Table Tennis Corruption Technological Development

Question: Discuss about theTable Tennis Corruptionfor Technological Development. Answer: Introduction Technological development has facilitated the increase of sports bets. Betting has posed a serious injury to the integrity of all sports. Table tennis particularly is a known racquet sport globally and has over 10 million players in the world. Globally it is governed by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF). Currently, table tennis is threatened by betting as one of the emerging form of corruption that is difficult to control and supervise (Gainsbury Russell, 2015). The activities of illegal betting have significantly contributed to the development of the underground economy. This form of economy is linked to organized crimes and especially in table tennis and other forms of sports. Further, the co-existence of illegal and legal betting complicates the situation hence becoming difficult to regulate. The research objective is to investigate betting as an emerging form of corruption in the table tennis. The availability of the internet and rapid growth of technology has contributed to the increase of the betting vice. Moreover, online betting has made the vice more secretive and hard to detect. Similarly, the availability of live betting has necessitated to the practice of the betting vice it is hard to control and detect. This rapid growth in the mobile phone technology and the internet has enhanced the growth of betting. Therefore, betting has moved from the traditional social form to into confidential and in isolation (Brooks, 2012). On the other hand, countries seeking to attract betting investors through low taxation have created a good environment for illegal betting and especially in countries where table tennis is popular. The expansion of the internet, therefore, has made it possible for gamblers to gamble at any time and in any place. Table tennis gambling has increased from 38% to 52% in the last one year in Australia. The online gambling has also enabled the punters to c ompare prices and betting options hence choosing what is convenient for them (Abarbanel, 2012). The increased advertising and promotion of betting companies during the live broadcast of the table tennis matches has also contributed to the vice. In fact, it is difficult to draw the boundary between sport and the sports betting. Further, promotion of betting companies is done through fixed electronic banners place within the stadium. Betting companies are also allowed to sponsor teams especially on uniform hence allowing more chance of manipulation. Similarly, mobile applications have been developed to aid the gamblers to follow the games on their mobile phones and tablets. Table tennis has been used as marketing platform of betting companies especially in Asian countries (Delfabbro Griffiths, 2012). The emergence of satellite television channel has made it possible for people to have an interest in betting. The transition from the analog broadcasting to digital satellite boxes has opened an opportunity for more gamblers hence making the threat more real due to the amount of money involved. Additionally, betting is now taken as a leisure activity that facilitates excitement from a given match. Betting companies also offer bonuses for the first sign ups hence attracting more to bet on their sites. Different countries have also enacted laws to legalize betting hence inviting more investors into betting sectors (Bhullar, 2012). The rapid increase of betting, therefore, poses a great danger to table tennis due to some factors which include. Match fixing, which occurs when the players or match officials intentionally fails to act or act during a sporting contest to make sure one team wins and the other loses or draw the match. The intense commercialization of sports and especially the table tennis in countries such as China, Korea, and India may lead to match fixing. Match fixing, therefore, is a serious and a fraudulent crime which supports betting activities (Binde, 2009). It jeopardizes the integrity of the sporting activity because it is contrary to the expected law and is a form of organized corruption. Match fixing activities are fuelled by the availability of online betting which generates a lot of profits that are unregulated and thus, a prime arena for criminal activities. Betting then has been turned into a corruption activity and has led to the decline of confidence in sporting activities hence mas sive withdrawal of sponsors and spectators (Gainsbury, 2015). The case of bribing the match officials to determine the outcome of a game has been on the increase. For example, officers from the corrupt practices investigation Bureau have been investigating the Singapore Table Tennis Association for an attempt to bribe match officials. Some players also bribe officials to be allowed to participate in the matches having used performance-enhancing drugs. In China bribery is endemic due to the high competition in the table tennis and every player want to represent the country in international competition. The increase of the bribery case especially in the Asian countries is due to poor pay and the machination of the local officials. Chinese, Japanese and Korean tennis players are prone to accommodating bribes due to their poor remuneration which is received late. Betting agencies call these players to bribe them to allow opponent win the match in exchange for monetary gains. Additionally, local officials have immense powers over the players hence t hey are forced to accept the bribe (Forrest, 2011). The financial and the political issues have also contributed to the increase in corruption. The exaggerated price of the tickets which has been contributed by the political factors has exposed players to corruption. Due to low media coverage players lack sponsors hence vulnerable to the betting agencies who offer to give them tips if they comply with their demands. Currently, the most pertinent question which politics has to address is how doping can best be solved. The realization that some countries like Russia sponsored it players to doping program is a serious threat to the integrity of the table tennis. In some countries, legislators have to be bribed to pass the laws to make their respective countries comply with WADA policies (Brackenridge, 1997). Also, lack of transparency in the governing of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has contributed to various cover-ups such ant-doping violations for monetary rewards. Financial transparency at International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) is very minimal and of very poor quality in readability. The increased lack of transparency has contributed to increasing of corruption networks. Further, transparency is also necessary for the adequate assessment of the expenditure of such a body. Hence, to curb corruption the ITTF must be open about it usage of funds and its operations (Abbott Volberg, 2014). In conclusion, ITTF has witnessed all levels of attack to the integrity of the table tennis. Match fixing, betting, lack of transparency, bribery, political and financial issues has been the major threats to table tennis. To make sure these vices are curbed and the levels of corruption reduced strong sports laws need to be enacted and implemented to the latter. Further, table tennis players need to be remunerated handsomely for allowing them to have decent lives, hence reducing the bribery cases. 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