Celebrating the game of life

FIFA World Cup Germany 2006, simply known to football (that's soccer to North Americans) fans as the "World Cup", begins today in Munich with the host country facing off Costa Rica. Is it just an international tournament? Any die-hard football fan thinks otherwise. This is the football version of "Olympics" to us and football is still the closest thing to the world's universal language.

Football has often made its fanatics do bizarre things. Take Saddam Hussein for example. While he was still in power and the national team lost, players reportedly were forced to kick a concrete ball around in practice, had their heads shaved, or were even tortured. However, more importantly than off the wall behaviour, football brings nations together. Even the North Koreans venture out occasionally for games, as they did several years ago to play South Korea in Seoul in a contest billed as "the reunification match."

There's more to it than that, however. National teams are reflections of their cultural heritage, which is what makes the World Cup so fascinating. The Italians put their emphasis on artistry (sometimes to the exclusion of scoring goals), and one begins to understand some of the attributes that gave birth to the Renaissance. The English forge ahead offensively, ignoring defense, and one sees what gave rise to the once thriving "empire where the sun never set". To Brazilians, "real football" rocks in Samba rhythm. Argentines do the Tango passionately with the ball and Germans are known for their impeccable demonstration of discipline and precision.

Not just the players and the matches, ardent fans dressed in colourful costumes rooting for their teams through spirited songs and dances, spectacular cultural programmes and more, make the World Cup an unforgettable experience.

The cultural programmes leading to the month-long 2006 World Cup tournament certainly did not lack scope or diversity. Some 48 projects featuring exhibits, theatrical performances, concerts, films and parties took place to entertain locals and foreigners coming to Germany for the games.

The German capital, the setting for the World Cup final, held the Rundlederwelten (Round Leather World) exhibition. Videos, installations, photos and sculptures depicting every aspect of soccer from around the world was on display at various locations around the city.

With some of the world's most famous party people in town, almost every street is expected to get some kind of soundtrack, be it samba or African beats.

Brazil is taking advantage of the popularity of its national football team to promote the country's culture in Germany. The Copa da Cultura programme is comprised of more than 200 Brazilian cultural events held in Germany mostly during the World Cup.

Music has always been an integral part of the World Cup identity, which is now not only identifiable by a logo and a mascot but by a very special song as well.

The first major official World Cup song, World Cup Willie, was about the first official mascot (a lion) of the 1966 FIFA World Cup held in England. Since then, the official music programme has become a major component of the event. This has provided an opportunity for all music lovers around the world and not just devoted football fans to identify with the biggest sporting event ever. These songs incorporating renowned musicians and sounds from all over the world attained immense popularity. The whole world hummed and swayed with Un'estate italiana (1990) by Edoardo Bennato and Gianna Nannini, Gloryland (1994) by Daryl Hall with Sounds of Blackness and La Copa de la Vida (1998) by Ricky Martin. In 2002, the official song was Boom by Anastacia, while Vangelis' vocal official anthem featured typical Korean and Japanese sonic elements.

The Official Song of the 2006 FIFA World Cup is Time of Our Lives by the vocal group, Il Divo and R&B diva Toni Braxton. The Official Song reverberates with the theme of the football event, A time to make friends. The song was written by Jörgen Elofsson.

The Official Album, Voices, is a collection of international hit songs including Hips Don't Lie by Shakira and Wyclef Jean, Hero by Mariah Carey, Earth Song by Michael Jackson, Always On My Mind by Elvis Presley, 7 Seconds by Youssou N Dour and Neneh Cherry, Maria Maria by Santana, Celebrate the Day by Herbert Gronemeyer and more.

Many around the world are disappointed at FIFA's decision to call off the World Cup Gala, which apparently would have been a colossal cultural event unlike any other. But during the month-long tournament when a horde of England fans with painted faces sing to boost their team's morale or when the dazzling Samba dancers "shake it like its 2006", how far will football be from culture?