by Bruce Cook
So here it is. The much talked about, long awaited World Cup is upon us. And of course I mean THE World Cup. Not the Cricket World Cup or the Rugby World Cup or the Basketball World Cup or any of the other World Cups. I'm not a major football (soccer) fan but even I know the REAL World Cup is a competition of the so-called 'beautiful game'.
So how do we watch this spectacle? With skepticism? With excitement? With disdain? With incredulity? With hope?
Yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes.
I've been reading about and listening to many perspectives on the 2022 Qatar FIFA World Cup (especially) over the past few months and I've been having a bit of a 'point - counterpoint' debate with myself on this one. As adamant as many 'experts' are on the clarity and righteousness of their position, none have convinced me that this is anything but a very grey issue.
The match commentary on my mental Qatar 2022 pro-con ping-pong (OK, table tennis for you purists) match has gone a bit like this:
CON - It all started when the word Qatar came out of Sepp Blatter's mouth in 2010, so this one starts out negative. Qatar is a tiny country with insufficient infrastructure, no suitable stadia, minimal football history or interest, disgustingly hot temperatures and an abhorant record on human rights. But they have a lot of money and a reputation of corruption so clearly they won this bid through 'dirty' means in an attempt to 'sports wash' their nation brand.
PRO - regardless of how Qatar won the bid, 'sports washing' doesn't actually work and that's not what this is. By hosting the World Cup (and numerous other major events), Qatar is not trying to change the world's view on their human rights record. They know that big sports spectacles will not change nor mask their societal failings and I really don't think they care what other people (the West) think. They are purely trying to jump-start a tourism industry in the knowledge that oil will only sustain their lavish lifestyle for so long. In fact, the World Cup will actually draw MORE attention to their human rights flaws which will ultimately force them to change. So this is a GOOD thing.
CON - but they won't actually change. FIFA have complicitly rewarded Qatar's corruption and human rights abuses with an accelerant to their burgeoning tourism industry without any real requirement for them to formally acknowledge or respect the rights of women, homosexuals or migrant workers. This event is effectively perpetuating the wrongs!
PRO - but the wrongdoings won't survive the influence of modern liberated tourists. As Qatar tourism grows, visitors from open societies will mix with the locals and influence their thinking. This can help fuel a positive uprising that will lead to real change!
CON - but it'll never happen! These strategies take too long to materialise and the World Cup is already here so they have no incentive to actually do anything...
PRO - but they have actually engaged! They're already having meetings with western leaders and global human rights organisations and they've effectively put an end to the exploitative 'kafala' labour system. They've actually put new policies in place ON PAPER!
CON - but those policies aren't worth the paper they're written on. It's an authoritarian government that will do and say anything to tick the box but when it's all said and done they'll just do what they like. They'll continue doing what they've always done and the repressed castes will be as repressed as ever.
PRO - but they've actually requested and committed to FUTURE engagement with human rights bodies for years beyond the World Cup. They are genuinely open to change!
But, but, but, but, but... But what?
The truth is my head hurts an no one can definitively state that the 2022 Qatar World Cup WILL or WILL NOT lead to meaningful progress on human rights in this small desert country or the wider Gulf region. But what is the alternative?
If we all really believe and gain absolute consensus that oppressive regimes should not be allowed to host major international sports and entertainment events involving 'western' participants, the only way to accomplish that goal is to collectively and completely 'cancel' these nations - no F1, no ATP, no NBA, no WTA, no PGA, no nuthin'. We'd effectively build a moral wall dividing 'us' from 'them'. If this metaphorical wall is metaphorically built, then how do we decide which side of the wall each country sits on? Would there be universal agreement on that? Good luck. At best, such a wall would obviously be built on a VERY shaky foundation.
Or do we build some bridges... uncomfortable as that may be at times? The small steps we take now - like new Qatari human rights policies that maybe don't seem to have the teeth we might want - are at least steps in the right direction. No guarantees, but a reason for hope. Something for future leaders to point to and build upon.
Of course we must not cross these bridges as fools. We must keep our eyes open and maintain means to correct when commitments are not upheld. We must always hold back portions of the 'prize' to use as future incentives. This is a strategy, not a lottery ticket.
The goal will not be reached overnight. It won't happen by the end of the World Cup, or in the next few years, or even by the end of the decade. This will likely take generations. It took a century to get from Abraham Lincoln to Martin Luther King Jr. ... Its been nearly another 60 years since MLK and we're still not there on racial equality in America. It's still hard work, but we're moving in the right direction... and it had to start somewhere.
If we were to do it all again, knowing what we now know about the selection process, I say we should never have awarded the World Cup to Qatar. But I also say that it is not wrong to take big events to 'imperfect' lands. It is not wrong to use sport as a tool to incentivise and engage with those we wish to influence.
There will always be plenty of valid points, both pro and con. There is no clear winner or 'right' side in this debate. It's yet another very grey issue. Such is life.
But the Qatar World Cup is here. It's happening. Let's not waste the opportunity to use it for good.
And in the meantime, we might as well enjoy the party. Let's go USA!!!!!
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