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| Some might argue that popular international sports events such as the FIFA World Cup are not playing a pivotal role in easing international tensions and releasing patriotic emotions in a safe way. It is hard to deny that international sports games sometimes escalate or provoke tensions, considering some wars caused by the result of football games. However, I strongly believe that popular events can play a positive role in easing tensions or conflict among not only domestic societies but also international societies. My arguments could be substantiated by the following reasons. |
| It is true that international sporting occasions are not the panacea for solving complicated problems around the real world. Sometimes, historically, these types of events became the tipping point of international conflicts. For instance, a few decades ago, due to an international football match, a war broke out between the countries in Central America. Given the radical example above, it is enough to think that international sports events could escalate tensions between countries and violently guide patriotic emotions. |
| However, it is also impossible to deny how international sports events played a pivotal role in many compromises or detente; a ceasefire in the Ivory Coast during the World Cup season was one of the legendary moments that showed FIFA World Cup not only stopped the war and gave the reason why people of the Ivory Coast should be united rather than killing each other. |
| Moreover, the opening ceremony of international sporting occasions such as the Olympic games has always been a significant diplomatic meeting in both an official and an unofficial way. One of the exemplary cases happened during Pyeongchang Winter Olympics 2018. During the Olympics, various stakeholders in regard to nuclear proliferation on the Korean Peninsula gathered together and found some points to de-escalate the tensions on the peninsula. |
| In summation, although it is undeniable that international sports games are often useless to de-escalate tensions or can worsen conflicts, positive cases of the events are enough to cover its negative impacts. |