The World Cup that kicked off yesterday in Brazil is going to be the top story worldwide for the net month. Experts have estimated that about 3.5 billion people, from even the farthest corners of the planet, will watch a game on one of the hundreds of television stations broadcasting the games.
The World Cup will offer some moments of relaxation, joy and entertainment, not just for those watching the games from the comfort of their home, but to all the destitute and unable to purchase a television as well they will also find somewhere to perch and participate in the world-wide celebration.
For better or for worse, football, the giant of the sports industry, is the most popular show in the planet. It is able to attract hundreds of millions of people from all five continents, overcoming any national, class, social or ideological differences. The thrills and conflicts, the obsessions and rivalries that football create offer a way out of the mundane everyday and create a sense of collectivity, fueling hope and disappointment. It is an antidote of passion and joy against the struggle for daily survival.
Of course, there is the other side, the one that cannot be concealed behind the shining stars with millions worth of wages, who feed the dreams and aspirations of thousands of young people; it is the rapid integration into the world of big business deals, where billions are at steak with the obvious consequences.
It is also he other side that we see today in Brazil, where thousands of people are protesting in the streets over the huge sums that were spent for the World Cup, when masses of Brazilians live in shantytowns and cannot guarantee their daily survival.
Whether we like it or not, the glorious celebration of football manages to overcome problems and conflicts. Because above all there is the people’s need to be a part of the celebrations, to set aside their problems momentarily and enjoy themselves, even for just a little while.
TO VIMA
