NO HOLDS BARRED

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman speaks with Jens Sejer Andersen, the International Director of Play the Game.

Based in Denmark, Play the Game is an organization "aiming to strengthen the ethical foundation of sport and promote democracy, transparency and freedom of expression in sport." Particular attention has recently been given to the movement to establish an international agency to battle corruption in sport.

We spoke with Jens Andersen about the latest developments in this movement, including the establishment of a task force set up by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to come up with recommendations to fight irregular and illegal sports betting as well as other forms of corruption. We analyzed the strong and weak points of the IOC plan, and discussed whether or not the legal gambling industry can be viewed as an ally in the battle against corruption in sport. And we discussed the important role which the fans can play in this fight, which ultimately involves determining if all the sports which the fans enjoy are what they appear to be and are on the level, or not.

Also, March 6, 2011, marks the fifth anniversary of this show, No Holds Barred, as a podcast. March 8 is also the fortieth anniversary of the first fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. We tie these two anniversaries together by noting the long fight Ali had for justice both inside and outside the ring, and the view held by one of the very few supporters Ali had in the media at that time, Howard Cosell, that "anybody who would call himself or herself a journalist has the duty to act as a watchdog, protecting the public interest against the increasingly arrogant and powerful sports Establishment."

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