Football envy at the UN - Assignment Example

4 April Football Envy at the UN This article has been written by Kofi Annan who is the former Secretary General of the United Nations. He wrote this article for the Guardian, 12 June 2006. This article is a medium used by the Secretary General to compare the institutions of FIFA and the UN and how some activities are making the UN jealous of the other. Basically the tone of the article is slightly accusatory and at times a source of guidance for the nations to work with more dedication for peace and prosperity.

Both the institutions member nations are compared in this article with FIFA having 207 while the United Nations having only 191. The UN Secretary General states the it is contradicting that the UN claiming to represent all the nations in this world has lesser members than even FIFA. Further it is pointed out that teams put in extra effort for their nations in the world cup because all the nation is watching and praying for their success. There are players putting in more than a hundred percent.

They work hard and play with the spirit of winning as the whole nation is expectant. If the fail the government is answerable and so is the team. Such enthusiasm and determination seen in football does not have its parallel in the whole world. Annan here points out that the teams which qualify for the World Cup are actually fighting for glory. There are teams which enter the first time hoping to perform well. All of them are patriotic and energetic for a single sport-football. The Secretary General siezes this oppurtunity to plead the point that this enthusiasm an spirit should also be demonstrated in the world of humanity.

Similar to the competition in sports there should be a healthy competition between thhe countries. This competition should be for peace, for moving towards development, for the best standard of living and for the betterment of humanity. If the gowernments take responisibility of such areas then progress can be guaranteed. The details in this article are intriguing especially the fact that UN has lesser members than the FIFA. It can be an indication that either there is a failure of recruiting from the UN or the country is not interested in international peace making.

Whatever the case may be the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan has relayed us an important message in an accusatory tone. It is time that we look towards the better future of humanity. Instead on investing millions of dollars annually on defense or on weapons on mass destruction, the same amount of money can be spent on reducing poverty and improving the standard of living. As the teams play for their nations the governments should work towards the betterment of the masses. Campaigns should not be for war but war should be against poverty, diseases and lack of education.

We should compete against each other to see who is the best protector of the human race. As Buddha said, “Better than a thousand hollow words is one word that brings peace.” Therefore, it is for peace that we have to struggle for and this is the message of Annan. Live and let live and lets make this world a better place to live in. References Annan, Kofi, Football Envy at the UN, www.guardian.co.uk , 12 June 2006.