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Every four years, the
whole world stops to watch international sporting events such as the Olympics
and the Football World Cup in which athletes show their best performance to
make their country proud. These sporting occasions have proved to be helpful in
easing international tension in difficult times when powerful leaders were
trying to control the world’s economy and other governments were fighting over
the land.
The
Olympic Games are one of the best examples which prove how sporting events can
bring nations together, at least temporarily. From the ancient History, when
Greeks and Romans would interrupt battles to participate in the games, to the
more recent international disputes, when athletes from Palestine and Israel
would forget their differences, compete peacefully and even embrace each other
after an event. Moreover, these popular events have called the world’s
attention to the terrible consequences of wars; thus some leaders have tried to
reach agreements to end their disputes and live peacefully.
Similarly,
international sporting events show benefits in some developing countries which
live in a daily internal civil war. For example, Brazil has a high rate of
unemployment, lack of education, hunger, crime, poverty and corruption which
leads to an immense embarrassment of being Brazilian and a low self-esteem.
However, when the Football World Cup starts, the Brazilian squad, which is
considered the best team in the world, provokes an amazing feeling of pride in
their country. Most people seem to forget all their problems and even the
criminal activity decreases. They paint roads with the national colors, wear
the Brazilian team shirts and buy national flags. Moreover, the competition
brings families and neighbors together and even rival gangs watch the games and
celebrate peacefully.
In conclusion,
popular sporting events play an important role in decreasing international
tensions and liberating patriotic feelings as history has shown.
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