Moral Integrity In Sports Research Paper

Integrity in sports can be defined as, “respect for oneself and others, moral responsibility and accountability” (Treagus, Cover, & Beasley, 2011). Moral responsibility is one part of this ethical value that directly faces the issue of funding for sports and recreational facilities. In the world of sports, integrity is vital to upholding a moral code. Allowing for an organization to take funding for a source of immoral grounds is treading on that accountability that they are expected to uphold.
In the athletic world sportsmanship is one of the leading values many teams hold their members accountable for. Sportsmanship is “the outcome of moral action, representing societal values, and virtuous behavior” (Treagus, Cover, & Beasley, 2011). Receiving

funding from immoral sources goes directly against any form of virtuous behavior. Disgracing societal values of clean and fair behavior is not a lesson that we want to pass on the to children benefiting from these resources. Children need to learn the value of hard work, fundraising on their own will and not taking dirty money will teach these values.
Values- Con
In a struggling community it is important to pass on the value of compassion.

Coming from an underfunded and unkept area can lead to a distaste for those more well-off and can lead to negative feelings about the community. By seeing these wonderful opening ceremonies of facilities and honoring those who are donating to the projects will allow for kids to value compassion and philanthropic ideals. Children learn from what they see and experience, they will be able to take the value of the experiences they received from these facilities and understand how they too should make an impact on their community when they are able to give

back.
Allowing children to utilize these facilities together also stresses the value of unity. For communities that are struggling it is most important to stick together and help one another out. Some things in life just can not be done on our own and sometimes it is necessary to receive a little help occasionally. If funding is able to be brought in for the benefit of the kids, then the children will have a strong support system and can grow up knowing that their community cares for them and has their back.
Utilitarian- Pro
Although the funds that can be received from these immoral sources will be able to benefit a community in some ways, it is important to look at the bigger picture. The hardships that the community goes through because of the means of that money do not outweigh the benefits of the funding. The funding of many recreation and sports facilities do not impact every single person in that society and the means for which these goals are accomplished do not justify the ends. The harm that the immoral funding comes from does more damage than the good that can come of it.
Utilitarian- Con
Those that are making this immoral money and are looking to fund recreation and sports facilities are going to keep making money the same way regardless of where it gets donated to.

If one person turns down the money, it does not mean that donor is going to completely change their ways. As an industry that cannot change the course of those who are receiving these funds in immoral ways, it would be foolish not to reap the benefits of the situation. Taking money from these donors would do the most possible good for the community and can help offset some of those hardships that are being encountered.
For the sports management field I believe that this issue has a strong impact on the industry. Allowing for your team or your players to be funded from an unethical source can put a lot of strain on them. The public image from getting funding out of unethical sources can stir a lot of backlash at players and teams. I believe that for underfunded areas and impoverished cities, it makes the most sense to take the money from these sources. If the money is just going to end up somewhere else, it might as well be used for something good and something that can benefit someone. However, when it comes to teams and areas that do not have a dire need for funding, I think that a more practical resource for those funds would be to go through their own morally sound fundraising process. Teaching the values of unity, bringing in the most beneficial common good and keeping the playing

field fair for funding would be best held up this way.