Terror, Maradona & CWG

One would have thought that the recent terror attacks in Mumbai would have derailed a lot of the sports action in the country. The English cricket team’s tour of India was called off, the World Squash Doubles championship to be held in Mumbai from December 15 was indefinitely postponed, Maradona’s trip to Kolkata seemed uncertain, and the already-behind-schedule 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games seemed even more implausible.

Saturday, December 6, 2008
But Maradona kept his date with Kolkata. And the city went wild. The negative sentiments arising out of the terror attacks were buried. Spontaneous celebrations erupted. The joy on the streets was palpable. One of the millions of die-hard Maradona fans in Kolkata told IndiaAtLondon.com, “Maradona’s trip has made me believe that all negativity intended by selfishness, doubt, hatred, fear, harm, terror and weakness can never survive to eternal values of strength, love and selflessness. I realize this when I see Maradona in Kolkata. The people of Kolkata will get nothing material from Maradona but just look at the love he is getting. Keep the faith in humanity. Only the good will survive.” It would be fair to say that, just 10 days after the attack, sports had scored a goal over terror.

Sunday, December 7, 2008
Kevin Pietersen and his men took a unanimous decision to resume the tour to India. “Every now and then an opportunity arises which transcends cricket and goes beyond the boundary,” said Hugh Morris, the managing director of England cricket. “Our players have made a brave and courageous decision that will be respected all around the world.”

Monday, December 8, 2008
The Commonwealth Games Federation dismissed any uncertainty over the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in the wake of the Mumbai terror strikes. In a statement to the Scotsman, the Federation’s honorary secretary Louise Martin said, “There are no thoughts of pulling the games. It actually makes you more determined they go ahead as planned.” Hopefully, there is a grain of truth in these statements. The terror attacks wpuld definitely have instilled a renewed sense of urgency and determination amongst the Indian authorities.

These are extremely positive signs. Now it’s the turn of the Indian sports fans to come out in large numbers and make each of the sporting events a spectacular success.