Words like outstanding, unbelievable, brilliant and phenomenal sometimes sound quite normal. Even adjectives to describe the thrilling FIFA World Cup final seem insufficient. Goosebumps, a lot of heartbeats…I can keep going even if I’m not watching football or don’t know much about it. But on Sunday there was a reason for the heightened excitement: the one and only Lionel Messi.
The power of football is simply fascinating. In a world torn by prejudice, sanctions and strife, it’s refreshing to see a sport and a personality that unites us to cheer on a team, or rather a person. I remember back in 2011 when India played Sri Lanka in the ICC World Cup final, everyone wanted India to win because it was Sachin Tendulkar’s last World Cup. You can’t compare football’s popularity to cricket and everyone was cheering Messi on to win the World Cup as it was his last tournament. It reminded me of 2011.
Two three years ago the world united against Covid. We banded together because we needed to win the war to survive. On Sunday it was so nice to see that we don’t need a pandemic for us to sit together and forget our differences. Sport has this effect on people. We viewers cheer, cry and go through the whole range of emotions and exclamations. People who pray for their team or players show an inherent bond. They are not related to the players, they don’t even know them, but are willing to pray or fight for them. The power of everything is truly inspiring.
I thought my last article for this year would be about the past year, some introspection and something to be thankful for. But after watching the finale, all other thoughts and emotions disappeared. The only word on the lips was: wow, wow and wow”.
The role of sport in conflict reduction can be traced back to the Olympic Games. In a divided world, sport is a unique and important connective tissue that holds people together. When we think of the platforms that unite us as humans, regardless of background or beliefs, it’s hard to imagine many as powerful as the stadiums we fill to cheer on our favorite teams and players.
At the opening ceremony of the 23rd Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, we once again witnessed the power of sport as athletes from North and South Korea marched together. The world is a broken place. There are conflicts between countries around the world and also conflicts within countries as we become isolated with others who only share our values and beliefs. But throughout history, people who otherwise have little in common have come together on neighboring pitches and in packed stadiums as fans and players alike, putting those differences aside in favor of their teams. By playing together, these people unknowingly learned the universal values of respect, tolerance, and fair play.
No other social activity brings people together in such large numbers and with so much passion and joy. Regardless of age, gender or ethnicity, sports are fun for everyone; its range is unrivalled. More importantly, sport promotes universal values that go beyond language and culture. It is a universal language that brings people together regardless of their race, background, religious beliefs or economic status.
Nelson Mandela said in 2000: “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that few others do. It speaks to young people in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where there was only despair.”
Messi, thank you for making us all cheer together and celebrate your win. We can settle our bill tomorrow.
– Shilpa Bhasin Mehra is an independent legal advisor based in Dubai
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