Soccer
Soccer is one of the most famous and wonderful sports in the world. Researchers believe that the origins of the sport can be traced to over three thousand years ago. Evidence shows that China, Japan, and the Romans must have engaged in a similar sport of kicking around a leather ball (History of Soccer 2013). However, the birth of early soccer began in England. Initially, it was quite the violent game characterized by biting, kicking, and boxing. The game grew so popular among people of all ages urging King Edward III to ban it which he did in 1365 (History of Soccer 2013). This was because the game was too violent.
Despite the vague origin of the famous game, modern day soccer can be traced back to England in 1863. On this day, all rules were set and any handling of the ball was abolished. After the football association was formed on this day, the game’s popularity has spread all over the world. In the 19th century, the sport grew through leaps and bounds developing from a sport played by sailors and students to a worldwide sport (Random History 2013). Due to the worldwide spread of the sport, a governing body FIFA was put in place in the 1904 to organize the world cup and control the regularities of the sport (FIFA.com 2010).
After the sport gained popularity, different nations formed leagues to compete in. They were developed to manage competitions in various regions. Each and every league boost of their own skills but the similarity that all leagues have is that they are widely followed and are jam packed with drama and skill. Despite the different league, there are several notable ones that have audiences watching and booking matches uncontrollably. The first is the English Champions League (Hubpages 2013). It is the premier league in England. It boosts some of the most lucrative teams in the planet like Manchester united, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester city among others. Some of the most famous soccer players play in this league. They include Wayne Rooney, Van Persie, Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard. The league runs from August to May and is very famous for its suspense, entertainment, drama, skill, and animated fans cheering through the games.
Another widely proclaimed league is the Spanish La Liga. Hubpages (2013) states that it is the top Spanish league. It has been in existence since the 1920’s. Apart from its rich history, it best known for the two very competitive teams that arguable play the best all of Europe. They are Real Madrid and Barcelona. They also have some of the best players in soccer today. They are Messi and Ronaldo. These two have won awards all over the world for being the best football players of the world. For example in 2012, Messi was honored with being the leagues leader after having scored fifty goals in the season with Cristiano Ronaldo following close by with forty six goals. This league also runs from August to May.
The German Bundesliga is Germany’s best league (Hubpages 2013). It houses some of the most energetic, talented, and passionate players than most leagues in the world. Despite its formation quite recently in 1963, it has surpassed most leagues in the world gaining popularity in many soccer fans. During their games, the stadiums are heavily packed, quite animated and very supportive of their preferred teams. FC Bayern Munich was primarily the dominating team but a team like Borussia has already began making a name for itself. Players celebrated in this league include Robben, Ribery and other players from different parts of the world.
Serie A in Italy also has very competitive teams. They include Inter Milan, Juventus, and AC Milan. These teams have fans from all over the world due to particular talent they showcase in the field (Hubpages 2013). They have challenged other teams in Europe warranting a name in the top leagues in the planet. Other leagues include the major league soccer in America which began about twenty years ago. Despite its late formation, it has made quite the buzz since it houses some of the greatest players in the sport. These include David Beckham and Thierry Henry among others. Leagues like Ligue 1 in France, UEFA Champions league, and J-League from Japan are also among the most competitive soccer leagues in the world.
Sports tourism
Sports tourism may be the key to the next generation’s tourism. Statistics show that currently sports tourism contributes to over 14% of the overall gross in the tourism sector market (World Tourism Organization 2010). Today, cities and nations are finding more ways to encourage sports tourism. They are using the newly found avenues to jump start the struggling economies. Research shows that sports tourists spend more compared to the other types of tourists and even holiday for longer. In the event that the venture is successful, the city finds itself at the hub of economic growth because of the knock-on effect that lasts for ages. A good example is Barcelona city. After the 1992 Olympics held in Spain, Barcelona has risen to become the sixth most preferred tourist city in Europe down from the eleventh position (World Tourism Organization 2010).
However, cities that exhibit the wrong impression or do not deliver, suffer the negative media for a very long time. India was a culprit of such. After corruption allegations in the 2010 commonwealth games, the country was banned from participating in any Olympics events (Winter 2010). This will greatly affect the economy since the nation can never be held viable to hold a sporting event.
National Sports Council. (2013) argue that sports tourism can be classified into two. The first is hard sports tourism and the second is soft sport tourism. Others argue that sports events tourism and celebrity and nostalgia sports tourism is also a classification. Nostalgia tourism promotes regions that have previously held major world events. Tourists find it thrilling to visit such locations in an attempt to relive ground breaking records and events.
Soft sports tourism has grown in leaps and bounds throughout the years. Initially, holiday makers only opted for the sunny sandy destinations but this is no longer the case. Tourists today target destinations with more than the weather to offer. Activities like skiing, hiking, beach volleyball, budgie jumping, and water rafting are some of the sports that holiday makers choose to integrate in their holidays (Winter 2010). This type of tourism does not require any type of training or risk but is for the holiday maker to break from the stannous monotonous urban way of life (National Sports Council 2013).
On the other hand, hard tourism is for professional who involve themselves in risky sports in competitions for a price. This type of tourism is encountered whenever there is a major world sporting event. These include the Olympics, FIFA world cup, Wimbledon cup and others (Mendiratta 2010). Whenever, there is a major world sporting event, countries that host the sport invest in infrastructure and roads because they stand to benefit from the influx of VIP high spending athletes. These athletes are known to spend a lump sum and countries have benefited from this.
The other is sports events tourism. Many economies have benefited from this form of sports tourism. Countries like Sydney and South Africa have changed their economic and social structures due to sports events (Winter 2010). This is whereby people travel to a certain region to witness a certain major world sport event. Games like the Olympics are an opportunity for athletes to show the world their skills and abilities since the whole world is usually watching (Mendiratta 2010). Countries have captured this as a niche to showcase the great travel destinations captured by the numerous media reports covering the events. Apart from the media coverage, the events target to improve the economy of the country by providing services to the influx of people who enter the country to view the events. South Africa showed the world that they have great tourist destinations to offer even in the winter since the FIFA 2010 was held in the winter (Winter 2010). The country also benefited from revived infrastructure and constant flow of visitors from summer through winter and this will benefit them for a very long time.
However, not all sports events are of benefit to the host country. Apart from the negative coverage in India discussed earlier, countries have also suffered from life time loans that were invested in the events that did not pay off. The 1976 Olympics held in Montreal were a huge risk that the citizens continue to feel even after three decades (Winter 2010). Even though such an opportunity is often viewed as an opportunity to invest widely, countries should not bite more than they can chew.
In conclusion, hosting a major sporting event is an opportunity that countries should embrace if given. It encourages international tourists who will increase the income for most of the working citizens in numerous sectors. In addition to improved infrastructure, investors will embrace the opportunity and invest in the country because of the dynamic economy. However, it is advised that countries should remain cautious and avoid scenarios that give the country negative image after hosting these events.
People’s attitudes and behaviors during soccer matches
Soccer events are characterized by loud animated fans that portray energy throughout the matches. From the origin of the game over three thousand years ago, to the period of King Edward III, soccer fans have been characterized as some of a kind. The fans are very supportive of their teams and can be heard chanting and singing throughout the game. A new trend that has developed is the vuvuzela. They started being spotted in the matches after the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. It is safe to say that soccer matches all over the world are widely celebrated and attract such an intense fan base that has added flair and character to the game.
Being one of the most watched sports worldwide, it is heart breaking to learn that soccer holds the record for the most deaths associated with the game (Atzenhoffer 2012). Despite the fact that it has a very passionate fan base worldwide, the love should not come at such a costly price. Atzenhoffer (2012) reveal that most violence reports are clashes between rival club gangs. This has become a common occurrence defaming the nature of the good sport.
Another disappointing trend in most soccer matches and events is the racist attitudes and remarks. Most recently, an AC Milan player was subjected to racist remarks that made the team players walk off the pitch and stop the match from proceeding (Povoledo & Erlanger 2013). This has been a developing trend that has gone unnoticed all over Europe for quite some time. However, FIFA the soccer managing body has given referees the mandate to call off a match in such an event. Fans also face to be prosecuted for racist remarks during matches. German fans and players also have been caught making Nazi signs to opposing teams (Povoledo & Erlanger 2013).
It is such a disappointment that the most celebrated sport in the whole planet is associated with such hooliganism and savage actions. This is because most fans confuse assertion and aggression. Teach PE (2013) differentiate that while assertion barely promotes the effort to win, aggression on the other hand promotes physical harm. Players and fans should learn to differentiate this two attitudes and this might redeem the already spoilt nature of the sport (Teach PE 2013). FIFA should also adjust the rules and regulations to prevent hooliganism and racism in the sport. This will enable players and fans exist in a safe environment thus preventing death and injury. They should embrace the feeling of unity that is shown in some areas where the sport is played. These are places like Congo in Africa where soccer is used as a uniting factor of all people (Harris 2012). This sport has helped many countries and people live a better life and immaturity of a few individuals should prevent the world from being a better place.
References
National Sports Council. (2013) Get moving. http://barbadosroads.net/nsc/documents/tourism.html
Mendiratta, A. (2010). Major sports events: major drivers for tourism. United States of America: CNN. http://www.eturbonews.com/15401/major-sports-events-major-drivers-tourism
World Tourism Organization (2010). : http://www.unwto.org/index.php
Winter, S. (2010) Sports tourism: are mass events a golden jackpot? http://www.tourism-master.nl/2010/10/31/sports-tourism-%E2%80%9Care-mass-events-a-golden-jackpot%E2%80%9D/
Povoledo, E., & Erlanger, S. (2013, January 13) Soccer racism prompts walkout, and outrage: The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/05/world/europe/pro-patria-fans-racism-prompts-ac-milan-walkout-and-outrage.html?_r=0
Harris, J. (2012) Soccer as a bridge to promote peace and equality in the democratic republic of congo: Huff Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/josh-harris/soccer-as-a-bridge-to-pro_b_1725812.html
Atzenhoffer, T. (2012) Worlds football’s 10 most dangerous fan bases. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1321624-world-footballs-10-most-dangerous-fan-bases
Teach PE (2013) Behaviors and attitudes: sports psychology. http://www.teachpe.com/sports_psychology/attitudes.php
FIFA.com (2010) The organization. http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisation/bodies/index.html
Hubpages (2013) Five best soccer leagues in the world. http://internpete.hubpages.com/hub/Best-Soccer-Leagues#slide6795088
History of Soccer (2013) Soccer history. http://www.historyofsoccer.info/
Random History. (2013) Passing it on: a history of soccer. http://www.randomhistory.com/1-50/042soccer.html
