Commentary

Bridging cultural gaps through sport

IN YESTERDAY'S STAR there was a report on the Jamaica vs. Panama World Cup Qualifying match which took place in Panama over the weekend.

The article reported on the behaviour of the Panamanians towards the Jamaican contingent before and during the match. There were reports of intimidation, bottle throwing, and spitting. Additionally, it was reported that the team was locked out of the stadium, effectively preventing them from practising for the match.

The presence of riot police did nothing to soften the barbaric, uncouth state of the Panamanian supporters. For most of us of a civilised mindset, sports are supposed to help bridge the gaps that distance, culture and personal conflicts have created, to inspire human beings to a higher level of performance and understanding of each other, even during competition. What the Panamanians did on Sunday undermined the essence of what sports is supposed to be about.

It should be made clear to the Panamanians, the Salvadoreans and the Costa Ricans, indeed any group of spectators who threaten and abuse other spectators and disrupt matches with their barbaric behaviour, that this is not acceptable.

Providing police to 'protect' players and spectators is in effect legitimising the acts of violence and intimidation. Instead of posting riot police at matches, we should institute measures to deter the behaviour in the first place. Measures such as barring the team from competing, or moving the competition to a neutral venue, could be instituted.

Jamaica, when it is our time to host the game, should lead by example and treat them with the decency, decorum and camaraderie that are the mark of the true sportsmen or women.