The history of sports dates back at least 3,000 years and has functioned as training for war and hunting. During the Cold War, the Olympics were seemingly a battlefield of politics and values. Competitive sports, then, seem almost like the commercialization of tribal warfare. To fight to the death without, well death.

This is to say, sports have disproportionately high stakes for something unrelated to survival. And while politics and whatnot are expected to be dirty and corrupt, sports and their tribal origins are not. It’s survival of the fittest within the bounds of balance and the status quo.

The Big 8 tournament is designed to provide Varsity student-athletes with the opportunity to engage in healthy competition in girls’ and boys’ soccer, basketball, futsal, softball, and cheer in an effort to improve attitudes toward fair play and friendship. Participation and sportsmanship are to be held in the highest regard whereby individual team success is held in a reasonable perspective. All eight schools (Graded School, Escola America de Capinas (EAC), Sant’ Anna International School, Escola Americana do Rio de Janeiro (EARJ), Escola Americana de Brasilia (EAB), Pan American Christian Academy (PACA), International School of Curitiba (ISC), and Chapel School) and individual teams are encouraged to provide an active learning experience for all participants.

Since the pandemic, Big 8 has gone all into promoting sportsmanship. Gone are the days of MVP. We reward athletes who are fair and generous with green cards and the Sportsmanship Award.

Yet, then, why did we reward cheaters and liars with 3rd place? The sanctity of balance has been shattered. 

The only way for Graded to be eliminated would be scenario where EARJ wins the game with 10 goals or more. (Check out Sofia’s article for a better explanation)

EAB lost 0x10. 

Led by their entire reserve team, EAB lost perfectly. With not one more goal then needed to seal Graded’s fate.

What’s particularly pertinent is that EAB could have passed even without this duplicity. They could have just done their best and won the game. Or they could have lost with less than 3 goals. But that would come with a much harder team to beat later on and, in the case they lost with Graded having the most goals scored, they would be unable to pass as in the direct confrontation between EAB and EARJ they would lose. 

• In what world is losing badly the best option? 
• In what world is lying, cheating, and stealing award-winning behavior? 
• In what world is it sportsmanship-like for not just athletes to exploit a loophole but coaches? 
• I find it hard to believe that a bunch of teenage boys were able to not only recognize such a loophole but enact it without their coach’s contribution especially considering the lineup during that game. 

Although Mr. Jaspers hopes that “even though there was a loophole in the rules, I believe that most coaches and teams will never consider the option of giving up on purpose, but play with pride for their school.” I can’t help but disagree. Ashna Rastogi ’25 notes how she believes “it is unacceptable that the EAB athletes and athletic advisors condoned such behavior.” 

Although it was cathartic to cheer for EAC and Chapel in their semifinals against EAB and EARJ respectively it cannot be overstated how bittersweet this felt. The sense of unity or vengeance can only last for as long as the game, the bitter taste of being robbed remains for much longer.

After EARJ and EAB both lost their semifinals, they faced off for the 3rd place prize. 

It was as though EAB had been reborn. The team that lost 0x10 the day before was gone. In their place were Big 8 2024 Boy’s Futsal Bronze Medalists. 

Mr. Jasper notes that “finding out what really happened will probably be very difficult, but the fact is that no official rules have been broken. As far as I know, in the history of the Big 8, this scenario has never happened. Updating and clarifying the rules of the game will be a very important step to ensure teams are not put in a position to have these options.” 

While this shows promise for future change, the harm has been done. The seniors on the team will never get to experience a Big 8 again. This sets a precedent that schools and administrators cannot enact the cathartic release our student body deserves. We will probably see those Brasiliense again next year, having learned nothing but how corruption and blatant use of loopholes bring trophies and medals.