emphasis on sport. With the London Olympics widely considered a success,
many athletes were touted as positive role models for young people in Britain.
This platitude
doesn't extend to all athletes, with footballers in particular vilified by
the media.
Despite this
vilification, footballers are expected to set a good example to the swathes of
young fans that support them.
This expectation
isn't extended to more 'honourable' professions, with both MPs and
the police involved in many scandals but not considered as accountable in
the eyes of the media.
Maybe this is
because of the reach football has. Football is one of the most accessible and cheap
games to play. All you need are a few jumpers and a ball to emulate
your favourite star and many of the adverts using footballers are
aimed at children.
Even with the
current cult of celebrity, actors and singers aren't expected to be role models
for children and at times behave much worse than their
footballing equivalents.
Do athletes
really deserve this ‘burden’? Despite the massive amounts of money that some of
them earn?
IF we look at
CEO's of large banks and their bonuses we can see that the amount a person gets
paid has no bearing on their ethics, or how good of a job they will do. If
anything, some of their nefarious practices show how greedy and out of
touch such money and power can make a person become.
As sad as it is to
say, more people probably know Wayne Rooney than David Cameron.
This isn't though
lack of trying, but in England a large portion of the population just doesn't care for politics and don't even vote despite the importance.
Football has been
mooted as a bridge to get the public more interested in both politics and as a new hub for the community, but these are strains that a club shouldn't have to bear.
Sport and football definitely have a major role to play in the social landscape, but only as entertainment and as a form of escapism.
Footballers shouldn't have to navigate a media circus every time someone high profile makes a mistake, although this doesn't excuse their actions.
We're all human and nobodies perfect, no matter the pay packet.
Also, as for positive role models, as long as they don't emulate their heroes off the pitch, I don't see a problem with young people following sport.
If you have anything to add ect please comment and let me know below.
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