If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.

- George Washington

Friday 3 December 2010

A Different Angle

Having spent the last couple of posts banging on negatively about football, I was delighted to read a post today on the excellent Heresiarch blog which has made me think a little differently about the role of sport in general and football in particular. Here's the drift:

By hosting the World Cup, at vast cost, the Qataris are giving not just football
but global secular culture the greatest possible plug. They are encouraging not
just their own people, but all the inhabitants of that tumultuous region -
Iraqis, Iranians, Saudis, Syrians - to plough their restless energy into a
harmless game. And away from terrorism, fundamentalism and dreams of global
jihad.

Well worth a read.
Posted by Richard at 22:50
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6 comments:

  1. camel jockey3 December 2010 at 23:35

    It will be hot in Qatar . 50 C Phew.
    Plus the stadiums will be built with migration workers from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. Working like slaves in the scorching sun for peanuts.
    Women aren't allowed to do sport in Qatar which isn't exactly in FIFA's 'fairness' campaign.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Richard3 December 2010 at 23:40

    Funnily enough, I have just been talking to a colleague who used to run a sports and leisure facility in Bahrain, and she was saying exactly the same.

    ReplyDelete
  3. camel jockey3 December 2010 at 23:53

    Ah Bahrain. Used to love escaping to there at weekends from it's close neighbour over the causeway. Bacon butties, alcohol and thai birds ;)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Richard4 December 2010 at 00:05

    Heh. She also said that the worst bit was the Saudis coming over at weekends, not used to drinking, and generally behaving like arses. Glad you were there to show the way :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. camel jockey4 December 2010 at 00:18

    Ha ha . Yes Bahrain was fun. One giant knocking shop. Watching the saudis fall off their bar stools in The Diplomat. Or joining the race to freedom over the causeway to Bahrain on a Wednesday afternoon and the slow column back to saudi on a Friday night. Happy Daze.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Nikos4 December 2010 at 09:04

    I trust that FIFA checked when Ramadan will be in 2022?

    ReplyDelete

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