| Cricket and terrorism go hand in hand in today's | | | | Two of the foundations that western society was |
| world. | | | | built on came crashing down in a staggered nature |
| No sport can consider itself immune from terrorism. | | | | for worldwide audiences to witness. |
| The sight of masked gunmen opening fire on the Sri | | | | The real time, mass communicated, graphic coverage |
| Lankan cricket team bus in the Pakistan city of | | | | via the TV network giants amplified the terror. At |
| Lahore provides such evidence. | | | | these moments time simply stands still. Everybody |
| The audacious manner the terrorists carried out the | | | | remembers where they were when the second plane |
| attacks is truly harrowing. Echoes of the November | | | | hit the World Trade Centre. 911 |
| Mumbai attacks are plain for all to see. | | | | The attacks in Lahore are dwarfed in scale by 9/11. |
| To many people the attacks may come as no | | | | Nevertheless the effects are the same. Parallels can |
| surprise at all. The sub-continent is an area not short | | | | very easily be drawn. |
| on conflicts. Sri Lanka has a long history of civil war | | | | Cricketers are major stars competing on the world |
| dating back to 1983 and India and Pakistan are | | | | stage via mass TV networks to captured audiences |
| constantly contesting the region of Kashmir. The | | | | in their millions. It is easy to see why terrorists want |
| cultural significance of cricket in these regions makes | | | | to share this stage and make it their own. |
| the sport a prime target. | | | | No cricketers were killed but the perpetrators will be |
| Terrorism and cricket have collided before. In 2002 | | | | pleased with the sensational global headlines |
| the New Zealand cricket team narrowly avoided a | | | | This goes further than cricket. Modern media sporting |
| bomb blast outside their Karachi hotel. | | | | coverage gives any terrorist group the exposure |
| The harsh reality is sporting events have always | | | | they seek. |
| been, and in the future even more so will be, targets | | | | The Lahore attacks will inspire terrorist groups to |
| for terrorist groups. | | | | commit similar acts in the future. |
| The Munich Massacre of 1972 saw 11 Israeli Olympic | | | | Addressing this issue with appropriate security |
| team members kidnapped and murdered by a | | | | measures should be at the forefront of every |
| Palestinian militant group. In the 1996 Atlanta Olympics | | | | sporting institution's agenda - be it the Cricket World |
| Games a US citizen detonated a bomb killing two and | | | | Cup in 2011 or the Olympic Games in London 2012. |
| injuring hundreds. | | | | The security in Pakistan was unacceptable. The |
| Terrorism and sport have a history but still some | | | | Pakistan Cricket Board has paid the ultimate price, |
| questions need to be answered. | | | | losing the right to jointly host the 2011 Cricket World |
| What makes sport such an attractive target? Why is | | | | Cup and making international sport in Pakistan a thing |
| the threat of terrorist attacks on sporting events | | | | of the past for the foreseeable future. |
| likely to increase? What can be done to stem the | | | | The challenge facing other sporting institutions to |
| threat? | | | | address security concerns is tough. Extra costs to |
| Motives of terrorist organisations are to get | | | | secure the safety of athletes must be taken. Sports |
| maximum exposure for their efforts, sending strong | | | | stars need safe environments to perform to the |
| messages to the world. Sporting coverage may be | | | | best of their abilities. |
| the ideal platform. A fitting analogy can explain why. | | | | Sport has a unique ability to unite those that are |
| On September 11th, 2001 spectacular scenes | | | | otherwise divided. Sporting institutions all around the |
| resembled more of an "Independence Day-esque" | | | | world must send a firm message in response to |
| Hollywood blockbuster than a real life experience. | | | | those who choose terrorism. |