LxC Task1: 2002 FIFA World Cup Japan/Korea

It was 2002 that FIFA World Cup was first held in Asia. Games took place in 20 cities in both Japan and South Korea. [1] It called attention of the global soccer fans since the way games took place was very different from the past games. FIFA world cup had been held only in Europe and America before that. Also, regarding the history of soccer, starting as elite’s sport in England, the 2002 World Cup proved that some sport can be global, as Barbara. J. Keys defines sport as something that “transcends class, race, and religion” in her article Globalizing Sport. [2]

It also had great impact from local perspectives. Many local towns, especially in country areas, were selected as the place for camp for various national teams. According to Tsuji Toshio, most of those towns still have connections with the country of the national team even after 5 years after the World Cup. [3] Thus in this case, sport works not only as a mean to show off the power but also as the opportunities to enhance communication between local towns and foreign countries. Moreover, both cooperation as well as dispute between Japan and Korea got attention of locals. Regarding the historical issues between Korea and Japan, it is natural that people in both countries were interested in what was happening between them during the World Cup, although most of them are in the category of rumors and were not really examined by scholars.

[1] Toshio, Tsuji. “2002 FIFA日韓ワールドカップに関する調査研究 (The Survey of 2002 FIFA World Cup Japan/Korea)”. Cosmica. Vol. 37 (2007), 21-41. Kyoto University of Foreign Studies. Print. 

[2]Keys, J. Barbara. “Globalizing Sport: National Rivalry and International Community in the 1930s”. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. 2006. Print.

[3] Toshio, Tsuji. “2002 FIFA日韓ワールドカップに関する調査研究 (The Survey of 2002 FIFA World Cup Japan/Korea)”. Cosmica. Vol. 37 (2007), 21-41. Kyoto University of Foreign Studies. Print.

LxC Task1: Creation of a sports complex in Moscow

Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov is the co-owner of the New Jersey Nets, a team that plays in the National Basketball Association. His new venture is to help finance and build a sports center in Moscow’s International Business Center.[1] The whole MIBC is an ongoing project that seeks to create an area where people would be able to work, relax, and tour in western Moscow.


Prokhorov’s planned addition of a sports center helps create an entertainment outlet that would place MIBC on a slightly different approach than originally expected. While considered to be an area primarily for business, the complex would more focus on leisure time. On the local level, it would create an outlet for residents to get physically fit and also provide entertainment in the form of a movie theater for everyone.


As for a global impact, the center would increase tourism to the area. Not only would the people living in or near MIBC be able to experience it, the aesthetics of the area would welcome international crowds. It is unknown whether the Nets would be able to play a game at the complex but it is certainly not a farfetched idea. Looking at Prokhorov’s past and his international vision for the future of the Nets, he would certainly be able to put two and two together.


From the categories that Galtung presents in The Structure of Foreign News, this news article contains meaningfulness and cultural proximity.[2] Based on my previous blog post on the appeal of narratives, these two categories are also main parts that create an appealing narrative. Due to me being the reader, the article has cultural proximity due to connecting both my Russian heritage and my American upbringing. Furthermore, the meaningfulness of the article stems from the cultural proximity. Having been in Moscow allows me to appreciate what Prokhorov has planned for the region.

[1]Прохоров превратит «Москва-Сити» в спортивно-развлекательный центp. Equipnet.ru. Published April 4, 2011. http://www.equipnet.ru/news/power-industry/power-industry_19494.html Accessed April 4, 2011. Internet.

This is a news article that describes Prokhorov's plans for building the sports complex. It also incorporates the economic concerns of the project.

[2]Galtung, Johan/Ruge, Mari Holmboe. "The Structure of Foreign News." The Presentation of the Congo, Cuba and Cyprus Crises in Four Norwegian Newspapers. Volume 2 (1965), Pages 70.