Soccer world cup and events like the Olympics, unite the nations at least temporarily as long as people take the defeat in true sports man spirit and enjoy winning in a responsible fashion. Will patriotism pave way to violence in any circumstances on these occasions?
On the one side, organising any international sporting event is a proud moment for any country. If conducted in a proper manner, benefits will be of many folds. Primarily, as the country wants to present itself internationally to create a grand impression, people naturally will be united in achieving this target by being a hospitable host. Secondly, it automatically creates opportunity for infrastructure development and along with it lot of job opportunities will be created and taking into consideration the number of visitors or tourists coming from abroad, the country can expect an economic boom through tourism aspect also. Eventually, if properly sustained, this can have an everlasting effect and people will remember this event as a product of their combined effort raising patriotism to a higher order.
On the other hand, hooliganism or any other kind of violence is enough to turn the table to a reverse order. Atmosphere can be highly volatile, if two nations with not so good political or economic relationship meet in a crucial world cup match. Patriotic emotions can run extremely high because of a wrong decision or as a result of an emotional action by the players in these kinds of matches, otherwise considered silly. A classic example was the 1970 FIFA world cup qualifier match between Honduras and El Salvador which resulted in rioting and consequently ended in a war between these two African nations. The incidence of these kind were reported from many football fields as well as Olympic arenas.
To summarize, I agree with the fact that to a large extend this kind of global events helps to ease tensions between countries particularly neighbours and enhance positive patriotic emotions. But, if emotions go out of hand, though rare, can result in an unwarranted violent situation.
Soccer world cup and
events
like the Olympics, unite the nations at least
temporarily
as long as
people
take the defeat in true sports
man
spirit and enjoy winning
in a responsible fashion
. Will patriotism pave way to violence in any circumstances on these occasions?
On the one side,
organising
any international sporting
event
is a proud moment for any
country
. If conducted
in a proper manner
, benefits will be of
many
folds.
Primarily
, as the
country
wants to present itself
internationally
to create a grand impression,
people
naturally
will
be united
in achieving this target by being a hospitable host.
Secondly
, it
automatically
creates opportunity for infrastructure development and along with it lot of job opportunities will
be created
and taking into consideration the number of visitors or tourists coming from abroad, the
country
can
expect
an economic boom through tourism aspect
also
.
Eventually
, if
properly
sustained, this can have an everlasting effect and
people
will remember this
event
as a product of their combined effort raising patriotism to a higher order.
On the other hand
, hooliganism or any other
kind
of violence is
enough
to turn the table to a reverse order. Atmosphere can be
highly
volatile, if two nations with not
so
good
political or economic relationship
meet
in a crucial world cup match. Patriotic emotions can run
extremely
high
because
of a
wrong
decision or
as a result
of an emotional action by the players in these
kinds
of matches,
otherwise
considered silly. A classic example was the 1970
FIFA world cup
qualifier match between Honduras and El Salvador which resulted in rioting and
consequently
ended in a war between these two African nations. The incidence of these
kind
were reported
from
many
football fields
as well
as Olympic arenas.
To summarize
, I
agree with the fact that
to a large extend this
kind
of global
events
helps
to
ease
tensions between
countries
particularly
neighbours
and enhance
positive
patriotic emotions.
But
, if emotions go out of hand, though rare, can result in an unwarranted violent situation.