DIRTY GAMES

It is something, especially in Australia, for sports events and stars to be given an almost god-like reverence. Almost nothing they can do can be wrong and we love them for their elite ability. This relationship has been challenged thanks to social media exposure and social conscious shifting. But considering we only see the highly polished side of the field, what happens when we peel away the perfectly manicured grass to expose the dirt underneath?

'Dirty Games' is an astonishing exposé on the underside of the world of professional sports. From match fixing to the FIFA scandals and the abhorrent treatment of the workers in Qatar building the stadiums for the World Cup. Prepare to have your view of spectacular sports events changed forever.

There is room in the subject matter of this documentary to probably make around 15 different features. But don't let that make you think it only glosses over the issues. Each small fragment comes together to create a truly horrific picture of what goes on be hind closed doors or away from cameras in this world that (ironically) has accolades for "best and fairest."

What blew my mind was the huge money that goes into some of these deals and match fixing. I know that sports stars earn a crazy big amount of money, but the administrators behind these organisations and their constant golden handshakes made my jaw drop.

That feeling of unease around the Rio Olympics was seemingly completely founded in reality. The post-Games economic and social shifts that it create really only serves the country's wealthy and plunged the rest of the country into debt.

These events occur on what is a completely unsustainable platform. The world cries for more and more, and the organisations promise so much and deliver so little. As someone who works passionately in the arts, it makes me frustrated that even a splash of this money could change things so much but isn't even looked at or thought of. Who knows though - maybe if there was this kind of money pumped into it then it would end up with the same level of corruption. Money is definitely the ultimate corrupter.