What a truly magnificent global tournament the World Cup is - an event that allows nations to express all their national fervour and patriotism legitimately by getting behind their national teams in the hope that they will be skilful and lucky enough to become world champions.
The World Cup is a truly global phenomena because it is organised by a world governing body which, like the Olympic Committee, knows that it has to be not only inclusive but also aspirational in encouraging always the ethos of mutual respect between competing national teams and their supporters to ensure that the competition is played to mankind’s noblest competitive instincts and national pride - not the basest.
A world without cultural ties and sporting events would be a truly barren place, that is presumably why the men of evil always target them.
The fact that the World Cup is being hosted for the first time in Africa and South Africa, in particular, has a political dimension of huge significance, confirming that its people have finally emerged from the shadow of Apartheid to take their rightful place in the community of nations. However, none of this would have been possible if they didn’t have the infrastructure and political stability to support the event.
How sad that family tragedy prevented Nelson Mandela from attending the opening game. It is, undoubtedly, his wisdom and forbearance in understanding the power of sport in unifying people in a country whose sporting allegiance previously tended to divide along racial lines. The World Cup is an achievement that belongs to him and the people of South Africa but which all the world recognises and rejoices with them in their success and pride.
Even for those of my age who were not directly oppressed by the Apartheid regime - it’s ridiculous, evil dogma cast a long shadow over our own futures almost on a par with the threat of nuclear war and global destruction.
The political boycott of South African rugby certainly contributed to the downfall of the Apartheid regime and it seems few nations or regimes (except perhaps the North Koreans, and even they are participating in the World Cup) seem to enjoy pariah status.
Talking of ex-pariah nations, Serbia, another specialist in ethnic cleansing, lost to Ghana (with its Serbian coach). Their participation is an important step in their further rehabilitation and integration into the world community.
Those countries that ignore the lessons of soft power and international public relations and think that the projection of brute force and political intransigence are the solution to their problems, are running against the current tide of human history and it is even more inexcusable when they ignore the lessons of their own history.
As for South Africa fulfilling its economic potential, multi-racial Brazil (the B in BRIC) has perhaps the most widely admired national football team and that is something to aspire to.
The World Cup is a truly global phenomena because it is organised by a world governing body which, like the Olympic Committee, knows that it has to be not only inclusive but also aspirational in encouraging always the ethos of mutual respect between competing national teams and their supporters to ensure that the competition is played to mankind’s noblest competitive instincts and national pride - not the basest.
A world without cultural ties and sporting events would be a truly barren place, that is presumably why the men of evil always target them.
The fact that the World Cup is being hosted for the first time in Africa and South Africa, in particular, has a political dimension of huge significance, confirming that its people have finally emerged from the shadow of Apartheid to take their rightful place in the community of nations. However, none of this would have been possible if they didn’t have the infrastructure and political stability to support the event.
How sad that family tragedy prevented Nelson Mandela from attending the opening game. It is, undoubtedly, his wisdom and forbearance in understanding the power of sport in unifying people in a country whose sporting allegiance previously tended to divide along racial lines. The World Cup is an achievement that belongs to him and the people of South Africa but which all the world recognises and rejoices with them in their success and pride.
Even for those of my age who were not directly oppressed by the Apartheid regime - it’s ridiculous, evil dogma cast a long shadow over our own futures almost on a par with the threat of nuclear war and global destruction.
The political boycott of South African rugby certainly contributed to the downfall of the Apartheid regime and it seems few nations or regimes (except perhaps the North Koreans, and even they are participating in the World Cup) seem to enjoy pariah status.
Talking of ex-pariah nations, Serbia, another specialist in ethnic cleansing, lost to Ghana (with its Serbian coach). Their participation is an important step in their further rehabilitation and integration into the world community.
Those countries that ignore the lessons of soft power and international public relations and think that the projection of brute force and political intransigence are the solution to their problems, are running against the current tide of human history and it is even more inexcusable when they ignore the lessons of their own history.
As for South Africa fulfilling its economic potential, multi-racial Brazil (the B in BRIC) has perhaps the most widely admired national football team and that is something to aspire to.
0 comments:
Post a Comment