I am perhaps one of a very small minority in the Western world applauding the recent decision of FIFA to award the 2018 and 2022 Football world cups to Russia and Qatar respectively. As an Antipodean, I was naturally disappointed that Australia was unsuccessful with their bid, but the appeal of Eastern Europe and the Middle East is overwhelming as these represent two of the last regions in the world that FIFA has yet to take their prestige event to. It should not be forgotten that the World Cup is simply that – a world event.
For most of the 20th century, major sporting events were hosted by the Western colonial powers. 10 of the 16 FIFA World Cups in the 20th Century were hosted in Western Europe (the other 6 were all hosted by South American powerhouses of the game). It was not until 2002 that FIFA first took the Finals to a host outside of Western Europe or the Americas (South Korea/Japan). This is hardly representative of a world game. The Summer Olympics have a (slightly) better record of sharing the event around the world, with Tokyo, Moscow, Seoul and Beijing all hosting Olympiads, alongside Rio de Janeiro who will host the 2016 games. As for Eastern Europe and the Middle East, only once have these two premier sporting events been showcased, and that was 30 years ago when the Olympics were held in the Soviet Union – an Olympic Games marked by a mass boycott by Western nations because of the Cold War conflict and (ironically) the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
Given that record, FIFA and the IOC should be applauded for branching out and taking these events around the world. In 2002, South Korea and Japan hosted the World Cup. In 2008 it was Beijing’s turn to host the Summer Olympics. And in 2010 history was made with South Africa hosting an enormously successful Football world cup. Each of these sporting events allowed these ancient societies to shine on the world stage again and gave the world an insight into these greatly misunderstood cultures. Every South African I met during the world cup was immensely proud of their nation and wanted to see the negative stereotypes that surround them, destroyed.
Yet instead of congratulations, FIFA is being attacked throughout the Western world with allegations of corruption, and accusations that the “best bids” did not win. These strongly worded accusations are nothing short of Western arrogance and demonstrate the continued existence of beliefs of colonial superiority. It appears ingrained in many English, and other Anglo-imperial nations, that the West is superior to the East in every way. The English and American press have been savage in their denouncement of the World Cup vote. Many in England are even advocating pulling out of FIFA altogether. It is time these two nations wake up and realise that their empires are crumbling before their eyes. England, once the greatest Empire in the world, is now embroiled in unpopular wars and facing massive austerity measures because of years of dramatic government overspending and poor financial regulations. America, although in a stronger economic and political position, is nonetheless finding its strength weakened in the face of the rising Asian Tigers.
The world as we know it is rapidly changing. The West needs to realise that there are strong negative feelings towards us – especially those nations heavily involved in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet it is a deeper malaise, after 200 years of colonisation and oppression by European nations and the United States, Asia and the Middle East are on the surge. Economic and Political power are returning to these regions for the first time in centuries. The move by FIFA into Eastern Europe and the Middle East is a reflection of the changing nature of our world. Between them they represent a massive economic market, with a huge population base and some of the richest countries in the world. While not wholly, or completely, subscribing to the same political or social structures as the West, Russia and Qatar represent regions rapidly transforming and conforming to the modern world.
But we continue to see the same colonial arrogance over and over again. In the lead up to the World Cup in South Africa there was constant talk in Western media about how unprepared South Africa was to host the world cup. The same stories were written prior to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, and the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. All of these events were spectacular successes. Continuing this trend, the BBC last week ran an article asking questions about Brasil’s readiness to host the 2014 FIFA world cup and we are already seeing articles attacking the ability of both Russia and Qatar to be host successful tournaments. Comments such as Russia will not be able to build stadiums, and it’s transport system is a joke and that it will be too hot in Qatar are ill-informed and made on the basis of little more than mis-information and cultural stereotypes. They ignore the fact that the reconstruction of London’s Wembley Stadium went over-budget and was completed a year after deadline! Many visitors to England will also have plenty to say about the unreliability of British Rail. As for the heat in Qatar, it needs to be remembered that the 1994 World Cup in the USA held games in scorching midday temperatures.
The ethos of this site is that of ‘Our World”. It is for that reason I celebrate the awarding of the world cup to Russia and to Qatar. I plan on attending both, and sharing in a celebration of two great cultures, two great societies, two great countries, and one incredible party which transcends artificial national and racial boundaries.
