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Mar 6, 2003 The sports world is slowly becoming a big loser as the United States and its allies move closer to a war in Iraq. The latest victim is this week's 1.2 million dollar Dubai Desert Classic golf tournament in the United Arab Emirates as the sport's biggest star Tiger Woods pulled out of the event because of rising tension in the region. Woods' decision leaves South African Ernie Els – defending champion and 1994 winner – as the favorite to win. But more disturbing, Woods is the third big name to pull out of the Dubai event, following former champion Colin Montgomerie of Scotland and Nick Faldo of England. Faldo has also withdrawn from next week's PGA tournament stop in Doha, Qatar, which will be without stars such as Paul Lawrie, Darren Clarke, Lee Westwood and defending champion Adam Scott. All of these athletes fear for their safety too much to play four rounds of golf in the desert for big money. They fear for their lives because of an ever-nearing conflict in Iraq. It's extremely unfortunate that the golf fans of these host countries will not get the chance to see some of the best athletes in the game. But that is one of the tragedies of war. Another victim is the soccer population of the Middle East region. Iraqi national team coach Bernd Stange decided to leave his post – for fear of his safety – and return to his native Germany. This was an especially unfortunate occurrence since Iraq was only hoping to improve its soccer team by hiring a German coach. And now the nation's team will be set back years again – if it survives an American- led attack. The war could also result in the postponement of the under-20 soccer World Cup in the United Arab Emirate. World soccer boss Joseph Blatter admitted that the tournament could be moved back from its planned March 25-April 16 dates if a war is going on in the region. But at least the world's soccer chiefs realized the importance of this event to this region and said an attack in Iraq would only cause the postponement of the youth World Cup – and not its moving to another country. Whether or not a war takes place in Iraq, the Japanese soccer federation isn't taking any chances and said it is calling off two friendly matches planned for the U.S. West Coast in late March. Japan soccer boss Saburo Kawabuchi told reporters last month: "It's not worth taking the risks." The risk of war, however, has already turned the sports world into a victim. About the author: David Hein, 28, is living a wonderful life as an American in the former East German cultural capital Leipzig, once dubbed "Little Paris". The former sports editor and sports reporter for Deutsche Presse-Agentur, dpa, and current freelance journalist and English teacher can be reached at heinnews@hotmail.com ------------ Comment on this column in the forum. ------------ |
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