Week 6

This module made it clear to me how global sports relate to American history and world events. As Bowman notes the World Cup is not only about the game itself but also about the political power, nationalism, and global change.  Different countries have been able to use the tournament to transmit identity and influence. Bowman (2020) describes such an example whereby hosting the World Cup has the power to influence and affect the way the world would view a nation. This made me understand that sport is applicable not just in the entertainment sector but also in the diplomacy sphere, as well as in the international relations field.

The module also helped me to connect a sport to the larger historical events in American history, like globalization and the media explosion. Whereas soccer has never been regarded as a very popular sport in the United States, such events as the 1994 World Cup conducted in the United States demonstrated how the latter country engages in the global culture. According to Bowman (2020), the World Cup became a global event, with millions of viewers due to the popularization of television and the presence of corporate sponsorship.  This is related to American economic power and global business development. I got to know that such bodies as FIFA possess immense political and financial resources, which casts doubt on leadership and fairness.

Among the findings that I have had is the fact that global tensions are usually reflected in the World Cup. According to Bowman (2020), certain tournaments have been associated with political wrangles and demonstrations, even boycotts. This demonstrates the fact that both sports and politics are closely related. I did not expect it to be so heavily planned and involve the government in any way to host the event. It taught me that international sports events also have both negative and positive impacts on the community in a given location.

Some aspects that I would like to know about FIFA are how decisions are made within the FIFA organization and how corruption has resulted in a tarnished image of the organization. I am also curious how the human rights issues are going to find their way into future World Cups. On the whole, this module enabled me to consider in a more profound way the interrelation of sports with history, politics, and global transformation.