Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Response #8:Syria-Leabanon
It is amazing to see just how political sports can be. Many people, and countries, are passionate about sports. Syria and Lebanon (as well as many countries in the Middle East) have a deep rooted animosity. Any progress between these two countries who dislike each other is for the best. Distrust between the two countries is keeping them apart, for there to be any diplomatic progress the cultures of these countries must begin to trust each other and work together.
Article 8: Syria-Lebanon politics on the pitch
Lebanese and Syrian soccer players played each other for the first time, at a home game, in Sidon, Lebanon. The game was an Asia Cup qualifier, with the only spectators were journalists and soccer federation officials. There are armed guards at all of the entrances into the stadium.
"Football is political here and security has to be tight," one of the federation officials explained. Because of these politics the two teams have not been able to play each other at home games. The two teams have played each other in other middle eastern countries.
This game represents how far the relationship between the two countries has come. But there is still a far way to go. The Rafik Hariri stadium - named after Lebanon's former prime minister who was killed in a car bomb in 2005, Syria was accused of being involved.The combination of public protest and international pressure forced Syria to end its 30-year military and political occupation of Lebanon. Three years later, the two countries have finally started diplomatic relations. This week Damascus approved the first ever Lebanese ambassador to Syria, embassies are about to open, and as the footballers met on the pitch, Lebanon's Defence Minister Elias Murr held talks in Damascus. In 2005 there was an assasination on Elias Murr, blamed on Syrian agents.
The Syrian team won the match 2-0, but a team official went onto Leaboneese telivision and complained about the host. The night before the match eight of the syrian players got food poisoning, and a syrian official thinks the poisoning was intentional. The Syrian team won the match 2-0, but a team official went onto Leaboneese telivision and complained about the host.
"Football is political here and security has to be tight," one of the federation officials explained. Because of these politics the two teams have not been able to play each other at home games. The two teams have played each other in other middle eastern countries.
This game represents how far the relationship between the two countries has come. But there is still a far way to go. The Rafik Hariri stadium - named after Lebanon's former prime minister who was killed in a car bomb in 2005, Syria was accused of being involved.The combination of public protest and international pressure forced Syria to end its 30-year military and political occupation of Lebanon. Three years later, the two countries have finally started diplomatic relations. This week Damascus approved the first ever Lebanese ambassador to Syria, embassies are about to open, and as the footballers met on the pitch, Lebanon's Defence Minister Elias Murr held talks in Damascus. In 2005 there was an assasination on Elias Murr, blamed on Syrian agents.
The Syrian team won the match 2-0, but a team official went onto Leaboneese telivision and complained about the host. The night before the match eight of the syrian players got food poisoning, and a syrian official thinks the poisoning was intentional. The Syrian team won the match 2-0, but a team official went onto Leaboneese telivision and complained about the host.
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