Masters treated as slaves by Euro and U.S. bodies
Some folks have noted that the language of the supplemental U.S. entry form to the 2006 WMA world indoor meet in Austria includes a new Team USA Code of Conduct that would make Joseph McCarthy proud. To wit: “I will conduct myself at all times as a goodwill ambassador for USATF and the United States of America, and that I will refrain from any act(s) that may reflect unfavorably upon myself, my teammates, the sport of track and field, USATF or the United States of America (and) I will not intentionally or voluntarily undertake any action that desecrates or disrespects the American flag.”
For example, “Runfast65” writes:
“USATF has incredible gall to impose this code of conduct upon masters athletes who are paying their own way to WMA meets, including paying USATF a “handling fee”for receiving and mailing the entry forms, charging an inflated price for the conversion of dollars to Euros, etc. Now they are taking on the roll of Nanny, imposing a code of conduct onto adults who the last time I checked were behaving pretty darn well at WMA meets.”
My take, as disseminated to Yahoo Groups, was this:
I’m not surprised by USATF imposing its “clean-up-your-act” edict — as if masters (like open athletes) would use medals as monocles on the victory stand and drape the flag over their shoulders like Zorro capes as the 4×1 American relay men did at Sydney.
“Disrespect” for the flag has NEVER been an issue in masters track.
What frosts me is that our leadership — USATF Masters Chair George Mathews on down — didn’t appear to put up a fight against this nonsense. We elect these folks to represent our interests. Are they doing so? Or are they just caving into Indy on every issue where masters and elite interests collide?
Yo, George!
You read this forum. What’s up with this loyalty oath thingee?
How did that sneak in?
New comment:
But USATF’s mindless overkill response to elite “bad boys” isn’t unique. In Europe, candidates for the annual top European masters award must meet similar provisos:
Criteria and Procedures for determining European Best Veterans (‘EBV’) – one Man and one Woman
It is a combination of skills to estimate and it is desirable that the ‘EBV’ fulfil the five first criteria stated below:
Criteria
1) The ‘EBV’ should preferable have broken European and/or World Veteran Record/Records in at least one Event during the actual year.
2) The ‘EBV’ should preferable have been European and/or World Veteran Champion in at least one Event during the actual year.
3) The ‘EBV’ should fairly be superior to other veterans in European Championships in at least one event during the actual year.
4) The ‘EBV’ should practice Sportmanship and Fair Play.
5) The ‘EBV’ should never have been quilty for Drug Use and is an opponent against Drug Use.
Emphasis mine.
Well, since flag-burning, drug-taking, Nike-logo-eschewing athletes are such a huge problem, I suggest we end masters track altogether. It’s bad enough when the youngsters do this. When the oldsters start acting up, it’s time to shut them down. Go find yourself another sports, geezers. We don’t trust you anymore.
