{"id":81,"date":"2018-06-19T13:21:19","date_gmt":"2018-06-19T13:21:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/commons.princeton.edu\/globalreporting2018\/?p=81"},"modified":"2019-05-16T12:10:47","modified_gmt":"2019-05-16T12:10:47","slug":"in-athens-joyce-and-soccer-bring-nations-together","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/commons.princeton.edu\/globalreporting2018\/in-athens-joyce-and-soccer-bring-nations-together\/","title":{"rendered":"In Athens, Joyce and Soccer Bring Nations Together"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Emily Spalding<\/em><\/p>\n

ATHENS, Greece<\/strong> — Somewhere in the Fluntern Cemetery of Z\u00fcrich, Switzerland, James Joyce might be rolling over in his grave.<\/p>\n

Nestled in an alleyway near Athens\u2019 tourist neighborhood of Monastiraki, the James Joyce Irish Pub so reveres its namesake that even placemats and napkins display the iconic Irish writer\u2019s face. \u00a0Yet on June 16, the pub transformed into a multinational tapestry as it aired the 2018 FIFA World Cup soccer matches between Morocco and Iran, and later Spain and Portugal.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

As the evening progressed, boisterous spectators flooded into the pub. \u00a0Any soccer fan knows a defining ritual of the sport is enjoying a pint with friends.\u00a0\u00a0For visitors to the James Joyce, which attracts both locals and tourists, this friendship spanned a range of nationalities.<\/p>\n

Ian Brennan, a marketing consultant from England, has previously encountered this melding of countries in his decades of world travel. \u00a0Perched on a barstool, pint in hand, eyes fixed on a screen, he beamed with pride as he explained his dedication to the sport and the surprising kinship he has found globally with fellow fans.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe World Cup is a great opportunity for everyone to come together, whether it be in Greece or England or anywhere. \u00a0It doesn\u2019t really matter the city, football is [such] a worldwide game,\u201d Brennan said. \u201cFootball especially brings all of these nationalities together \u2026 Whether it\u2019s Moroccan fans, Iranian fans, Senegalese.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brennan described how he enjoys visiting bars where citizens from countries other than his own are present, and that this sort of relaxed interaction provides a way to understand cultures with which he might be unfamiliar.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf it\u2019s a match where you are quite neutral, why not go and have a real connection with at least one group of fans?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

This connection is especially possible at the James Joyce because its location in the heart of Athens draws in a variety of people. \u00a0 Dimitris Kontogiannis, a Greek lawyer in training, said he frequents the James Joyce because of its unique social opportunities.<\/p>\n

\u201c[There\u2019s] an opportunity to meet other people here, because this pub [has] people from all over the world,\u201d Kontogiannis said. \u00a0\u201cI think that it\u2019s a place different from other traditional Greek caf\u00e9s \u2026 That\u2019s why I\u2019m here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kontogiannis attended the match with Spanish friends. Nearby was Peer Grin, a plumber visiting from Sweden.\u00a0\u00a0Having just arrived in Greece that morning, Grin came to the bar alone hoping to catch the match and immerse himself in the culture of Greece simultaneously. \u00a0Grin explained how he is able to get a better understanding of each nation by observing how fans in the stadium act.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can see how the people are reacting.\u00a0\u00a0Like, Sweden, we are a bit more calm.\u00a0\u00a0Spain is a bit more emotional. \u00a0You can see how other countries, how other people are, emotion wise,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Others agreed. Brennan noted how he observes players and fans to assess larger issues in their respective countries.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me, I get the drama from the actual tournament itself,\u201d he said. \u00a0\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of psychology and a lot of emotion that goes into sport that I think a lot of people don\u2019t realize.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey just think it\u2019s a very one-dimensional thing and that, you know, it\u2019s just a bunch of guys sitting around watching a bunch of other guys kicking a ball. \u00a0But there\u2019s a lot of psychology and human emotion, and the interaction between people is played out in 90 minutes on a pitch. That\u2019s why I watch.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Emily Spalding ATHENS, Greece — Somewhere in the Fluntern Cemetery of Z\u00fcrich, Switzerland, James Joyce might be rolling over in his grave. Nestled in an alleyway near Athens\u2019 tourist neighborhood of Monastiraki, the James Joyce Irish Pub so reveres its namesake that even placemats and napkins display the iconic Irish writer\u2019s face. \u00a0Yet on<\/p>\n

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