Terrorism at the World Cup.
Terrorism stems, not from a misguided fervor and devotion to a god, but from the true root of evil called poverty. The leaders of terrorist groups mainly carry out and plan attacks based on their own power struggles and recruit the destitute, poor and helpless. This is to create a foundation and following that tries to give a sense of credibility and reason to their completely illogical fight.
Like the catholic church in centuries past and other groups around the world do everyday, religion is the easiest and best way for these assholes to brainwash, indoctrinate and fuel sensationalist hatred based on bigotry and ignorance.
On a side note… Can we just reach a consensus in the community and in particular the media and just call these people arseholes? I mean I understand journalistic impartiality, integrity, objectivity etc but come on, they are arseholes. Fact.
I know this is a blog on sport and here it comes: It was reported today that an al-Qaida group in Algeria has made a statement that it is planning to detonate an explosive at the South African 2010 World Cup. Specifically it aims to do so when the English and United States football teams clash at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium, just outside of Johannesburg.
The statement, which was posted on an online jihadist magazine said, “How amazing could the match between the United States and England be if, during a live broadcast with a stadium packed with spectators, the sound of an explosion rumbles through the stands, the whole stadium is turned upside down and the numbers of dead bodies are in their dozens and hundreds, God willing.”
Sporting events are an obvious choice for a terrorist attack. When the eyes of the world are placed on something like the Olympic Games or a World Cup, full attention is paid to actions on and off the field.
There haven’t been too many attacks on athlete’s during events; The Munich Olympics and the recent attack on the Togo national Football team at the Africa Cup of Nations tournament spring to mind as some of the worst. However many terrorist attacks have been perpetrated in the lead up to events and heavily influenced the mood and way things have unfolded.
Terrorism doesn’t work in the long run, it can achieve short-term aims and create fear in it’s targets but never will it be victorious.
I remember last year when the Sri Lankan cricket team were targeted on their team bus in Pakistan.
In the subcontinent, Cricket has the sort of following and devotion that a terrorist organisation would dream of. The seriousness of the game to a population of billions, means that even the slightest imbalance brought to a test match can cause unprecedented rioting and uproar in the street. It’s hard to comprehend this in most countries; I mean we Australian’s love our sport but there is just no comparing.
In many parts of Pakistan and India, the West is loathed and hated. Yet still, players have visited from countries like England and Australia, countries which have supported ventures like the War on Terrorism. I’m not saying they are totally immune from terrorism but they are not generally a target that terrorists are interested in.
The reason for this is simple. They aren’t politicians, they aren’t armies. The players are treated as gods. While the rivalries between teams have reached fever pitch in the past, Crickets such as Shane Warne, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting are held in such high esteem. They are followed around where ever they go and adored by lovers of the game. Whenever they play in a country like Pakistan the whole nation stops and watches.
For the poorest and most poverty stricken citizens, the distraction of a test match can lift spirits and morale. So for a terrorist organisation to inexplicably attack a touring test nation (and therefore render any match to be cancelled) is baffling. If the aim of a terrorist organisation is to gain support through it’s actions then attacking though the peaceful and neutral medium of sport makes absolutely no sense.
It means nothing that the nation was Sri Lanka and not Australia targetted, the terrorists made the nation of Pakistan the black sheep of the international cricketing community and isolated themselves from the sporting world.
If the same thing was to happen at the World Cup then the reaction would be even stronger because it’s one of the truly global events after the Olympics.
Football is truly the world game. Football is empowering. You don’t have to be talented and you don’t have to have much money to partake and enjoy it. In Football it doesn’t matter what your race, colour or creed is. It is truly the world game with the highest amount participants and followers of any sport; all you need is a ball and a few people.
It gives people a sense of identity in a community. You can be in any city in the world, walk into any pub and if there is a game of football on a TV you have something to talk about. You can be in situations where you are hugging and cheering with complete strangers just because you share the love of the sport.
Thats why terrorism won’t stop the World Cup. Give up.
