rules are say only fencers who have fenced during the team competition get medals. so italians substituted in their sub when leading the final. she duly let the russians catch up slightly. the situation is different because the italians risked losing with the substitution. this kind of substitution is standard in fencing - the koreans did it in the bronze medal bout. however, it is an example of bending the rules to get more medals. BWF should have realised the round-robin system was liable to manipulation or at least thought of some resources to avoid such blatant cheating. Of course they do not, and use a format that has no history for individual events and bring badminton into disrepute.
I honestly don't get your point. The Italian action is a goodwill gesture making sure that everyone on their team gets recognition (a medal). Doing so has no bearing on the medal count at all. Sheesh, some people just need to chase down every tangent they can imagine. Even if it doesn't "touch the curve" so to speak.
agreed it does not change medal count, but brings in question whether sub merited medal, especially in fencing terms she had negative impact on team. the point is that it is accepted in certain sports to bend the rules to gain a medal, though not medal count. the only difference was that it was not so blatant. it is a different view on fairness. after all what stops lyb playing his son in thomas cup?
Plus the fact that the sub would probably be trying their damndest to win. Given the opportunity to prove themselves and get a starting position next time.
Probably his bosses. What fairness issue? The sub made a contribution to the teams efforts the issue isn't was she good enough that is completely irrelevant. The sub still had to qualify for the team surely you are not saying that they just picked up some random joker off the streets of Trieste? But, that is only half the equation. Who did they fck over by doing this?? All they did was see that this sub shares in the achievement of the team an achievement that she contributed to. Geeze, really see this as something untoward?? To the degree that this deserves mention in a thread on what the WD teams did in badminton??
Then I can argue from the team manager point of view, they did give up that particular round or point (as RUS did gain a few points back). So, for that particular moment, the team is known to lose at the moment. However, they also know as a big picture (entire game), they will win. What's the difference for WD then? They try to throw away a meaningless game, but know they will win (at least, great chance) at the end? So, how you quantify the incident then? So, throw away 50%+ is "unsportsmanship" while throw way say 20% is "spreading common wealth"? Let me give u a better example. Many ppl pointed out at the end of the season, playoff team will bring up all bench/rookie, to face other teams possibly still featuring full force (still fight to get in playoff). Sure, the bench or rookie may fight hard for him/herself. But from the team point of view, everyone knows they are "trying to lose" (more like do not care win or lose, but mostly to lose due to the fact of player's quality). Did any of those teams got banned?
Huh? They wanted to give a chance to everyone on the team to fence, so that they get a medal. This may also effect whatever incentive they are getting for the medal. In some countries, only those who were fielded, in this case, fenced, will get the reward money,etc for the medal. A more parallel example would be : http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/18022010/58/bowls-rocked-match-fixing-scandal.html http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-09-18/nz-bowls-team-in-match-fixing-scandal/1433756 Of course there are those who would say that other sports also do it, blah blah. The thing with team events is it's harder to prove. If they field the reserve or the substitute and say its to conserve energy, then one needs to look if it will benefit the team with a more favourable draw/opponent in the next round. The reserve can be putting their best efforts, i.e. it's a different player. As far I know, the match fixing cases in football or other sports was on receiving bribes to fix a match. There's the money trail with bribes, can be traced. The crux would be the proof Fielding reserves was also done during 2012 TC but it had no bearing as there was a re-draw after the group matches were finished, finishing 1st, 2nd did not matter. The motive is missing here if teams ever get charged they can argue this. The WD case was same players playing to lose,as you know, blatant.
The difference is there is no *advantage* to ITA to do that. And the substitute put in BEST EFFORT. This is at total contrast to those DQd players who put in BELOW best effort on purpose (and against the spirit of the game) to gain an advantage. Seriously, you have missed 'the point' totally. You wouldn't know what a trout was if one slapped you round the face!
