Egypt After 2025: Navigating a Critical Inflection Point    Spot Gold, futures slips on Thursday, July 17th    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Egypt expresses condolences to Iraq over fire tragedy    Egypt, Oman discuss environmental cooperation    Egypt's Environment Minister attends AMCEN conference in Nairobi    At London 'Egypt Day', Finance Minister outlines pro-investment policies    Sukari Gold Mine showcases successful public–private partnership: Minister of Petroleum    Egypt's FRA chief vows to reform business environment to boost investor confidence    Egyptian, Belarusian officials discuss drug registration, market access    Syria says it will defend its territory after Israeli strikes in Suwayda    Pakistan names Qatari royal as brand ambassador after 'Killer Mountain' climb    Health Ministry denies claims of meningitis-related deaths among siblings    Sri Lanka's expat remittances up in June '25    EU–US trade talks enter 'decisive phase', German politician says    Egypt's Health Min. discusses drug localisation with Sandoz    Needle-spiking attacks in France prompt government warning, public fear    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Korea Culture Week in Egypt to blend K-Pop with traditional arts    Egypt, France FMs review Gaza ceasefire efforts, reconstruction    CIB finances Giza Pyramids Sound and Light Show redevelopment with EGP 963m loan    Greco-Roman tombs with hieroglyphic inscriptions discovered in Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



A KHAWAGA'S TALE: Drenched under storm clouds
Published in Daily News Egypt on 17 - 08 - 2008

TAUNTON, Somerset: The storm clouds have gathered this past week, and not only over Somerset's county cricket ground, but the Caucasus, the global economy and the Olympics are getting an almost daily drenching.
Once upon a time it was said; 'to understand cricket, was to understand life.' Meaning, the aristocratic game encompassed all the virtues and values of a civilized society, the most prized of which was fair play.
China's communist government has spent more money on the Beijing Olympics than all other Olympics combined. Though the opening ceremony will not be remembered for its digitally enhanced TV pictures of the fireworks, but a little girl with buck teeth deemed too ugly for TV and replaced with a more "attractive child, miming her song.
I was thinking about this charade as I nodded off watching Somerset bat in their cricket match against Surrey and what a metaphor it was for all the troubles in the world. When a little girl's teeth might bring shame on a nation, how insecure could a government be. It's the great shame of China.
Watching cricket you often nod off, then come round and read the newspaper again, whilst keeping one eye on the action, because that's all it requires.
Part of cricket's artistry is its metronome elegance, never hurrying its business or demanding a climatic end. The art of diplomacy should also tick along the back channels to a steady dialogue of calm, avoiding the calamity of war.
But no, buffoons like the Georgian President are allowed to antagonize the Russian bear, which we all know has a sore head at the moment, and may well be capable of anything.
The bear has been stomping around for a few years now; tinkering with Europe's gas supplies, reinstating the high altitude long range nuclear bombers and planting their flag on the Artic seabed.
So it came as no surprise to me, when given the opportunity to scorch Georgian earth, the Russians took it. Because this is exactly the tactics you employ in a cricket match. When the opposition shows weakness or if given an opportunity, you drive home your advantage, grinding the opposition into the dirt.
Soon enough though, the rains will come to douse the flames. "Saved by the rain, is a favorite cricket expression and the fires that burn in the Caucasus will also disappear from the front pages. But alas, I fear this game is not over.
Cricket had a brief appearance at the Paris Olympics in 1900, and a silver medal was won by an English touring team, The Devon & Somerset Wanderers. There is talk of bringing it back for the London games in 2012. Possibly by that time the world would have recovered from recession and will be in the mood for cricket, as it can be a bit dour to the uninitiated.
After lunch at Taunton, only a few balls were bowled and the heavens opened, which for no particular reason got me wondering if Peking duck was on the menu at Beijing's Olympic Village and whether or not the locals still call the place Peking, or maybe it was just a western colonialist translation?
Because in India, the locals call Mumbai, Bombay, and only the tourists say Mumbai, confusing everyone.
Cricket gives you time to think, staring for hours out onto a vast green space makes you wonder about this and that. I guess grass just has that special property to enhance the imagination.
So I was thinking, how did the Chinese develop so quickly and does communism really work? Was it just the Soviet Russians who gave communism a bad name? Could it be "the model for development?
A one-child-policy brings population control. A five year plan focus. Censorship avoids bad news and cheap labor brings foreign investment. A large army will help with natural disasters and poor construction, and the Olympics bring global acknowledgment that you have made it.
Many are amazed with China's progress towards 'superpowerism' and this could be measured by global economic penetration, military hardware or an Olympic medal table.
But the true test of a superpower is whether or not an empire can transplant their national sports. The British spread cricket throughout their 19th Century Empire, the Americans succeeded with making basketball global in the 20th Century, so it is up to the Chinese to get us all playing ping pong now in the 21st Century.
But I doubt it, ping pong or table tennis is what you play in the garage on a wet weekend, when play at the cricket field is abandoned, and I think that is fair enough.
[email protected]


Clic here to read the story from its source.