From September 13th to September 15th, the Department of Sport and Health Sciences hosts the University Day of the German Society of Sports Science. The keynote speakers give insight into their presentations in short interviews.
Prof. Dr. Sigmund Loland is Professor of Sport Philosophy and former rector of the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences (2005-2013). He has published extensively within sport ethics, the ethics of performance-enhancing technologies, epistemology of movement, and history of ideas in sport. Prof. Loland is former President of the International Association of the Philosophy of Sport (2002-03) and the European College of Sport Science (2011-13). Since 2004 he is member of WADA's Ethics Board.
At the University Day of the German Society of Sports Science, Prof. Loland will give a lecture about "Ethics and Technology in Sport" on September 13th (11.45am, Audimax). He gives a first insight in a brief interview.
Prof. Loland, has sport changed through technology's influence?
"Yes, very much so. Some sports have actually emerged due to technology. The sport of cycling is a product of one of the technological wonders of the world: the bicycle. Technological development influences and changes sport in many ways. Introduction of the modern carving ski made it easier for skiers to master the slope, new bio-medical technologies from altitude tents via nutritional supplements to drugs exert impact on training and preparation."
This is what you will be focusing on in your presentation?
"Exactly, I will try to categorize the different kinds of technologies in sport and define their functions within it. In a broader context, I will give an overview of the many roles technology has in sports and the ethical dilemmas that emerge from those."
What kind of dilemmas do you mean?
"Take for instance the swimsuits that were banned a few years ago. They definitely improved the performance, but not everybody could afford them and they impaired what many swimmers took to be the natural feel of swimming. Obviously, most of these problems are not black and white images, but one can identify the ethically tense areas."
How can acceptable and unacceptable technologies be differentiated?
"We need to find out where to draw the line. Think of scenarios where the technology takes over the athlete's physiology. When the technological contribution is more significant than the performer's effort, sport gets into trouble with its authenticity. This especially comes in to play in the most heated discussions about the field of biomedical technologies."
Such as doping, for example?
"Exactly. Doping ranks among the most powerful technologies, they can really change the nature of sports. It therefore raises significant dilemmas not only within sport itself, but also in society. How do we decide, which methods are congruent with the ethical standards of sports? What about the future, where genetic technology can come into play? These are topics I will touch upon."
More about Prof. Dr. Sigmund Loland
More about the University Day of the German Society of Sports Science
Contact:
Johannes Hanke
Uptown Munich, Campus D
Georg-Brauchle Ring 60/62
80992 Munich
Telephone: 089 289 24765
E-Mail: Johannes.Hanke(at)tum.de
Interview: Conan Furlong & Fabian Kautz
Photo: Prof. Dr. Sigmund Loland