UN is honoring Rahul Dravid and Inzamam ul Haq says rediff
I dont have any problems in giving as many awards to sportsmen. Inzy is building a hospital in Multan. Rahul and Anil spend a lot of their time for specially abled children in Bangalore. And they contribute a lot for charity. No debate in that. Give them awards. They deserve it.
But the cliched saying that sports brings the nation closer and diffuses tension is ridiculuously stupid and flawed to the core.
“Diallo said cricket had played a major role in easing tensions between the two sub continental nations leading to a summit meeting between their Prime Ministers.
“They [the two cricket teams] have, therefore, made a contribution to peace,” he said.”
What nonsense? Cricket has contributed to peace eh? For that matter, how on earth can any sport contribute to peace?
If am not wrong in 1999, when this Kargil thing happened India played Pakistan in the world cup. That too right after India re captured Tiger-Hill from the pakistanis. Did cricket diffuse tension then?
Or what happened in Varanasi day before yesterday. Who are responsible for it? Or what does the UP government and central government say about the people responsible for the crime?
India-Pakistan series concluded very recently right?
Sports and Peace dont go hand in hand. People watch sports for the passion and action. Not for peace! High time people stop linking them!
In a way it is good that Iran doesnt play cricket. Else there will be a public outcry that Iran has been ignored, and Rahul should not accept it till Iran is also recognized!
Ferro, well said. Neither do I understand how sport has brought the nations closer. bah! On a lighter note, nothing seems to happen when Ind and Pak are playing each other. Probably everybody is then busy betting and watching cricket rather than engaging in terrorism etc.
“But the cliched saying that sports brings the nation closer and diffuses tension is ridiculuously stupid and flawed to the core.”
While I agree that it sounds cliched and often even sports in “War minus shooting”, it is not ridiculously stupid. It has worked in the past, it is not altogether bad/flawed logic and it has a name of it’s own – Ping Pong Diplomacy.
And more on that here – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ping_pong_diplomacy
agreed sports cannot bring peace among two countries in its truest sense..
but for certain it has changed my outlook on Pakistan after India’s tour in 2004. until then I had a feeling that most of the Pakistanis hated India and Indians.
It was during that tour I came to know about the popularity of Indian players and actors in Pakistan and the hospitality of Pakistanis. Other than some militant outfits and the government the people there are just like us.
Why blame it on poor sport in the first place? Religion with politics. Politics with Sport. Whats the next cocktail?
Has there been an instance of history where the LACK OF SPORT helped solve political problems?
-Ind v South Africa Davis Cup Final 1974.
-US boycott of Moscow Olympics 1980
-USSR boycott of Los Angeles Olympics 1984
-GDR boycott of Los Angeles Olympics 1984
-Aus/WI boycott of SL, World Cup 1996
The losers were the boycotters! With our piss-poor sporting record we threw away a golden chance to win the Davis Cup.
Ind and Pak didnt play cricket from 1960-78. With series victories in Eng, WI, NZ we lost the chance to pummel a pathetic Pak in those decades.
Thanks to Sachin we got back at them in the 90s after having a 1:8 win-loss ratio in the 80s. And if we had refused to play, gamblers and cheats like Akram would have accused us of cowardice. Do we deserve that?
The players get on nicely and we showed our killer instinct by trampling them in both Tests and ODIs in 2004 and 2006(barring one afternoon) on their soil, causing heads to roll in their camp.
I mean, how is banning sport going to help? Beats me.
Here’s a case of sports causing a war
http://www.onwar.com/aced/data/sierra/soccer1969.htm
It’s called the soccer war of 1969
After having seen all the football Derbies, and till a few days back I never beleived that sport can contribute to the peace. Because most of these derbies are in fact looked up as more than a game of football,say as a sectarian or cultural clashes. So a victory of one over the other is seen as the victory of one culture over the other.(classic eg. Barca vs Real).
But there are some people who are more passionate on the sport than their culture or sect.Ronaldinho being appreciated by Real madrid fans is no mean acheivement by him and by the sport itself. The ovation in turn meant that there is a group of castillean culture who do not mean harm to atleast one player representing catalan club.
But the population of these people who are passionate about sport more than their culture is less and I beleive they are the only ones who might encourage peace with their rivals for the sake of sport.
RC,
Yes
Krithika,
Thats an interesting story. Works once in a while
Balaji,
Thats a nice view
thetalkativeman,
I dont think I said anywhere that ban sports. Did I? And there are enough statistics to quote how many sports games brought racist, communal clashes. Remember 1972 munich games?
Sports is something really good. Being a huge fan of many games played in this world except for cricket, I will be the last person to ask for a ban on sports.
I just say sports doesnt bring peace. They are not linked!
karthik,
Thanks for the link!
Srivat,
Cant agree more. And the chennai crowd saluting the pakistani team after the victory! Those are rare gems!
Ferrari,
all those boycott instances(including 1972 massacre) was because of politics entering sports and not the other way round.
Whoa! Where da hell did my comment go?