The World Cup kicks this evening in Brazil. Weeks of football, spectacular football one hopes. It is true that for many Maltese the final would be played Saturday night when Italy meet England but for most the tournament goes on irrespective.
Pope Francis sent a very positive and upbeat video message addressed to the organisers, players and spectators. It was broadcast last night via a national network. On the other hand, many were protesting saying that such festivities are an alienation at best and a waste of money at worst.
“A celebration of solidarity between peoples” is how Pope Francis described the World Cup.
“Sport is not only a form of entertainment, but also – and above all I would say – a tool for communicating values that promote the good of the human person and help to build a more peaceful and fraternal society”, he affirmed. Loyalty, perseverance, friendship, sharing and solidarity are some of the values mentioned by the Pontiff.
He continued, “Football can and should be a school for building a 'culture of encounter'”, making peace and harmony possible among people.”
He adds a very interesting statement: “To play as a team it is necessary to think first of the good of the group, not of oneself. To win, one must overcome individualism, selfishness, all forms of racism, intolerance and the exploitation of the human person. Being greedy, hoarding everything for ourselves, is an obstacle to the successful outcome of a team not only in football; when we are greedy in life, ignoring the people around us, the whole of society is harmed”.
This Dr Jekyll dimension is contrasted by a Mr Hyde one.
The following are very short quotes from a commentary by Alex Kane titled “5 Ways Global Sporting Events Like Brazil's World Cup Wreck Lives and Exploit the Poor. Mega-sport tournaments: where fun and games mask violence and plunder”.
He writes that displacement of the poor is one of the negative effects. More than a quarter of a million persons have been or are threatened with eviction across the country. They have been evicted to make way for roads, newly refurbished stadiums, athletic villages and more in preparation for the World Cup and Olympics. “Conditions for families only worsen after being evicted, according to the UN Special Rapporteur on Housing, and compensation is scanty.”
He adds that the Brazilian police have greeted protests over the cost of living, transportation prices and the investment in the World Cup with brutality. Besides union bosses alleged mistreatment of workers during the construction of the stadiums. This resulted in worker strikes at six of the 12 stadiums being constructed. The workers demanded wage increases, health insurance, and the end of long working hours.
One hopes that the beginning of the games will strengthen the Dr Jekyll aspect and diminish the Mr Hyde one.