Last Updated: 23rd March 2023
GT Writing Task 2 (Essay Writing) Sample # 11
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Present a written argument or case to an educated reader with no specialised knowledge of the following topic.
Popular events like the Football World Cup and other international sporting occasions are essential in easing international tension and releasing patriotic emotions in a safe way.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
You should use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your arguments with examples and relevant evidence.
Write at least 250 words.
Model Answer 1: (Agree)
International sporting tournaments bring nations together, reduce cultural barriers and foster patriotism among people and thus have immense importance in maintaining global peace. Major football or cricket competitions and the Olympics events and people’s spontaneous participation in these performances definitely outline the need for such events. I believe that it has an unfathomable impact on maintaining global harmony while giving us reasons to show our love for our country.
To commence with, close-door summits like the UN conference and EU summits are often political and people have no way to participate or enjoy them. The decisions made at such meetings are often controversial. Thus global sporting events open ways for nations to come closer and show their devotion to their countries. Such events are highly entertaining on one hand and are the only platform where competitors perform in a friendly manner, on the other hand. The whole nation relies on its best sportsmen and athletes to bring fame and glory. Moreover, the world knows about countries that they have never heard of. For instance, most of the small South Asian countries are known by the British or Australians for their performance in cricket competitions, not for other achievements.
Moreover, when people around the globe travel to a country to enjoy a sporting event, they learn more about the host country and many misconceptions and cultural barriers get eliminated. This is undeniably a great way to banish hatred, racism and class division. On top of that, when a country participates in a big sporting event, the whole country forgets its political, religious, economic and social divisions, and cheers at a common platform. Perhaps no other event in the world can bring the whole nation together in the way sporting events can.
To conclude, the world is already in turmoil with discrimination, wars, and political instabilities and sporting events can act as a remedy by offering peace, joy and a universal platform for all.
Model Answer 2: (Disagree)
Ultra-nationalism is a risky prescription and according to many, international tension and conflicts are stemmed from it. In many circles, it is argued that popular events, such as the Football World Cup and other international sporting occasions, are of crucial importance in pacifying global stress and evoking mild patriotic sentiment. To my way of thinking, it does not seem it promotes international harmony.
Popular sporting events fuel the flames of ultra-nationalism. That is to say that these occasions evoke intense national spirits and people, many a time, are maddened by crude jingoism. In consequence, the playground may translate into a battleground. Flush with national pride, two nations may wage a war against each other. El Salvador and Honduras, for instance, went to war arose from the qualifying matches for the 1970 FIFA World Cup. The war took hundreds of lives, thousands of people were maimed and wounded, and hundreds of thousands of people were rendered homeless. The popular football event, thus, started a war.
Likewise, solidarity with a team leads spectators to consider opposing teams as the enemy and it boosts hostility toward opposing supporters. As a result, the supporters of the opposing team are turned out to be the antagonist. The burning fuel of hostility ends up in conflicts.
To conclude, popular sporting occasions usually exhilarate intense nationalism, which in turn lights the fire of hostility. Besides, many media deteriorate the situation igniting warmongering. All things considered, it seems reasonable to conclude that international sports competitions are unable to curb global tensions and conflicts, let alone nurture peace.
Sample Answer 3: (Agree)
In recent years, popular events such as the Football World Cup, Cricket World Cup, the Olympic Games, and other international sporting occasions have been considered by some as a means of reducing international tension and fostering patriotic emotions safely to bring people together. I completely agree with this statement and believe that such events can have a positive impact on international relations.
It is sometimes important to acknowledge that international sporting events cannot completely eliminate tensions between nations. Despite the friendly and competitive nature of these events, they do not address underlying political, economic or social issues between countries. For example, the 1936 Olympics in Berlin did not prevent the outbreak of World War II.
Having said that, international sporting events can still play an important role in promoting peace and goodwill among nations. For instance, the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang led to the easing of tensions between North and South Korea. The two countries marched together during the opening ceremony and even formed a joint women’s hockey team.
Moreover, international sporting events can also promote patriotism and national unity. For example, when the English national team won the Football World Cup in 1966, it brought the entire nation together, creating a shared sense of pride and unity. Similarly, when Iceland qualified for the European Championships for the first time in 2016, it ignited a sense of national pride and joy in the country.
In conclusion, while international sporting events may not be the only and complete solution to erasing international tensions, they do have the potential to bring nations together and promote unity and peace. As such, it is important that such events are continued to be organized in a safe and secure manner.