We also desire to reduce or remove negative effects of international sports as was observed in the Football War between El Salvador and Honduras (1969).

The Fifa World Cup 2014 tournament will start on today. We hope that all implications will be positive, and all variables will be controlled to enhance positive effects of international sports on diplomatic social and political relations between countries.

Thanks Mahfuz. I think the variables include human competitiveness, human collaboration, desire for rewards, desire to improve the game, desire to relate to one another and many more....

Dear Miranda, peace and reconciliation,education worldwide, especially for women and children..., that is what UNESCO Honorary and Goodwill Ambassadors do! Novak Djokovic is one of them!

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/about-us/who-we-are/goodwill-ambassadors/about-us/

Why are locals not always positive about such international events? For instance, despite much poverty there is a willingness to invest fortunes in building infrastructure to be used for a couple of weeks. On the other hand, why poor people are willing to watch a match involving teams of wealthy players? Is dreaming important? Is it important for people to show what they are able to do?

Cathedrals or castles in Europe attract tourists from all over the world several 100 of years after they were built. What about the sports infrastructures built for international events? Will they keep attracting tourists years after they were constructed?

@Prof Ljubomir, yes, we are proud of Djokovic and the other ambassadors :)

@Marcel, great thoughts. In my country, the sports complex built for Commonwealth Games is still used for sports events, cultural events etc.

Like you, I think Sport has become such a great entertainment, poor people get so excited as spectators, so they forget their circumstances...

I agree with Marcel!

Education!

Human relations are a function and/or product of value system and/or worldview!

Period!

Dear Miranda

Good to see you after sometime. Looks like you are busy.

Sports certainly brings people together, but the unfortunate part in developing world is the extravagant spending in staging these spectacular events at the cost of development work. Like what we are seeing in Brazil now for FIFA starting today, a lot of public money is gouged by contractors in the name of developing the facilities. The cost paid by the government is more than the actual cost of construction. This is corruption in some form. These become so expensive that these are staged for outside world, because the tickets are so expensive locals cannot see them in person. After the event how effectively these sport facilities are used is a big question. What are the maintenance costs compared to their periodic use is also another question to be asked? Overall public money is diverted through corruption during these events.

The pursuit of an enhanced national image motivates selfless devotion to these spectacles, making nations fall prey to speculators and corrupt money-gougers. The force of international athletic events to unite and divide at the same time emerged even as far back as the Nemean Games in ancient Greece. Strengthening security without making it oppressive would constitute control of a major variable of the games.

It has been demonstrated that International events of sport such as Olympic Games or World Fifa Cup represent exceptional occasions of cultural and environmental interactions among very different races, cultures and habits. And this positive point is out of discussion. However, we have some examples of politic exploitation of such events as the Olympic Games in Berlin during the Nazi era or the Football World Cup in Italy under fascism. And more recently the boycott of the Moscow Olympics by Western countries. I believe that as always the worst part of human nature is able to dirty even more ideally clean things.

It is cultural occasion. Those who watch should exercise constrain and should watch game as a game and not try to be the witness of war between two countries where one may be partisan. Any individual player or group of players playing better should be appreciated above nationalistic pride and attachment. There, will run no riot will there be any malice towards anyone. After all a game is a game it should promote good will rather than bitter feelings.

Frankly speaking, people around the world dont not want borders and boundaries... Of course those are drawn for various other historical reasons of possessive and protection interest...Agree that sports and games promotes togetherness the socio-political relations...where there is communication, interaction occurs... thereby the good feeling creates the warmth of ALIVE EXISTENCE....

Short term positive effect can be driven by sports politics such as tempore peace among the conflict as well as temporer increase of economical factor.

As negative effect as creating hyperbolic dream or dissilusion especially on poverty sides in developing country is one thing as @marcel and @costas agree.

Other thing potential corruption, illegal act as underage prostitution may also appearrd

Thanks for your posts and views. I could not have thought of all these things on my own. Thank you, my dear friends.

[Dear Prof N, I am busy working on my papers, teaching. And unfortunately I caught a bad cold, so I take medicine, and work as best as possible.]

Yesterday, you all have seen the first match of football world cup. And I think that all have obeserved that the need of organizing country to give worldwide an image of efficiency and social development strongly affected the result of the match and the behaviour of the arbiter who saw a penalty which nobody had seen.

Miranda, let me share a "different" view.

For already friendly countries, international sports are not a competition, they are a form of harmonious social interaction between friends.

But for countries in conflict, international sports serve as an outlet for their enmities. In this manner international sports serve a very good role, they stop real war and instead transfer it to the sports venues.

I remember in history that this was the method of the Christian kingdoms who themselves are at odds with each other. Instead of raging war against each other, they let their "champions" fight it out.

Some variables that could be controlled are "dangerous acts" by strengthening security measures; inflamatory acts and words by deducting points to the violators. The organizers could also encourage friendliness by awarding "Most Friendly" contingent.

What is your opinion about the referee decisions concerning the match Brazil -Croatia?

Is economy more important than sports per se?

Macel,

It is why I have included partisan behaviour or national pride in my response. Sometimes, it happens, what spectators could not see referee can see it. But, it is not to claim that referees are not prone to be partisans though they are expected to. However, in any case decision of referees must be respected without ill feeling.

Very interesting @ Joao, Enzo, Ed, Marcel et al. I really like this one:

'For already friendly countries, international sports are not a competition, they are a form of harmonious social interaction between friends. But for countries in conflict, international sports serve as an outlet for their enmities. In this manner international sports serve a very good role, they stop real war and instead transfer it to the sports venues.'

This is the great thing about RG. Mental stimulation /enjoyment. Viva RG and my RG friends.

@Marcel, I didn't watch that match. I sleep to recover from a bad cold. But there are other friends, just so happy to discuss with us all. Let's go on...

Thanks Marcel. I went off to read a link on World Cup:

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/jun/13/brazil-croatia-talking-points-world-cup

Checking with the camera is good advice, otherwise, the camera becomes a non functional asset. Referee has to be extremely alert, because wrong decisions affect the psychology of the players, the team and others. With the popularity of football and World Cup, mistakes may not be easily forgiven.

Sport is a fantastic way of reconciliation between peoples. While the "dispute" or "conflict" are circumscribed to any sports arena, everyone wins, there is greater unity among different countries. In addition, events such as Formule One, World Cup and Olympic Games represent big wave of tourists. This is new form of people from different cultures come into contact. So I see as very positive the role of sport in society.

@Marcel, I was with Croatia, but Brasil is hos country and regarding referee decisions concerning the match Brazil -Croatia, I think that Japanese main referee made many mistakes! He annulled the goal to Croatia and referee called a penalty to Brazil! Not fair at all!

Dear Miranda, that's an interesting research topic. What kind of design do you want to employ exactly, maybe then it's easier to help? What exactly is the dependent variable?

Best Regars, Jacob

@Jacob, my research area is not sports science. But I am interested in many things. You will know this if you read my profile.

I have listed independent variables on an earlier post. The dependent variables are related to peace, justice, harmony between nations, healthy collaboration.

Eddie's comments were very interesting and answered my Q very well, but I appreciate all views. I quote Ed:

(Sports) 'stop real war and instead transfer it to the sports venues.

I remember in history that this was the method of the Christian kingdoms who themselves are at odds with each other. Instead of raging war against each other, they let their "champions" fight it out.

Some variables that could be controlled are "dangerous acts" by strengthening security measures; inflammatory acts and words by deducting points to the violators. The organizers could also encourage friendliness by awarding "Most Friendly" contingent.'

Dear friends, I asked Dr Paulo, a local on how are his impressions of the world cup in his hometown. This was his reply. So it seems WC is enhancing positive effects...

'Dear Miranda,

How are you?

It`s a very happy time, people of all nationalities walking around !

Have a nice week,

All the Best,

Paulo'

Dear Miranda,

this initiative provides some links and publications regarding your research topic: http://www.sportanddev.org/en/learnmore/sport_and_peace_building/the_role_of_sport_in_peace_building/

Although I can only find the German versions, there are some studies indicating a rise of prejudice towards minorities and other nations related to large football events, on the other hand.

Best Regards,

Jacob

There has been a tour of the FLN-team of Algeria, trying to gain recognition and legitimacy in their struggle with France in the 70ies or 60ies. Also, when you are looking for positive examples of sports affecting relationships between countries, you can have a look on Turkey/Armenia. There was a football match in 2008, that was used to build links between the two.

Thanks Jacob. So there have been both positive and negative effects (when I combine the facts of both your posts). Such a lot is spent for sports, if only it yields positive effects only. But maybe that's asking too much...

This is amazing. Surely competitive instincts need to be controlled. What do you all say?

Dear @Miranda, I was pleasantly surprised by your watching football matches. It becomes a passion! Be careful! :) Yes, many instincts have to be controlled!

Dear Prof Ljubomir, in college, my regular job on the football field is to be the first aid manager. But we have so many sprains, twisted ankles to see to, so I have to do the job too, not just look around or be a 'boss'.

It is very important to stop a country's attribution of domination, and influence of own religion in sports by a logical mechanism in order to enhance positive effects of international sports on diplomatic social and political relations between countries.