莫柏升｜韩国七榄本应之处理
作为亚洲榄球总会前赛事统筹，曾经负责在韩国举办多场七人榄球赛事，我希望就11月13日事件作出解说。
来稿作者：莫柏升（Sean Moore）
以前我在亚洲超过20个国家和地区举办榄球赛事，确保国歌及其他国家象征正确地播放及展示是工作的基本要求。在我直接统筹的超过100场赛事及巡回赛中，我总会与主办球会预先试播国歌。
最少在2015年起，参赛队伍都要在系列赛开始前先提交国歌。亚洲榄球总会现在也确认了，港队也是这样确认了在韩国赛事中所用的国歌。此后，确保主办方正确播放国歌就是亚洲榄球总会的责任。
亚洲榄球总会承认了他们没有履行最基本及重要的职责，这不但暴露了其筹办能力的不足，也反映其缺乏政治及文化敏感度，明明亚洲体坛多年来也要处理中华台北的奥运旗帜。
主办方有责任确保赛事顺利举行，包括播放正确国歌。我记忆所及，以往香港举办的每一场亚洲榄球总会赛事也未曾出错。事实上，我以往在韩国举办赛事时，总会确保场地展示韩国国旗，以让球队中的服役队员能够履行责任，向国旗致敬。
故此，这次的严重失误，以及其对香港榄球总会这个亚洲榄球总会创始成员的伤害，我个人感到非常失望。
球场上应份之事、事后应有之处理
亚洲榄球总会及韩国榄球总会应立即而明确地承认事态之严重，清楚肯定地澄清港队成员、管理层、球迷或香港人没有一人涉及弄错、提供、下载或播放那冒犯的歌曲。
然而，竟超过48小时后事件才得到澄清。我认为管理层及韩国方的回应仍然不足够，一些不具名的不实言论更把事件愈说愈乱。更令我失望的是，本地媒体不断覆述这些合理化（错误）的说法。
现在既已弄清来龙去脉——虽然已来得迟了——将别人的错误归咎于香港榄总，并不公道。作为球赛筹办人，我认为港队承受了最大的伤害，他们对一场重要决赛的备战受到显著影响，在香港又面对轩然大波，表现出色却得不到公允回报。
赛后不应发生之事
香港榄总不应沦为政治皮球。香港一些评论似乎乐此不疲地谴责球员，在赛前没有为意播放了那冒犯的歌曲。对不起，球员备赛而非示威。
我们的榄球员及香港榄总体现了这个城市很多优秀之处——不同文化和种族的人以此为家，为着共同目标和宗旨而团结一致，带给香港实至名归的荣誉。
正如其他香港运动员，我们的榄球员（大部份土生土长）为了运动和他们的城市付出了大量的金钱，牺牲了与至爱相处的时光。与其他运动不同的是，我们的榄球员为香港而真的会受伤。
尊重对手是榄球秉持着的传统之一。榄球员以激烈而公平的竞争为荣，赛事结束便拥抱我们的对手。社会许多人可以从中领悟我们如何也可以团结在一起，彼此求同，将怒气留归球场。
有人要求香港榄总反省事件。曾与榄总以及许多球会共事，我想不到有什么组织比他们更致力、开放、真诚地追求自我进步，改良做法及程序。
但或许我们也应该反思香港榄球队的价值：亚运金牌及亚洲桂冠，其公众形象为香港带来数以十亿计的得益，为这个城市带来无价的国际声誉，对运动场地及学校球场的投资数以亿计，数千个社区项目帮助弱势及少数族裔青年、智力或身体缺憾者以及其他群体。
这是任何其他运动或社会组织也难以企及的成就。不只如此，还有他们多次击败韩国队。总的来说，他们应该得到的或许是欢呼拥戴？
莫柏升（Sean Moore）在2008至15年任亚洲榄球总会赛事统筹，包括创办亚洲七人榄球赛，在香港专业推广体育的经验超过廿五年。文章原为英文，由编辑翻译，概以英文版本为准。内容仅代表作者个人观点，不代表香港01立场。
What should have happened in South Korea
As a former Tournament Manager for Asia Rugby whose responsibilities included running many sevens tournaments in South Korea, I would like to clarify what should have happened last weekend.
When I ran Asia’s rugby competitions across more than 20 countries and regions, it as a basic operational requirement to ensure that anthems and other national symbols were in place and properly displayed. Over 100s of games and tournaments I directly managed, I always tested the anthems with the host union before play started.
As late as 2015, teams were requested to submit anthems prior to the Series. As Asia Rugby has now confirmed, this was also the case with the Hong Kong team, which confirmed the anthem for use across the Series.
From that point onward it was the responsibility of Asia Rugby to ensure they were played correctly by the Host union.
Asia Rugby has admitted it failed in this most basic and vital task, which is not just an indictment of its operational acumen, but displays a surprising lack of political and cultural sensitivity given the long-standing issues in Asian sport around the display of the Chinese Taipei Olympic flag.
It is the responsibility of the Host union to ensure the smooth operation of the event including that the correct anthem is played - as has been the case at every Asia Rugby game or tournament held in Hong Kong as far back as I can remember.
In fact, when hosting Korea I always ensured the display of the Korean flag at field level so the members of the national forces in the team could salute it as is their service requirement.
Given this, it was personally disappointing to see this egregious error and its lasting impact on one of Asia Rugby’s founding members, the Hong Kong Rugby Union.
That’s what should have happened on the field... This is what should have happened afterwards.
An immediate and clear recognition by Asia Rugby and Korea Rugby Union of the severity of the situation and a clear and unequivocal clarification that no Hong Kong team member, management staff, fan or Hong Kong national was involved in identifying, providing, downloading or playing the offensive piece of music that was aired.
Instead, this confirmation took more than 48 hours. I believe the response from the governing body and Korea remains insufficient and at times has been obfuscated by erroneous comments delivered by anonymous sources. I was even more disappointed to see local media provide an echo chamber for these rationalizations.
Given the facts of the matter are now clear, albeit belatedly, it seems unfair to hold the HKRU responsible for the organizational failures of others. As an event organizer, I believe the team is amongst the most egregiously damaged parties, given their preparations were drastically impacted ahead of an important final, and the resulting furore they have faced at home – ill reward for a successful performance.
What shouldn’t have happened after the game…
The Hong Kong Rugby team should not be made to be a political football. Certain local commentators seem happy to punish the players for not knowing the offensive music that was played ahead of the final. Sorry, these athletes practice not protest.
Our rugby athletes and the Hong Kong Rugby UNION represent for many the best promise of our city - a home for people of different cultures and races united behind a common goal and purpose, to bring authentic glory to Hong Kong.
Like all Hong Kong athletes, our rugby athletes (the majority of whom are born and raised here) make considerable sacrifices financially, and in irreplaceable time spent away from loved ones, for their sport and their city. Unlike other sports, our rugby athletes actually bleed for Hong Kong.
One of the enduring traditions of rugby is respect for our opponents. Rugby players pride themselves on the ability to engage in tough but fair contests, and then embrace our opponent once the whistle blows. It seems that many in our community might benefit from understanding how we too can come together, recognize our commonality, and leave resentments on the field where they belong.
There have been calls for the Hong Kong Rugby Union to self-reflect. Having worked with the Union and many other sports bodies here I can think of no other association that will commit themselves as intently, openly and honestly to self-improvement, and enhancing their processes and procedures.
But perhaps we might also take a moment to reflect on the value of our Hong Kong rugby teams: reigning Asian Games gold medallists and Asian champions, and the public face of an organization that has generated billions for Hong Kong; created incalculable international goodwill for the city; invested over one hundred million dollars into developing sports grounds in parks and schools, and run thousands of community programmes for disadvantaged and migrant youth, the mentally and physically challenged, and other concern groups in the city.
That is a record that would stand against any sporting or social organization in Hong Kong. All of that and they beat South Korea on the regular… On balance, perhaps they are worth championing after all?
“01观点”欢迎投稿，来函请电邮至01view@hk01.com。来稿请附上作者真实姓名及联络方法。