The sporting spirit

I am always amazed when I hear people saying that sports create goodwill between the nations, and that if only the common people of the world could meet one another at football or cricket, they would have no inclination to meet on the battlefield. Even if one didn't know form concrete examples that international sporting contests lead to orgies of hatred one could deduced it from general principles,
Nealy all the sports practised nowdays are competitive. You play to win, and the game has little meaning unless you do your utmost th win. On the village green, where you pick up sides and no feeling of local patriotism is involved, it is possible to play simply for the fun and exercise: but as soon as the question of prestige arises, as soon as you feel that you and some larger unit will be disgraced if you lose, the most savage combative instincts are aroused. Anyone who has played even in a school football match knows this. At the international level ,sports is frankly mimic warfare.