About the Oral Presentation

 We will start talking about the topics for the first presentation. 

Date of the presentation: September 30. 

You have to present one sports event (at your election), 

and analyze it using the categories explained in Chapter 1 

of the book Modern Sport Ethics, the book we have been 

reading during the first three weeks.  

Example: Ben Johnson, the Canadian sprinter  

involved in a drug scandal. What can we say from the 

Ethical point of view? What are the complexities of 

moral reasoning in the concrete case of athletes? 

Length of the presentation: between 10 and 15 minutes. 

Please contact me if you have questions. 

(Caosmosis2005@yahoo.es)

Paris - Olympic Games

 

Week 3 - Olympic Charter.

1. The gender issue. Your opinion. (page 7)

2. Fundamental Principles of Olympism. Your opinion. 

(p. 8-9)

3. Mission and Role of the IOC. Is there any point in 

the list that you may find problematic? Why? (p.12-14)

4. Olympic Games: Definition. (p. 18)

5. What is an Olympiad?

6. Explain the meaning of the Olympic symbol. (p.20)

7. Where is the Olympic Capital located? (p. 30)

8. Explain the composition of the IOC - Eligibility, 

recruitment, election, et cetera. (p.30)

9. What is the role of the IOC Ethics Commission? (p. 52)

10. Explain the role of the National Olympic 

Committees (p. 59-61)

11. Election of the host of the Olympic Games. Synthesis (p. 70-72)

12. Olympic Host Contract. Synthesis. 

13. Olympic Village. (p. 78)

Maradona - The Hand of God.

 

Maradona - Goal of the Century

 

Social Inequalities Explained in a $100 Race

 

Achilles Vs. Hector

 

Chapter 1 - Part 3

Chapter 1-  “Background and History.” 

Part 3: Discriminatory Actions and Societal Factors. Conclusions. 

1. Do sports lead society? Do sports reflect society? 

Debate # 8. 

2. Explain the relationship between social class and 

sports in the USA. 

3. What does the author say about racial segregation 

in some sports?

4. Is there sexism on sports nowadays? Debate # 9. 

5. What is “moral callousness”?

6. Finally, is sports ethics an oxymoron?

7. Explain the concepts of: Justice, 

8. Honesty, 

9. Responsibility, and 

10. Beneficence. 

11. Explain the three programs mentioned by the author: 

“Character Counts”, “The Champions of Character,” 

and “Positive Coaching Alliance.” (Pages 50-1)

Chapter 1 - Part 2.

Chapter 1-  “Background and History.” 

Part 2: Brief Historical Context for Amateur Sport and Character 

Development. 

1. Explain the Greek understanding of sports, according 

to the author.

2. What was the “British amateur sport ideal”?

3. What does the author say about sports and class 

differences in the UK?

4. What was the idea behind the Modern Olympic 

Games, starting in 1896?

5. What does the author say about sports and values in 

American Highschools?

6. Competence among colleges. Why are sports used to 

promote schools?

7. Do you agree with the author when he talks about a 

“transmission of economic, rather than educational values”? 

Debate # 4.

8. What was the reason to create the “Commission for 

Controlling Intercollegiate Athletics.”?

9. Is there an overemphasis on winning? Debate # 5. 

10. What does the author say about the “pressures to win”? 

Do you agree? 

11. What other things should be considered, in addition to

winning?

12. Does gamesmanship imply violence? Debate # 6. 

13. What are the eligibility issues related to sports ethics?

14. What are the ethical issues associated with the elimination 

of athletes from sports?

15. “It is only cheating if I get caught.” Do you agree with 

this sentence? Debate # 7. 

16. Is “Hack a Shaq” cheating? 

17. What is the relationship between gambling and sports?

Chapter 1. Part 1.

Chapter 1-  “Background and History.” Part 1. 

1. Do you consider that sports ethics is an oxymoron? 

Explain your position.

2. Explain the relationship between sports and war in the 

Antiquity. 

3. In the case of Greece. Sports and religion. Explain. 

4. What does the author say about sports in the Middle 

Ages?

5. What was the American approach to sports in the USA 

(nineteenth century)?

6. Explain the origin of American football.

7. How did basketball begin, according to the author?

8. What is “ethics”? What is the difference between 

“ethics” and “morals”?

9. Explain the concept of “ethical pluralism”, according 

to the author. 

10. Explain the concept of “Utilitarianism.”

11. Explain the concept of “Relativism.” Debate # 1. 

12. Explain the concept of “Situational Ethics.”

13. Explain the concept of “Kantian Ethics.” Debate # 2. 

14. Explain the concept of Justice as Fairness. Debate # 3. 

Meritocracy. 

15. What does the author say about “moral development”?

16. Explain the steps of moral reasoning. Athletes and moral 

reasoning (pages 10-11). 

17. What is a fallacy? The table of fallacies in Moral Reasoning.