Global Voices Online » Sport

Russia: Home of Sochi Olympics 2014

Vilhelm Konnander — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:02:01 +0000

Mmd Russia Blog draws attention to a recent report on the Krasnodar region and the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

China: Olympics reporter barred entry

John Kennedy — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 10:55:25 +0000

Roland Soong at EastSouthWestNorth translates articles from two Hong Kong dailies of opposing views on the news that one of those newspapers' Olympic beat reporters has been refused entry and sent home.

Caucasus: European Football

Onnik Krikorian — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:33:04 +0000

Social Science in the Caucasus looks at where the affinity of the three South Caucasus countries lay during the recent European UEFA football competition. The blog says that the exercise provides a fascinating insight into the cultural and political orientation of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

Kyrgyzstan: From Sorrow to Happiness

Elena Skochilo — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:40:28 +0000

Early in June a sorrowful groan was heard from the Kyrgyz blogosphere: the great Kyrgyz writer Chingiz Aitmatov died. Almost all Kyrgyz bloggers wrote about the death of a famous writer in their blogs.

Erne_raj wrote [ru]:

Chingiz Torekulovich is no more… But he left his scent in minds, hearts and history!

Baisalov told [ru]:

Aitmatov was more than just writer for Kyrgyz nation and Kyrgyzstan. He was the pride and the glory of the Kyrgyz people. He was the face of the nation. We haven’t enough words to describe the place which he took in the heart of every Kyrgyz. Aitmatov was a real artist. He didn’t copy off his heroes and didn’t put real life in his work: he was creating his characters. World knew about Kyrgyz nature, destiny and soul by way of Aitmatov. All Kyrgyz’s will be observed and appreciated through the prism of the Aitmatov’s mythology. We are living and we are condemned to live in the universe of Aitmatov, because the images of Aitmatov, heroes, persons, tragedies became our own life.

keenza said [ru]:

He was incredible profound man, one of me favorite writers. I was amazed with his attitude to the death…

sarannee grieved [ru]:

So great man died. What a pity. I was growing with his books and I now I have a feeling like something was taken away.

Blogger azzzik also was at the funeral ceremony for Aitmatov and published some photos.

Human nature can’t grieve for a long time and another event came to the Kyrgyz blogosphere soon: Euro Championship.

It is funny, but soccer united our nation and we all have been fan of Russia during these days.

dancheg was excited [ru]:

The windows were trembling from every goal; there were the happy shouts from every house, from every café. People were driving, signaling, triumphing and scanning. I haven’t seen such happiness and unanimity in Kyrgyzstan…

Khaan told [ru]:

All visitors of café were fans of Russia. All were crying and hugging each other after every goal. Seems all city became a fan of Russia. After the game between Russia and Netherlands there were a lot cars with Russian flags and the main streets were blocked by crowds of fans. Ole!

makaroff noticed [ru]:

All CIS was a fan or Russia. We are real brothers. We have nothing divided. Russia go ahead!

Let's hope that the future will bring Kyrgyzstan another happy events what could really unite our nation…

Also posted on neweurasia.

Brunei: Cycling race

Mong Palatino — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 03:14:14 +0000

Anakpanyu from Brunei is a cyclist and a blogger as well. He wrote about his recent cycling experience in his blog.

Russia: Blog Roundup

Veronica Khokhlova — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 22:58:52 +0000

Russia blogs roundup - at Siberian Light.

Russia: Euro 2008

Veronica Khokhlova — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 22:48:40 +0000

Ger Clancy, aka The Irishman, is guestblogging at Sean's Russia Blog about the Russian football team's performance at Euro 2008 - here and here.

Hungary: Open Letter to Austria

Veronica Khokhlova — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:30:41 +0000

Pestiside.hu writes an angry letter to Austria, “on behalf of Hungary.”

“Qatar's greatest football moment…”

Mohamed Nanabhay — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:25:31 +0000

Football fans in Qatar were ecstatic over the Qatari national teams 1-0 win over Iraq in a World Cup qualifier. Greeker described it as “Qatar's greatest football moment…” writing:

75th minute, Said Bachir heads in a goal.

A moment frozen in time.

QATAR lives its greatest moment in international football.

This crucial victory comes after Qatar Football Association was cleared from any wrongdoing after claims that they had fielded an eligible player in previous matches with Iraq and China.

The fact that Iraq was beaten out of the tournament was not lost on Qatari bloggers. Diamond wrote:

Sorry Iraq. I applaud your courage and determination. If you had beat Qatar I'd be rooting for you guys all the way.

….I so much want that country [Iraq] to succeed…in every aspect. My heart is for Iraq too.

whoami commented

I'm so proud. Both Qatar and Iraq put their hearts into it. Of course I'm happy that Qatar won, but I'd have been equally happy if Iraq won.

Amidsts all the congratulations and “mabhrooks”, tallg was quick to point out that Qatar now has to compete in Round 4 in order to qualify for the 2010 Football World Cup in South Africa.

Korea: Hiddink’s Miracle and Korean Politics.

Hyejin Kim — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:13:53 +0000

When Hiddink led the Korean soccer team into the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup he became a hero in Korea. Everywhere – in bookstores and on advertisements – was his face. People were busy talking about his leadership and fresh thought. He was harshly criticized by the media early on when he was hired for the 2002 World Cup. His different style of recruiting players and training them brought suspicions that he would destroy the Korean team. But the result led Koreans to think about what real leadership is. His training style was analyzed in books and applied to the economy and politics. And six years later, he is making another miracle in Euro 2008.

Now Koreans miss Hiddink in a different way.

Many netizens miss his leadership and interpret it in the current chaotic politics in Korea.

정말 대단한 사람입니다. 히딩크, 그가 또 세계를 흔들고 있습니다. 유럽축구의 변방인 러시아를 일약 유로2008 4강 대열에 합류시켰습니다. 다시 ‘매직’이 운위됩니다. ‘기적’이 거론됩니다. 전 세계가 히딩크의 마법에 놀라고 히딩크의 리더십에 경탄합니다. 비결이 뭘까요? 이 세상에 ‘매직’은 없습니다. 히딩크 또한 마법사의 힘을 갖고 있지는 않습니다. 그의 ‘기적’은 단지 노력의 결과입니다. 모두가 공감하는 게 있습니다. ‘동기 부여’입니다. 선수들에게 동기를 부여함으로써 개개인이 가진 잠재력을 극대화하고 이렇게 표출된 잠재력을 조직력으로 엮어내는 능력에 있어서만큼은 타의 추종을 불허한다고 모두가 인정하는 것 같습니다.

히딩크가 ‘동기 부여’를 하는 데 얼마나 탁월한 재능을 가졌는지는 숱한 일화가 증명합니다. 훈련에 지각하던 러시아 수비수 이그나셰비치를 집으로 돌려보낸 일화는 PSV아인트호벤 시절 호마리우 일화와 빼닮았습니다. 유로2008에서 러시아 최고의 공격수로 활약하고 있는 아르샤빈을 한때 대표팀에서 뺀 일화는 한국 대표팀 시절 홍명보의 일화와 비슷합니다. ‘자극’을 받아 ‘자발성’을 내보이는 선수에게는 공평하게 대했습니다. 당장의 명성에 현혹되지 않고 당장의 악평에 휘둘리지 않았습니다. 모두를 같은 출발선에 놓고 공평하게 재려 했습니다. 그 결과가 박지성과 김남일입니다. 고만고만했던 선수들을 대표팀의 주축으로 키워냈습니다.

기껏해야 심리전이라고, 선수 다루는 기술에 불과하다고 폄하할 일이 아닙니다. 히딩크는 그러면서도 동고동락했습니다. 선수들과 같이 공을 차고, 선수들과 같이 장난을 치고, 선수들과 같이 하나의 목표를 향해 어깨동무를 했습니다. 과하다 싶을 정도로, ‘뻥’이 세다고 싶을 정도로 자기 팀을 치켜세웠고 주변의 비아냥에는 단호한 태도로 임했습니다. 이렇게 조직력을 키웠습니다. 통합을 일궈냈습니다.

그리곤 맡겼죠. 어차피 그라운드에서 승부를 펼치는 주체는 선수들이니까 그들에게 맡겼습니다.

이렇게 정리해도 될 것 같습니다. 히딩크의 리더십은 수직적 리더십이 아닙니다. ‘나를 따르라’는 독불장군식, 메시아식 리더십이 아닙니다. 히딩크의 리더십은 수평적 리더십입니다. 선수를 끌고가는 게 아니라 그들 속으로 들어가 자극을 주고 뒤에서 밀어주는 리더십입니다.

오버랩 되는 인물이 있습니다. 이명박 대통령입니다. 서울시장으로 있을 때 반바지에 샌들 차림의 아들과 함께 히딩크와 기념사진을 찍은 일 때문이 아닙니다. 두 사람의 리더십이 극명하게 교차된다고 느끼기 때문입니다. 지금까지는 그랬습니다. 이명박 대통령은 ‘동기 부여’를 하지 못했습니다. 국민의 자발적 참여는 둘째 치고 청와대 비서진과 내각의 자발적 헌신조차 끌어내지 못했습니다. ‘얼리 버드’로 상징되는 ‘다그침’만 보였습니다. 어떤 사람의 말처럼 부처 과장이 할 일조차 직접 챙겼습니다. 관료의 창발성을 고양하기보다는 눈치보기 풍조를 야기했습니다.‘탕평’의 리더십도 보이지 않았습니다. 이명박 대통령 스스로 천명했던 ‘실용’의 리더십도 아니었습니다. 자신과 잘 아는 사람을 기용했습니다. 부도덕한 행적을 보인 사람조차 ‘연’을 중시해 내치지 않았습니다.‘통합’의 리더십도 펼치지 않았습니다. 국민과 소통하지 않고 토론하지 않았습니다. 논란이 많은 정책인데도 공개적 토론보다 비밀스런 추진에 힘을 쏟았습니다. 자신이 추진하고자 하는 정책에 국민들이 반대를 하면 ‘오해’라고 했습니다. 지금까지는 그랬습니다. 이명박 대통령이 그동안 보인 리더십은 이랬습니다. 앞으론 어떻게 될까요? 바뀌는 걸까요?

그럼 다행입니다. 5년의 임기 가운데 석 달여는 극히 짧은 기간입니다. 지금부터라도 새로운 리더십을 보여줄 수 있다면 지난 기간은 전화위복의 준비기간 쯤으로 여겨도 됩니다. […]

He’s amazing. Hiddink, he shook the world again. He let Russia, the edge of European soccer, join the semifinal of Euro 2008. Again people talk about ‘magic’ and ‘miracle.’ All over the world, people are surprised with his magic and compliment his leadership. What is his strategy? There is no ‘magic.’ He also doesn’t have a magician’s power. His miracle is the result of efforts. There is one everyone agrees on. It’s ‘motivation.’ He provides motivation to players and therefore each player can maximize his potential. It seems that everyone recognizes his excellent ability to transfer the potential through his organizing ability.

There are so many episodes. The one that he sent Russian player, Ignashevich, back home because he was late to a training course is similar with Romário de Souza Faria’s story in PSV eindhoven. In Euro 2008, the story that he excluded the best Russian player, Arshavin, from the team is similar with Hong Myung Bo’s story in Korea. He treated players who work hard equally. He didn’t care about reputation and criticisms. He put everyone on the same starting line and analyzed them. Its result was Park Ji Sung and Kim Nam Il. He made them from no-name value players to the major players of the team.

People can just call it ‘psychological warfare’ and as the skill of how to deal with players. Hiddink shared everything with his players. He played with them and became their friends. He walked with them together. Sometimes, he was praising his team a little bit too much and regardless of sneers from people around him he didn’t care. He imparted organizing ability and unity.

And then, he trusted. Players are the ones who play on the ground. He trusted his players.

I would like to summarize. Hiddink’s leadership is not hierarchical leadership. His is not the Messiah style. His leadership is horizontal leadership. Not dragging players, he pulls motivation out of the players’ minds and supports them.

There is another one who is overlapped. President Lee. When he was Seoul Mayor, he took his son wearing shorts and sandals to the public place in order to let his son take the photo together. I’m not talking about that. I think about the big difference of their leadership. So far, President Lee hasn’t given ‘motivation.’ Not only disregarding peoples’ volunteering participation, but he also didn’t lead the volunteering contribution from his secretaries and cabinet. He just showed ‘force.’ Like some people said, he even did what other department managers should do. Rather than encouraging ‘motivation’ and ‘creativity,’ he made a trend where everyone studies others. He even didn’t show the ‘practical’ leadership that he emphasized. He appointed people he is familiar with. Even people who have immoral work were not kicked out due to the relations with him. He even didn’t show the leadership of ‘unity’ He didn’t have communication and discussion. When he dealt with argumentative policies, he chose secret propulsion rather than public discussion. If people are opposed to his policies, he just said ‘misunderstanding.’ So far, that’s what he has done. That’s what he has shown us as leadership. How about the future? Will it change?

Then, it will be great. As a matter of fact, three months of five years of his governance is pretty short. If he can show a new kind of leadership from now on, it could be better. […]

In 2002, his leadership was highly praised and it came back.

정말 지도자의 중요성을 일깨우는 사건이다. 흔히들 좋은 선생은 학생탓을 하지 않는다. 학생은 가능성의 덩어리 이니까.

He really proved how important the leader is. Commonly, good teachers don’t blame students. Because the students have possibility.

While many netizens compliment Hiddink’s leadership and compare his to the current president’s, there is also a different interpretation.

[…]2002년 국민적인 영웅이었던 히딩크를 생각해보자. 히딩크 부임 초기에 몇게임 경기를 해 보고는 성적이 좋지 않다고 갈아치우자고 목소리를 높였던 기억이 나시는지? 그때 히딩크 갈아치웠다면 2002년의 그 영광이 우리에게 있었겠는가? 누구나 완벽할 수는 없다. 이명박 대통령과 그를 둘러싼 사람들도 마찬가지. 물론 온 나라를 좌지우지 할 수 있는 자리에 있는 분은 훨씬 더 신중하고 자신들이 작은 판단이 얼마나 국민들에게 큰 영향을 미칠 지를 미리 가늠해야하는데 그런 점에서는 부족한 점이 없지 않았다. 하지만 이제 겨우 집권 100일을 넘기지 않았는가? 100일동안 일시켜보고 못한다고, 맘에 안든다고 바꾸고, 다음에 다른 사람 대통령되어서 잘못하면 또 바꾸고… 정말로 명박퇴진을 주장하는 사람들. 진정으로 명박퇴진을 원하는가?

명박 대통령. 아마 지금쯤 국민들의 힘이 얼마나 무섭다는 것을 뼈저리게 느꼈을거라 생각을 한다. 그리고 과거 하듯이 밀어부치기가 이시대에는 먹히지 않는 다는 것을 깨달았으리라 생각을 한다. 그에게 한번 더 기회를 줘보면 어떨까? 우리 손으로 뽑은 대통령이 아니던가? 비록 도덕적으로 완벽하지 않다는 것을 알았지만 그 모든 것을 떠나서 우리 좀 잘 살게 해달라고 뽑았던 대통령. 그분이 나름 경제를 한번 살려보겠다고,FTA비준 한번 받아보겠다고 밀어부친 소고기 협상이 맘에 들지않는다고 갈아치우자는 주장은 정말로 생각이 없어보인다. 명박퇴진 이후에는 그럼 어떻게 하겠다는 말씀인지? 이 어려운 시기에 그럼 누구에게 이 나라를 맡기자는 것인지?

비판하기는 쉬우나 대안없는 비판은 차라리 무책임입니다.

[…]Let’s think about the national hero, Hiddink in 2002. At first when he had several games, there were so many opinions that we should get rid of him because the game results were not satisfying. Do you remember? If we switched Hiddink, would it be possible to have 2002 glory? Nobody can be perfect. It will be applied to the President and people around him. Of course, people who have the authority to be able to change the country should be more cautious and consider that their decision with a small matter also could bring big influence on the people. In that matter, he had the problem. But he has been the president just for 100 days. We let him work for 100 days, change to the other person because we don’t like him, and change to a new one again if we don’t like… People who really insist on his resignation…. Do they really want his resignation?

I am sure that he realized keenly people’s powers are strong. And the bulldozer style that he pushes forward is not going to work in this time. Why don’t we give one more chance to him? Didn’t we select him with our hands? Even though he is not morally perfect, we chose him in the hope of betterment. In order to have a better economy, he dealt with the beef negotiation for FTA. He didn’t do a good job. So we speak out that he should quit. It’s thoughtless. What will we do after his resignation? In such a difficult time, to whom will we ask to take care of the country?

It’s easy to criticize, but criticism without alternatives is irresponsibility.

Russia: “Football Revolution”

Veronica Khokhlova — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:59:00 +0000

It was a wild, sleepless night in Russia, following the national football team's 3-1 win over the Netherlands and its advance to the Euro 2008 semi-finals. In the streets of Moscow, some 500,000 fans celebrated this unexpected victory - and similar euphoria engulfed most Russian cities as well.

LJ user vero4ka described (RUS) the scene in Moscow on the night of June 21-22:

Moscow is naked, drunk, all covered in broken glass; figures “3″ and “1″ have been [snatched away] from all currency exchange displays […].

[…]

[Tverskaya St.] is cordoned off, girls are lying on car hoods and roofs, people are attacking empty garbage and dump trucks, getting inside, beating on them, screaming; all guys are naked, some of them have beautiful bodies; girls at the sidewalks take their t-shirts off and walk around topless; everyone is impossibly happy, carrying each other on the shoulders, kissing, running to hug with strangers and drivers of the cars passing by; nothing like this has ever happened before, traffic rules are gone to hell, a road hysteria has begun; everyone's singing anthems, [Aleksandr Pushkin monument at Pushkin Sq.] is wearing a fan's scarf, a whole bunch of folks with flags is on [Vladimir Mayakovsky monument at Triumphalnaya Sq.]; if we, God forbid, win this [championship], there'll be a revolution - people will just flood into Kremlin, carry out the tiny, drunk [president Dmitry Medvedev], and carry in someone else, all in a totally casual manner; in the morning we'll wake up in a different country.

What else are we capable of celebrating so universally? The New Year's? May Day? I'm 22, and this is the first time I see my own people going nuts from delight; not a single person standing aside, not even street cleaners and [migrant workers]; hard to believe this is my city, feels like someone is shooting a movie. […]

LJ user maximkalinov posted photos of the celebration in the Russian city of Tver; the title of his post (RUS) is “Football Revolution.”

LJ user mnog spent the night photographing fans in downtown Moscow. The result is this post with over a hundred photos - and over a hundred comments (RUS) to it, some of which are translated below:

trendybrandy:

Damn, there are churki [a derogatory term for non-Slavs] on every second picture! What a [horror] taking place in Moscow. And so many churki when it's a Russian team that's won. What's gonna happen in the streets if they will be celebrating something of their own?! It's gonna be total [mess] […]. Moscow is no longer Russian … and this is Russia's capital. […]

mnog:

There are plenty of ethnic groups in any megapolis. With views like these, you should live in a village.

***

kolengro:

And after something like this they dare ban gay pride parades?

***

algulya:

You're a courageous person, I wouldn't risk going out and taking pictures.

***

nice_scream:

There were loads of cool chicks, by the way )))))

In the morning, LJ user kotjus_sova took a few pictures of the aftermath of the celebrations and posted them in the moya_moskva (My Moscow) LJ community: 10:30 AM on Sunday, Shipilovskaya St. in Moscow, lots of broken beer bottle glass.

One reader asked (RUS): “What happened? A beer truck accident?”

China: Free blogphones from fring for the Olympics

John Kennedy — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 14:05:29 +0000

Vlogging the Olympics might be off-limits now (so they think), so hopefully that won't affect fringsters who show up with new free fring swag, in return for blogging Olympic events.

Barbados: Caribbean Football Falters

Skye Hernandez — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 13:18:15 +0000

Living in Barbados comments on the fortunes of regional football teams, as qualification matches begin for World Cup 2010.

Kyrgyzstan: Ahead of Olympiad

Adil Nurmakov — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 06:00:10 +0000

Elena reports that there will be 20 Kyrgyz sportsmen in Beijing at Olympic Games 2008.

Ecuador: Twitter Updates of Qualifying Game

Eduardo Avila — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 04:26:01 +0000

The recent World Cup qualifying game between Colombia and Ecuador was covered by the newspaper HOY through the use of live twitter updates writes Christian Espinosa of Cobertura Digital [es].