You may have gathered that I’m a die-hard soccer-fan, a football tragic even. From that perspective, the recent World Cup in Russia added a few more weeks of bliss this year. The highlights, post-match analysis and endless commentaries from pundits may or may not have adversely affected my daily routine.
Global competitions aside, though, whether I’m watching my kids, the Jets or I’m on the pitch, I just can’t get enough of it. Much more than just kicking and chasing a ball around, it is a test of physical and mental endurance. It requires quick feet and quick thinking. A plan of attack, balanced with the freedom to improvise – individually and as a team. Those principles are embodied in virtually every team sport.
Beyond the pitch, another dimension which fascinates me, is the part of the spectator and the impact on the atmosphere. The presence of a crowd, cheering or jeering, has an incredible impact on the game. Just compare the Champions League Final between Real Madrid and Liverpool, with their crowd of over 61,000 people, to the match between CSKA Moscow and Manchester City the previous October, which was played behind closed doors. The latter was worse than watching a match with the sound muted. The atmosphere was flat and more akin to a training session than a competitive match.
I have often thought of the value of team sports and the lessons that I have learned on the pitch. Hard work, dedication, teamwork and the importance of the individual – which you learn the first time your teammate is sent off for doing something crazy, and your team is a man down. There is also a constant need to evaluate and improve in real time in order to gain the advantage and win, as well as the valuable lessons learned through loss.
Perhaps what intrigues me the most about athletic competition is its incredible power to unite, even if just for one game. The law maker, teacher, builder, office worker and barista are all fans of the one team. Sport, perhaps unlike anything else, allows people to set aside what makes them different to become united for something greater. When people unite beneath a common banner, the collective voice is magnified far beyond that of any individual.
Perhaps this desire for unity and commonality is why the Global Community still puts aside its political and cultural differences every so often, to celebrate the athletic abilities of humankind. In celebrating all humankind, we will stand united and continue this celebration for generations to come.