Some stray  musings post Football World Cup from this dreamy, utopian fellow

On the  platter this week for you dear reader-friends to share and swallow!

     Musings post Football World Cup  
                

The catchy headline post FIFA football World Cup final said it all: ‘France won the cup but Croatia won the hearts’. Croatia, we all know, is a tiny East European country but made it a cracker of a match against the formidable France. Croatia’s debonair lady President Kolinda Graber-Kitarovic’ did her own bit in keeping the team upbeat. She shed the trappings of her high office and false ego (unlike our politicians), spared time, watched Croatia matches and supported her team to the hilt. It was indeed a pleasant sight to see her meeting her country’s players, hugging them and boosting their morale with her pep talk and that winsome grin of hers. With such a President to back them, the Croatian team played all its matches with gusto displaying great fighting spirit and never-say-die attitude. And when France won the final, there was not the least trace of dismay on the President’s face and she met and embraced the French players too with equal warmth and cheer, displaying sagacity, grace and a true sportsperson spirit. The world needs more such leaders.

And what about Russia: the host country? Weren’t Russians – women in particular – outstanding as hosts? A spirit of festivity and excitement that ran through the streets and the venues where matches were being played, could be felt and even smelled through the TV screens. The jubilant cricket-crazy fans that had converged on Russia from all parts of the globe had a whale of a time. Shedding all inhibitions, Russians let their hair down, mingled with the visitors, and befriended them to celebrate this great world sports event…so much so that the Russian government got worried  about steep rise in possible pregnancies among the Russian women post the event! I always thought Russia's (under Communist dispensation) to be a closed, insular society like ours- though we are a democracy. But post this event I have had to revise my opinion about them: generally speaking, they are vibrant, open-minded and jovial, and not sexual hypocrites (as well as  prudes and perverts) like us.

                                         

Likewise, the way the Croatian men and women celebrated their quarterfinal match on the Russian streets had to be seen to be believed. The steamy images that a dear friend of mine shared with me on WhatsApp took my breath away, shot up my adrenaline and sent my heart racing! That’s what free human spirit is and should be all about, I thought with a chuckle.

Sports events are great unifiers. They bring people together. They help nations and communities rise above petty and dirty political games. They help us rise above the parochial considerations of caste, race, community, religion that our incorrigible politicians exploit to create fractures and fissures in society and between countries. The world looks like one global village where balmy spirit of joy, rejoicing and mutual good will reigns supreme. These help us dream of a world where there are no wars, no crimes, no violence, no hatred, no injustices, no disparities.

I wish there were more such events and the world learns to live in peace to celebrate nothing but the wonder and magic of life and of free human spirit. But what a silly, impossible and utopian dream I dream. Alas!

Anyway, hats off to France the winner and the proud and brave runners-up Croatians; and a big, big hug and a peck on the cheek to their charming President; and not the least, a flying kiss to the warm and hospitable Russia!

                                       

                               

              
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