A new essay on soccer will be posted there every two weeks until the 2014 Brazil World Cup. I’d welcome your comments and thoughts about the piece here! Also, be sure to come back and check on the guide to the 2014 World Cup my Duke University students will be developing here this semester.
2 thoughts on “The Global Theatre”
Kavin Tamizhmani
This piece excellently provides context for the upcoming 2014 World Cup in Brazil. In particular, the section discussing the history of the game was insightful. It is remarkable to see how far the game has come from World War I. Jules Rimet’s dream of football uniting the masses has been achieved greater than he could have imagined. Rimet’s notions of football as national pride and unity have been realized through tournament play and overall globalization of the game. Additionally, the role of FIFA has changed considerably to one of a world power. When the Brazilian Havelange took over FIFA, he transformed the organization into a global institution. He won election by securing African votes. Today, as we have recently discussed in class, Africa produces some of the finest footballers in the world. Although they may face challenges in garnering fame at the club and international level, at least they have a chance to accomplish these feats. There is an opportunity to compete at the highest level and showcase a nation’s footballers even with the difficulties surrounding the acquisition of talent from rural areas. Also, the South Africa case is a strong example of how football governing bodies can be used to influence national politics. African representation at FIFA refused to allow South Africa to participate in past World Cups because of its apartheid practices. FIFA as well as other sporting bodies have tremendous power to exert on worldwide practices. Players are simply an extension of countries’ beliefs, and they bring social issues to light through their play and beliefs. Moreover, the game inherently advocates for equality on the pitch at its fundamental level. No one player is bigger than the team, and footballing merit is determined by technical ability and skill. While I have learned a great deal about the game as a spectator, I am excited for the upcoming World Cup and what the game will continue to do to enhance the lives of many around the world fixated on this global game.
I particularly enjoyed (and kind of hated) reading the excerpt about Ghana’s loss to Uruguay in the 2010 World Cup quarterfinals. I have trouble recounting sports memories worse than when I witnessed Asamoah Gyan blast the game-clinching penalty kick (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBDK-HEbIZs) into the crossbar and out of play. With an entire continent behind them, the Ghanaian squad was as close to glory as possible without having quite reached. My father, though Lebanese, was raised in the Cote d’Ivoire as the son of an immigrant merchant. Accordingly, I’ve cheered and hoped for Ivorian success and worshipped their stars such as Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure. When this squad failed to reach the elimination round in 2010 (as a result of an insurmountable goal difference fueled by Portugal’s 7-0 thrashing of North Korea), I switched my African allegiance to Ghana. In June, I’ll be in Brazil hopefully watching African soccer redeem and propel itself onto the biggest stage in world history. Though my heart will always truly belong to Brazilian futbol, I would be thrilled if an African team shocked the world this summer in Rio de Janeiro.
This piece excellently provides context for the upcoming 2014 World Cup in Brazil. In particular, the section discussing the history of the game was insightful. It is remarkable to see how far the game has come from World War I. Jules Rimet’s dream of football uniting the masses has been achieved greater than he could have imagined. Rimet’s notions of football as national pride and unity have been realized through tournament play and overall globalization of the game. Additionally, the role of FIFA has changed considerably to one of a world power. When the Brazilian Havelange took over FIFA, he transformed the organization into a global institution. He won election by securing African votes. Today, as we have recently discussed in class, Africa produces some of the finest footballers in the world. Although they may face challenges in garnering fame at the club and international level, at least they have a chance to accomplish these feats. There is an opportunity to compete at the highest level and showcase a nation’s footballers even with the difficulties surrounding the acquisition of talent from rural areas. Also, the South Africa case is a strong example of how football governing bodies can be used to influence national politics. African representation at FIFA refused to allow South Africa to participate in past World Cups because of its apartheid practices. FIFA as well as other sporting bodies have tremendous power to exert on worldwide practices. Players are simply an extension of countries’ beliefs, and they bring social issues to light through their play and beliefs. Moreover, the game inherently advocates for equality on the pitch at its fundamental level. No one player is bigger than the team, and footballing merit is determined by technical ability and skill. While I have learned a great deal about the game as a spectator, I am excited for the upcoming World Cup and what the game will continue to do to enhance the lives of many around the world fixated on this global game.
I particularly enjoyed (and kind of hated) reading the excerpt about Ghana’s loss to Uruguay in the 2010 World Cup quarterfinals. I have trouble recounting sports memories worse than when I witnessed Asamoah Gyan blast the game-clinching penalty kick (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBDK-HEbIZs) into the crossbar and out of play. With an entire continent behind them, the Ghanaian squad was as close to glory as possible without having quite reached. My father, though Lebanese, was raised in the Cote d’Ivoire as the son of an immigrant merchant. Accordingly, I’ve cheered and hoped for Ivorian success and worshipped their stars such as Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure. When this squad failed to reach the elimination round in 2010 (as a result of an insurmountable goal difference fueled by Portugal’s 7-0 thrashing of North Korea), I switched my African allegiance to Ghana. In June, I’ll be in Brazil hopefully watching African soccer redeem and propel itself onto the biggest stage in world history. Though my heart will always truly belong to Brazilian futbol, I would be thrilled if an African team shocked the world this summer in Rio de Janeiro.