Football - The Beautiful Game

Football - The Beautiful Game

       

I received the following, from Kamil - a young friend, as a thoughtful initiation of a debate about the staging of the World Cup in Brazil...

Kamil is an aspiring teacher and I suggested to him that as such, he should be concerned about social and world issues. After all, teaching is not dumping facts into the empty bags, but rather teaching kids how to think and provide them the ability to put thoughts together and be independent thinkers...

There are issues surrounding the World Cup...

1. There are corruption allegations against FIFA rulers...

2. The Brazilian government spent 11-12 billion dollars to prepare for the World Cup, but the poor in Brazil are disgusted for this extravagant reception while they have no abode and their children are hungry...

3. Of course there is the environment and the Amazon rainforests and their destruction...

Read below and applaud the wonderful insight of my young friend and the aspiring teacher....

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This is what Kamil sent...

With so many problems with infrastructure and economy in Brazil, was it the right decision to invite the world over and host the World Cup?

On the eve of the first game of the world cup 2014 hosted by Brazil, many still wonder if the proceedings will go “smoothly”. If we take a look back to Euro 2012 where Russian and Polish hooligans fought in the streets of Warsaw during a rally we can notice that all the planning and preparation are not enough to prevent outbreaks of emotions and opinions. In this case Russian fans were marching in the streets of Warsaw for a Russian Holiday when the fighting broke out. I am not sure who provoked who but from my point of view, Polish soccer hooligans probably felt disrespected by the Russian fans marching on their streets and started attacking them.

With the people in Brazil constantly marching, striking and sometimes rioting against the government or in order to influence the government to help fix the various problems with housing, health care, education and unemployment it is easy to expect that something will happen during the World Cup as happened in Poland for Euro 2012.

The government in Brazil spent large amounts of money (somewhere around 11 BILLION $ US) in order to make a show for the World to enjoy. WHY? With that sort of money the government could have invested in their country so that it can provide for its people and not the world… Brazil is known for football, they have plenty of stadiums where the games could have been played. Why did they need to construct new stadiums, shiny stadiums when there are so many families living in shacks, favelas or on the streets?

“Following a year of protests over the roughly 11 billion US $ ... Brazil is spending to host the World Cup, Rousseff (the president of Brazil) said in a televised address on Tuesday that investments in stadiums, airport terminals and other infrastructure would provide long-term benefits for the country.”


REALLY? I bet that if they asked the people they would tell the government to help the unemployment, healthcare and housing instead of the road or the airport… Why are these politicians so obsessed with bending the truth and showing the World that all is well in Brazil when it is actually not? The middle class is practically non existent, you’re either rich or your poor and there are very few in between. It would make sense to provide their own citizens with the help they need but instead the politicians in Brazil are putting on a very expensive show for the world…

As a diehard football fan I will watch the World Cup for the football but in the back of my mind I will continue to think about when something is going to happen whether it may be a protest, a riot or worse. I leave you with how people in the Brazil feel about the world cup, and keep in mind that the people we will watch in stadiums will be tourists staying in nice hotels supporting their own countries, meanwhile the Brazilian supporters will cheer their hearts out for their players and their team but as soon as the games are over they will go back to making themselves heard about the situation they find themselves in.

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Thank you Kamil,
That is a good introduction to World issues...
As I posted the insights of another young friend few days ago...I am indeed happy that the blog is bringing together few of us who aspire for the better and for change...I am sure many are reading and musing new ways of doing things...I wish they will join our debate...and write for the blog...
As Kamil stated...I love the GAME too...I cannot wait for the opening game...It will be a good game and I think Brazil and Croatia will make football win... Both are great teams with different styles...But I am sure we are going to be treated to a spectacular game...Lots of talent and lots of team work...
Let us celebrate the beauty in the "beautiful game"... 
No violence and no force...no slashing or jumping over each other in a human pile...no punching...no kicking...just celebrating human talent....

Two of the great...Messi an Ronaldo...

Celebrate the human spirit and enjoy human achievement...The beautiful game belongs to all of us... ENJOY!

But you do not have to do "funny" and outrageous things to enjoy....to the ball head below....