By Anil John/Incheon
The 17th Asian Games may appear to be an all-out celebration of sport, but scratch the seemingly innocuous surface and the heavy political undertones dominating the event become all too obvious.
This is more so because South Korea is hosting the continental showpiece. Sandwiched somewhat between China and Japan, and being constantly pushed to the edge of sanity by an aggressive North Korea, Incheon has become a stage where the hosts can score a few political points on the podium.
All this of course adds to the drama and intrigue that have been part and parcel of Asian politics for several decades, but from time to time it also casts a sinister shadow across the globe, keeping experts in modern weaponry and geopolitical theorists constantly in business.
South Korea is a vibrant democratic nation, while China and North Korea are not. China has stuck to its one-party policy but has made so many adjustments over the past couple of decades that its hardcore Communist ideologies have gone out of the window. In fact, its form of capitalism is giving past masters of the business like Germany, Great Britain and the USA a massive inferiority complex
The collision of history, geography and sport thus makes for an interesting study where simple logic seems to become the first casualty -- but then such is the nature of the beast we commonly refer to as politics that taking anything for its face value is almost always an exercise in stupidity, the kind of activity which only diehard romantics of peace indulge in.
Logically, South Korea and Japan, being democracies, vibrant economies and close neighbours should be the best of friends, but that is still the stuff of fantasy. South Korea has never forgotten or forgiven Japan for its occupation, and occasional diplomatic rows between the two nations keep the issue burning in the public consciousness.
In fact, a cursory look at 1500 years of history between the two countries reveal a pattern of violent spats, historic friendship treaties and even outpourings of love and affection and cooperation the kind of which we witnessed during the 2002 FIFA World Cup which both nations jointly hosted.
And although South Korea and Japan have not gone to war since independence nearly seven decades ago – like, say India and Pakistan – both take their rivalry in virtually every field of activity very seriously.
At the Incheon Asian Games, the South Koreans are concentrating their energies on extending their dominance over Japan as the number two sporting nation in Asia after China. It would be a massive loss of face for them if, as hosts, they cannot manage to achieve that objective.
The South Koreans know that overtaking the mighty Chinese is well nigh impossible, so they see no shame in finishing second, as they have often done since 1986 when the Games were held in Seoul.
On the streets of Incheon though there is very little indication that the Asian Games are about to begin, but that is more to do with the fact that the South Koreans are a people who don’t like to put on a show.
But even the most ordinary South Korean knows that the Games are on and that a lot of pride is at stake.
“We will definitely beat Japan in the overall medal tally,” said taxi driver Kim Myung-bo. “But that would be pointless if we finish second to the Japanese in soccer,” he added.
Incheon, once a bleak industrial outpost, is now South Korea’s third largest city into which the government is pouring mega bucks, and the Asian Games are a part of that plan
“We are determined to make the Asian Games a successful event, because it is a chance for us to promote Incheon to the world,” mayor Yoo Jeong-bok was quoted as saying in the Korea Herald. “By mixing sports, culture and tourism, the Asian Games will be a chance for Incheon and South Korea to improve their image.”
According to the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy, the Asian Games will bring more than $12bn to the city which is expecting more than 200,000 foreigners during the event. In addition, experts say the Asian Games will contribute to improving the relationship between the two Koreas.
A survey by the Hyundai Research Institute showed that 45.3 percent of experts on security, unification and diplomacy were of the opinion that the Incheon Games would be a “turning point” in the establishment of friendly ties between the Koreas.
“North Korea’s participation will be a huge factor in the popularity of the games, and will act as a foundation for the Koreas’ move toward peace and reconciliation,” mayor Yoo said.
This is where the script gets melodramatic. Sport’s ability to ease political tensions was never in doubt, but banking on it for a wholesale change in attitudes is simply stretching one’s imagination a bit too far.
