Sport against Politics

Good Bye, Weapon!

Instead of enjoying the beauty of sport, sport became an arena for pushing out different kinds of frustrations. When the situation comes there, even the highest professionals are worried


By MILOŠ JEREMIĆ
from Belgrade, SERBIA


Sport is, by default, international language that everyone understands. At least it should be like that. No matter of nationality, confession, culture, tradition or skin color. After Kosovo Albanians proclaimed independence of south province, "Serbian case" - not for the first time - was about to show the borders between politics and sport actually do not exist.

Hooligans' attacks on embassies of U.S.A., Croatia, Turkey and Slovenia, done by small groups so-called "protesters" during the magnificient protest meeting in Belgrade (February 21) and recognizing of Kosovo independence by some states, made some officals and countries to "recommend" to their sport teams and players not to travel to Serbia - "where their life could be in danger".

That's why Croatian basketball team Cibona (Zagreb) turned back their bus, on the half way to Belgrade, where they should play Adriatic League match against Partizan. Futsal national team of France gave up from the qualifying tournament in the capital of Serbia, where the only match was played between home team and Russia.

In basketball Euroleague, it was a high tension and a question mark about coming of Turkish team Efes Pilsen to Belgrade. And when the final deal was made, so match could be played, although the atmosphere was still "hot" and the special guaranties of home team have been necessary, four American players from Efes Pilsen refused to travel to Serbia. What's even more interesting - the coach David Blatt and players Scoonie Penn (ex-player of Red Star Belgrade and Cibona Zagreb) and Gregory - U.S. citizens also, have come to Belgrade. Beside them Albanian player Ermal Kuc and the rest of the team (Efes Pilsen had to play with 8 players only).

Of course, atmosphere was great, like every time Partizan is playing home match in Euroleague. Almost 8,000 spectators were cheering their team and many flags of Serbia could be seen also, but any incident couldn't be noticed during the match. Epilogue came after Turkish team went home - Rashid Wright, Drew Nicholas and Lauren Woods are fired, and Andrew Hutson apologized so the management decided he could stay but with paying high financial fine.

So, who was right here (or who is crazy in this story)? We are witnesses in the last twenty years that level of human insanity in Balkans is crossing the darkest barriers. Instead of enjoying the beauty of sport, sport became an arena for pushing out different kinds of frustrations. When the situation comes there, even the highest professionals are worried. And how wouldn't they be? What if someone is Serb, Croat, Albanian or American? Is he more worth only by the fact he is this or that nationality? Should you hurt or kill someone because he speaks different language, prays to different God or has a different skin color? Is sport still an international language that everyone should understand, the language that connects and crosses all the borders?


(Published: 09.03.2008.)

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