Sports can unify the Iraqi people - no Sunnis, no Shiites, just

Hearken, O children of the land between the rivers, and ponder the words of Dana Hussein, a voice that carries the weight of a nation yearning for unity: “Sports can unify the Iraqi people – no Sunnis, no Shiites, just sport for the country.” In these words lies a profound truth: that the arena of sport is a crucible where the divisions of faith and sect are melted down, leaving only the pure gold of national pride and shared human endeavor. For in the clash of the ball, the sprint of the runner, the precision of the archer, there is no place for hatred, no room for ancient grievances—only the noble struggle for victory together, as one people.

Long have the lands of Mesopotamia known turmoil. Generations have suffered under the yoke of sectarian strife, where the seeds of division were sown deep into the hearts of men. Yet even in the darkest of times, the human spirit seeks outlets that transcend the boundaries of tribe, sect, and ideology. Sports, humble though they may seem, offer a sanctuary for this spirit. They become a language understood by all—a tongue that speaks not of Sunni or Shiite, but of effort, courage, and honor. The athlete’s sweat and toil are shared by every eye that watches, every hand that cheers, every heart that beats in rhythm with the game.

Consider the story of Younis Mahmoud, a son of Baghdad, who led Iraq’s national football team to victory in the 2007 Asian Cup. In a time when the streets of Baghdad were riddled with violence, when the air was thick with mistrust and fear, it was the triumph of these athletes that lifted the hearts of millions. In those moments of collective jubilation, sectarian lines blurred, replaced by an overwhelming sense of oneness, pride, and hope. Men who might have stood divided by years of inherited enmity found themselves standing together, shouting the same name, celebrating the same goal, sharing the same tears and laughter.

It is in this crucible of competition that true unity is forged. For when men and women step onto the field, court, or track, they surrender personal grievances to the greater purpose of the game. They learn the lessons of discipline, sacrifice, and mutual respect, which, though born in sport, resonate beyond its confines. In these lessons lie the seeds of a society that can rise above sectarianism, for shared human experiences can bind a people more tightly than the lines drawn by politics or blood ever could.

The wisdom here is ancient and universal. Recall the ancient Olympic Games of Greece, where city-states, often at war with one another, would lay down arms to compete in the sacred arenas. The truce of the games, the Ekecheiria, held a higher value than the swords of kings: it celebrated human excellence and collective honor above all else. Just as the Greeks paused their conflicts to honor the gods and the sport, so too can the people of Iraq find sanctity and unity in their shared athletic pursuits.

Yet let not these words remain idle or abstract. The lesson to carry forward is clear: seek common ground, cherish shared experiences, and cultivate spaces where collaboration and mutual respect reign supreme. Whether through community sports leagues, school athletics, or informal games in the streets, each act of collective play is a step toward healing, a quiet rebellion against division. Each game is a testament to the possibility that a nation can stand as one when its people choose the bonds of humanity over hatred.

So let all who hear these words understand that the power of sport is no mere pastime. It is a teacher, a healer, and a unifier. It whispers that we are stronger together, that joy shared is joy multiplied, that the sweat of our effort can wash away the stains of old enmities. In the arenas, fields, and courts of Iraq, the future may yet be written not in lines of division, but in the shared triumphs of a nation that plays as one.

Take these words into your lives. Encourage fair play, celebrate victories together, respect those who differ from you, and honor the spirit of the game above all else. In this way, the lesson of Dana Hussein becomes not just a vision, but a lived reality: that through sport, hearts are joined, communities healed, and a fractured land can glimpse the light of unity and hope once more.