ID :
160687
Mon, 02/14/2011 - 04:33
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/160687
The shortlink copeid
Sumo: More than 75% say match fixing nothing new: survey+
TOKYO, Feb. 12 Kyodo - More than three quarters of respondents in a nationwide survey said that they believed that match fixing existed in sumo before recent revelations surfaced of wrestlers who had allegedly arranged to rig bouts using cellphone text
messages.
In a Kyodo News survey conducted on Friday and Saturday, about 76 percent of
respondents said they believed match fixing was a known practice in the ancient
sport even before the scandal broke implicating 14 people to rigged bouts.
In stark contrast, a little less than 19 percent of those questioned said they
did not believe match fixing existed.
The survey was a glowing indication of the gap between how sumo portrays itself
and what the public actually believes after Japan Sumo Association Chairman
Hanaregoma said in last Sunday's press conference that he thought match fixing
never existed in the past.
The sumo association currently receives government backing and special tax
breaks as a public entity.
But when asked whether or not the JSA should be able to continue as a public
entity, more than 62 percent of the respondents said they would have no qualms
with sumo discontinuing its status.
Almost 70 percent said the JSA's decision to call off next month's Spring Grand
Sumo Tournament and all regional tours this year was the appropriate response
in dealing with the biggest crisis to face the national sport.
Meanwhile, nearly 60 percent said that match fixing should never be allowed,
while almost 30 percent said bout rigging is a necessary evil and therefore
unavoidable in some cases.
Sumo, which traces its roots to religious purification rites, is seen by many
Japanese to transcend sport and wrestlers are expected to adhere to strict
codes of behavior and high moral standards in the model of the samurai of old.
In fact, when asked whether sumo is a sport or a cultural tradition, only 16
percent said it is a sport, while nearly 60 percent said it is part of Japanese
culture. More than 25 percent of respondents said it falls under neither
category.
Over 42 percent said they would like to watch sumo if tournaments resume while
less than 15 percent said they do not care to watch it. More than 40 percent
said they did not watch sumo to begin with.
The nationwide telephone survey, which was conducted randomly, received
responses from 1,013 people.
==Kyodo
messages.
In a Kyodo News survey conducted on Friday and Saturday, about 76 percent of
respondents said they believed match fixing was a known practice in the ancient
sport even before the scandal broke implicating 14 people to rigged bouts.
In stark contrast, a little less than 19 percent of those questioned said they
did not believe match fixing existed.
The survey was a glowing indication of the gap between how sumo portrays itself
and what the public actually believes after Japan Sumo Association Chairman
Hanaregoma said in last Sunday's press conference that he thought match fixing
never existed in the past.
The sumo association currently receives government backing and special tax
breaks as a public entity.
But when asked whether or not the JSA should be able to continue as a public
entity, more than 62 percent of the respondents said they would have no qualms
with sumo discontinuing its status.
Almost 70 percent said the JSA's decision to call off next month's Spring Grand
Sumo Tournament and all regional tours this year was the appropriate response
in dealing with the biggest crisis to face the national sport.
Meanwhile, nearly 60 percent said that match fixing should never be allowed,
while almost 30 percent said bout rigging is a necessary evil and therefore
unavoidable in some cases.
Sumo, which traces its roots to religious purification rites, is seen by many
Japanese to transcend sport and wrestlers are expected to adhere to strict
codes of behavior and high moral standards in the model of the samurai of old.
In fact, when asked whether sumo is a sport or a cultural tradition, only 16
percent said it is a sport, while nearly 60 percent said it is part of Japanese
culture. More than 25 percent of respondents said it falls under neither
category.
Over 42 percent said they would like to watch sumo if tournaments resume while
less than 15 percent said they do not care to watch it. More than 40 percent
said they did not watch sumo to begin with.
The nationwide telephone survey, which was conducted randomly, received
responses from 1,013 people.
==Kyodo
