Editorial
World Cup fever
A spectacle the whole planet enjoys
The 19th World Cup gets underway today in South Africa, and it is safe to say that pretty much everything else will take a back seat to the tournament for the next month. The World Cup is the planet-wide phenomenon that people of all nations look forward to and await with eager anticipation every four years.
Hundreds of thousands are descending upon South Africa to attend the world's biggest month-long party, and the total cumulative television viewership for the tournament will likely be close to 30 billion, with perhaps as many as one billion tuning in to watch the final. There is nothing else like it.
And nowhere is World Cup fever or devotion to the tournament more intense than in Bangladesh, where we can already see flags of different nations atop every other building in the capital as the people make their choices clear. Enthusiasm for the World Cup seems to be the one thing that unifies us all these days.
The fact that for the first time the tournament will be held in Africa is also significant and a matter of pride for all of us in the developing world. We wish the host country every success and trust that the South Africans will do us all proud as the hosts of such an extraordinary extravaganza.
World Cup fever and the good-natured enthusiasm that surrounds the tournament are an acceptable and positive face of nationalism. The World Cup is a harmless and fun way for people to express their national pride and solidarity.
And even in countries such as Bangladesh that have not qualified, World Cup fever is no less intense, as people simply adopt their favourite countries for the length of the tourney, and support them with as much passion as actual nationals of those countries!
Paradoxically, this festival of nationalism actually brings us all together. It is in our common pleasure at sharing and enjoying this spectacular event that we find our common humanity, and events such as the World Cup do much to unite the world.
Just as important, the World Cup reminds us that even amid hard times and tragedies, we should take the time to enjoy ourselves and appreciate beauty and excellence, and that it is pursuing our passions and the simple pleasures that make life worthwhile.
We look forward not only to a month of thrilling entertainment with the superstars of the sport on display, but also hail a tournament that brings the entire world together in the spirit of friendly competition and unbridled good-will.
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