Football: Is it a Perfect Vehicle to Promote Peace and Unity?

The strong, aromatic smell of coffee keeps me hardly awake as I rub my dreary eyes. In the dead of night the buzzing of the vuvuzelas in the stadium reach my ears from the television speakers. I lie on my couch observing the orange and blue jerseys swiftly move across the field. My eyes slowly close but in no time I hear the commentator's voice rise. Finally a GOAL by Andres Iniesta for Spain and an end to the deadlock. What a game! I thought. Fifteen cards including one red , a vicious circle of fouls and free kicks and a goal at the very last minute. Spain is now the new World Cup Champion.

The past few weeks were crazy for not only young people, but people of all ages around the globe who ardently followed the World Cup. Everywhere I went in Kathmandu, in the shops and the streets, the talk was always about football and predictions about which team would win.

I have never experienced such great energy generated by any other sport. Football is one of the most popular games in the world and it seems that the World Cup is the one and only time in years that people from all over the world come together to talk about a subject of common interest.

Nevertheless, a probing question in my mind and I suppose for others as well is whether the World Cup itself has a larger purpose? Does it actually promote peace and unity among nations? If it does, then the question is whether or not we youth essentially agree with this notion. I decided to gather some views that would give me insight into the various perceptions about football.

Swarnima Shrestha in Nepal views the sport as a medium that promotes socialization among peers. She shares, "you have to watch the games to be able to talk about it with everyone else who is watching. You certainly do not want to be left behind."

"The game can really forge a sense of belongingness in strangers and it is surprising how the talk of a single game can bring people to the same pitch!" Swarnima added. Other football fans sense thrill and excitement in watching the games.

Similarly, Kayla Swart from the United States says, "I like the dynamic action of the sport and the unpredictability of each minute; you never know what to expect, and each goal seems unique in some way." People are also passionate about their respective national teams as Phil Schroeder from Germany expresses - "I watch football because it is part of my culture; it is part of who Germans are. I do not know of any German that is not watching the World Cup." Football generates conversation, thrill and a sense of patriotism, but still I find myself questioning whether it actually creates a sense of belonging and unity for everyone around the globe.

A game is just a game. A match involves wins and losses, but at the end of the day only the best team wins. "In one of the world's biggest sporting events, accepting defeat is difficult and different people react to defeat in their own ways" states Sabin Kumar Singh from Nepal. He was extremely upset when his favorite team, Argentina, was out of the competition. Inspite of this he says, "I eventually convinced myself that it is just a game and losses happen." While some people do not give up on their favorite team, others become followers of different teams, because hardly anyone stops watching football altogether.

Manhal Adam from Sudan was upset after Ghana lost a game that it was so close to winning. She says "My favorite team is Ghana, but when they lost their match I was extremely upset. I am still watching in hopes that the team that wins the cup will be the deserving one." While football certainly rallies people from the same nation to support “their” team, football accompanied by media also sparks interest in and educates people about other nations. It would be unjust to say that football is simply just a sport, because over the past few weeks I have come to realize the power that the sport holds.

In our globalized world, the football world cup is a great nurturer of international awareness and a combatant of isolationism. Ashiaki Tei from Ghana says "I believe football has the power to bridge gaps between nations and cultures if the tournament is fair and teams win games fairly."

Manil Maharjan who is visually impaired believes that the thrill of football knows no boundaries. An ardent football lover, Manil states - "Football is not a war of arms, but a peaceful battle." I was extremely intrigued by his views as Manil further shares, "this year the World Cup was held in South Africa where racial conflicts have existed. Today people from all different nations are there together in the same stadium cheering for each other and I feel this has indeed paved way for mutual dialogues and cooperation."

For the most part people believe that football can temporarily bring nations together and promote unity, but also fear that other issues may continue to exist. Likewise Kayla says,"I believe football can serve as a potentially neutral connecting point and means of unifying people from different backgrounds or beliefs, but the extent to which it can extinguish awareness of their differences depends on the setting in which it's viewed and efforts that are made in conjunction with the game. The sport itself doesn't guarantee people will be able to look beyond their differences, although any efforts to ensure this would be most noble."

In light of this, the World Cup certainly exists as a reminder that efforts need to be made in order for peace and diversity to flourish throughout the years to come. Whether football fans back their own nations or lend their support to other nations as the games progress, the sport has undoubtedly paved way for people across the world acknowledge and accept each other's existence and differences.

Words by Jeanny Vaidya

Football: Is it a Perfect Vehicle to Promote Peace and Unity?

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