Why is sports so important for the people of a number of countries in Research Paper

Why is sports so important for the people of a number of countries in the world - Research Paper Example Majority of the people in Spain celebrated their world cup win in South Africa in 2010. There was renewed show of patriotism. The jersey worn by the national team players was symbolic of the people, united and committed to one nation and cheered it on to victory. At that time, the victory served to brighten up a country that was hit by the recession, its unemployment rate was increasing and the confidence in the administrative bodies was dwindling. However, the sport united the people and gave them renewed hope to deal with the problems they face. This is what football often does in Spain. The sense of patriotism is evident in every person even the politicians. More than ever, they become committed to institute policies that will improve the welfare of the citizens. Spain struggles with the Catalan section due to the increasing will of the Catalans to be self-governing. The Catalan people view FC Barcelona as the representation of their customs and culture. It is no wonder that they fill the stadiums with banners carrying political messages regarding the same. Football is important to them as it helps them air their demands. It is a platform for them to advocate for a political voice. Their actions serve to spur heated exchanges and influence political ambitions of the two sections. To the people of Catalonia, football is their massive voice and they hope to continue using the platform. Some go to the extent of crediting the Barcelona players for the victories in major European competitions. They believe they have a big say in major things as demonstrated in football. However, until their ambitions materialize, they combine together to celebrate triumphs. This signifies that the Spanish and Catalan identities are not essentially incompatible (T he symbolism in Spanish football illustrates that Catalan and Spanish identities are not necessarily incompatible). Third, Football in Spain helps companies increase their financial returns. The Spanish football