Besa Luci in conversation with Loic Tregoures and Albert Mecini.

If there’s one form of entertainment that can be considered universal, it’s sports. Be it through regular state games, regional matches, or worldwide competitions — sports have long been part of everyday life across the world. 

However, talking about sports transcends discussions of games, scores, favorite teams or favorite athletes. Sports have long been an intrinsic part of modern societies’ economic and political existence. In this regard, sports play a role in forging modern identities, serving as markers of national identity and expressions of national pride. Sports also serve as spaces where countries strive for international recognition, acceptance and visibility. 

Sports’ political nature means that sports hold the power and potential to either unite or divide cities, societies, or countries. Pitches and sports fields often become settings for larger political disputes to manifest, either in a given society’s internal politics or between different states.

While it can be easy to emphasize sports’ divisive aspects, sports have become a force bringing together societies and countries in shared attempts to shape and promote relevant values and causes. And it is in this regard that we often hear about how sports could heal divisions in post-conflict societies and serve as an avenue for calls against racism and for equality and inclusion.

Two guests join us to discuss topics surrounding sports as a unifying and divisive force. 

Loic Tregoures has authored several articles on sports and politics in Yugoslavia. He specializes in the Balkans, especially sports and has a PhD focusing specifically in football in the Yugoslav chaos. 

Albert Mecini is an assistant at the Department of Sociology at the University of Prishtina and PhD candidate. His academic inquiry and research focus largely on sports and sociological theory. 

Other Talking Points is produced by Besa Luci and Aulonë Kadriu.

Music and sound mix by PUG musik.

This podcast is part of the Human Rightivism project, which is funded by the Embassy of Sweden in Prishtina, implemented by the Community Development Fund through its Human Rightivism Program. The author’s views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the Embassy of Sweden in Prishtina.