Grade 12 Life Orientation Research Paper

Grade 12 Life Orientation

Physical Education Written Task

Adam Blumenthal Grade 12S

A: Sport as a unifier

1. Yes, I believe sporting events contribute to unifying a nation, because it allows people from all backgrounds to come together with a single common purpose. This is evident in South Africa, where the whole country gets behind our sports team, which helps to break down the racial barriers that have been placed here in our society. During the 1995 World Cup, when Nelson Mandela and Francois Pienaar lifted the trophy in celebration it gave hope to South Africans that we are triumphant over our past struggles and as a nationwe will unite to create a better future for all South Africans. Thus, I believe I have shown that sports can help

No, drug testing at sporting events is not a violation of a sportsperson’s rights, because they are being put on the public stage and have agreed to compete without cheating. The sport code also wants to uphold its own integrity for the public. Thus, ensuring the athlete does not cheat by drug testing them at a sporting event does not violate their rights as their sport wants to uphold its integrity.

2.2. Yes, since even at school level the competitive nature of sport makes athletes want to have a competitive edge over their opponents and in order to protect the fairness and integrity of the sports code and for the health and well-being of the schooling athlete it is justified to test at school level.

2.3. No, I do not believe there are any circumstances in which doping could be justified since even if an athlete dopes there is no guarantee of success for the athlete in the sport.

2.4. In some sports it is considered common practice to dope, and since everybody else is doing it other athletes jump on the bandwagon. Additionally, in sports with a history of doping it makes itself more prone to doping than a sport with no history of

Lance Armstrong was a role model, because he showed people around the world that he was able to overcome adversity to achieve his goals. He was determined, courageous, and overcame insurmountable odds by winning 7 consecutive Tour de France titles after battling testicular cancer. His persistence and passion for the sport made him seemingly invincible during his racing years. He embodied these characteristics in order to become a sporting role model. However, the stripping him of his titles and Olympic medal, after he was found to have been doping during all his victories in the tour de France will be the legacy he leaves behind. He will not remembered as a hero, who overcame death similar to a god returning from death’s door, but rather as a man who cheated his way to the top of his profession. The heartbreak that he caused for his supporters will still be fresh in their hearts as the person, who gave them hope and invoked the sense of overcoming the impossible, were devastated by him being a fraud. They lost the trust and respect they had for a man they once idolised. He will never be able to regain the credibility he once had as an athlete for his accomplishments, and even though his charitable actions have been great that will also be called into question. Additionally, it is easier to remember someone for the things they did wrong rather than the things they did right, as humans are more inclined to see negatives over the positives despite rationality saying the