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The Play the Game Award 2007 was presented to Sandro Donati by 2002 award winner Laura Robinson. Laura won the 2002 award for her investigations into systematic abuse in junior ice hockey in Canada. She presented this year's award to Sandro on behalf of Mario Goijman, who sadly could not make it to Iceland for this year's conference. Here is her speech in full.
It’s hard to imagine that we are at this point again—of winding up another conference, when it is time to honour the recipient of the Play the Game Award. I know we were all disappointed to hear that Mario Goijman of Argentina was unable to join us and give this award. We wish him good health. Going up against the ethical vacuum, endless corruption, and personal fiefdom of Dr. Rueben Acosta of the international volleyball federation is not good for one’s health. I hope that Mario will hear this message—we’d rather have a healthy Mario Goijman than a Dr. Acosta in jail.
One person who pioneered a quest for integrity and truth in sport, who first spent decades working as a coach, and then from that vantage point saw what was happening in his sport in terms of doping, and commenced an incredibly courageous voyage through the dark deep waters of organized crime and drug dealing, is the recipient of the Play the Game Award.
Those of us who have attended past Play the Game conferences are used to an individual from Italy arriving with an extraordinarily knowledgeable and perfectly researched presentation. If we see his work with cynical eyes, we snap out of our cynicism and are motivated to try to work with the same amount of energy this man gives. If we are naïve, his work shocks us out of our little cocoon, and demands that we educate ourselves about the realities of life—not just in sport, but in a world that worships a medicalized, chemicalized, and objectified body.
In 1974, Sandro Donati started coaching speed and middle distance runners. He did his post-secondary education at the University of Lyon, and became a professor of sport science. By the 1980’s he saw that doping in Italy was supported by the Italian Olympic Committee. When he tried to do something about it, he quickly became persona non grata. But this isolation did not stop him; if anything he researched with even more energy and intelligence until CONI could no longer deny the systematic use of drugs in Italian track and field. He rejoined them in 1992.
Sandro became an international expert, not only on the trafficking of drugs, which led him to investigate organized crime and put his career and life in danger. At the same time he continued to publish articles on methodologies in training and the philosophy of sport and the active body. His work has also been used by the Italian Nordic and Alpine Ski teams, the rowing, volleyball, basketball, roller-skating, fencing and swimming teams.
At this year’s Play the Game conference, we were treated to a side of Sandro Donati we don’t see when he is describing, for instance, the international route taken by steroids that will end up with American soldiers in Iraq. We saw the man who cares passionately about children. He talked about a “peaceful environment” where the rights of children to play games and enjoy physical activity are not impeded by the dictates of adults who want to live vicariously through their triumphs. He spoke about the ludicrous belief of Jacque Rogge that a Youth Olympics will somehow address obesity in inactive children, and asked for a “Confederation of Youth Sports” that is autonomous from the IOC and sport federations. We need “public institutions” Sandro told us that really are institutions for the public. He has, as always, given us a great challenge—one that he has asked of himself, probably since he laced up his first pair of running shoes.
Sandro Donati is the definition of a renaissance man—one of balance and a graceful but active intelligence. It is with great honour that I give the 2007 Play the Game Award to Sandro Donati.
- Laura Robinson
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