World cup bid

By Naguib Mahfouz

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I was pleased to find out that Egypt has offered to host the 2010 World Cup. Since ancient times sport has been an integral part of life in this country. Sporting events are recorded on ancient Egyptian walls. This was no violent sport in which human beings lost their lives confronting wild beasts -- as was the case in other civilisations -- but rather sedately competitive sport, the spirit of which we must adopt if we are really to host the World Cup.

One of the criteria qualifying Egypt for this role is the Egyptian public's obsession with football. Almost every Egyptian plays football as a child and few shed their interest in the sport. The vast majority watch matches intently. I remember the two neighbourhood teams, one of which I belonged to as a child. We would set up little pitches and play on the street.

Now is the time to use this obsession to work towards a different way of life. Were Egypt to succeed in its bid to host the World Cup its role in the region and in Africa would be consolidated, and there could be no more ample a demonstration that we possess the material and moral means to host such a large-scale event.

Based on an interview by Mohamed Salmawy.