Conference Tackles Sports Security, Sports Benefits
May 19, 2006
About a year ago, Germany’s Friedrich Ebert Foundation launched an initiative to encourage soccer fans from around the globe to inspire the upcoming World Cup with their own ideas and suggestions. It made a detailed analysis of what fans from the participating nations are expecting from Germany as a host.
Fans were able voice their standpoints in regional hearings, debate discrepancies and coordinate their activities so as to ensure already in the run-up to the World Cup that everything will hopefully proceed without any major security glitches.
At the "Sport Rules the World" conference in Berlin, parliamentarians from 15 countries exchanged experiences about sports. The common opinion was that soccer is first and foremost a source of inspiration and joy for millions of people around the world. Yet, modern events must also be concerned about security when millions are attending.
"I think in the world now, security is very important when it comes to hosting people from different parts of the world," commented Joe Baidoe-Ansah, a lawmaker from the West African country Ghana. "And I think the emphasis is right that we look at it (security). Unfortunately, it's become so. Sport is supposed to be entertainment, something that brings people together, a unifying force."
World Cup 2006 informative, but different for Ghana
For Ghana, the German experience with the World Cup will be of particular importance, as it is scheduled to host the Cup of African Nations in 2008. Officials from the West African country are certain that a lot can be learned by studying German fan management schemes.
But they are also aware that there are fundamental differences in the organizational structures.
"There are points of divergence in Africa. A great deal of organization has to do with governments. It's not necessarily limited to (soccer) associations and private enterprises. The point of divergence is the role governments play, both at the national and club level," said Ghanaian parliamentarian Abuga Pele. "
If soccer ruled the world
Addressing the gathering, German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schäuble said that in a sense he’d be in favor of football ruling the world, as the title of the current conference suggested. He had spoken with Sepp Blatter, head of the world soccer governing FIFA, and the two found common ground.
The world would be a better place if the social and integrative virtues of football would make inroads into politics and societies to a larger extent, he said.
"It’s the team sport which is so valuable because it’s based on rules that every player has to observe. Everyone is aware of the necessities of these rules, because otherwise there could be no meaningful play. And virtues such as team spirit, fairness and discipline are required for every society to function well," Schäuble told conference attendees.
Ghanaian lawmaker Baidoe-Ansah agreed. He felt that the impact of football on society at large has gone up tremendously in recent decades:
"It has been more unifying, playing a more unifying role. Interest in soccer has grown and it looks like it's better understood than politics," was his assessment.