Answering Questions - Research Paper Example

Sports Influence on Nationhood Undeniably, in the US, Canada, and the whole world is full of lovers of football and hockey. So many are hooked to the game and will do anything to see that their favourite teams score, carry home the fame, and the prizes that go with a game. It is with this understanding in mind that Kofi Annan and Tim Bowling use their favourite sports as extended comparisons to pass their ideas. Football is a sport that unites so many people who hail from differing tribes. It happens by the virtue that they support one team.

For instance, during world cup, it happens that most people have every detail of different team performances. Funs get to know the names of the scorers, who helped in different goals, how the team performed in every move, and what it can do to better future games. Kofi Anan uses this analogy of competition to depict a different world and drive his points home. Annan suggests that if countries would come out and compete for respect of human rights, child survival rates, and enrolment in secondary education, then the world would be a better place.

Like many who come out to make suggestions and analyse football, Annan argues that the same energy should be used to debate on critical issues like HIV and AIDS affecting countries. In addition, world cup happens on a level ground where each country has an equal chance of participating. In the same manner, other global issues need to be levelled to allow growth and development in all countries of the world. 2. Tim Bowling is a hockey sport lover. He especially remembers some crazy things he has done out of love for this sport.

NHL is his main spectator entertainment of this sport. Although he had to give up so much to watch hockey, Tim now realises that this is just a sport. He uses this analogy to pass a message to fanatics of hockey. Apparently, to my shock, some fanatics will go ahead and shed blood just to see their teams reach their intended levels. In reality, too much love for something results in some idolizing it and one will even shed blood to defend it. Besides that, hockey being a major sport that Canada is known for all over the world gives citizens pride associating with this nation.

People derive nationhood from association with a country that does so well in a particular sport. In addition, there is a strong connection between hockey and Canadian citizens because it is a shared story. I agree with some politics about sports in that every citizen is entitled to talk about it and take pride in it. However, hockey sport has considerably changed over time becoming more materialistic and promoting corporatist agendas. This has resulted to a shift to attract younger generation to this sport and put away the old.

Therefore, Tim reminds the young generation that their love for this sport will be for a season and there is no need to love it so much in a way that it can bring destruction to self and other. In conclusion, football and hockey plays an important role in nationhood and the same energy can be channelled to other needy areas in the country.