This is a short FIFA World Cup and Tour de France related post. Let me preface it with a quick note, this is not about nationalist pride. It’s merely about how the media acts as an agent of the established order and, in the process, renders national and cultural identities invisible.

Here we go…

A colleague, knowing full well what he was doing and provoking me, mentioned the other day that Spain is playing well and going to the semi final at the World Cup (now they’re in the final). I was quite happy to indulge him and take the bait.

I pointed out to him that more than one third of the Spanish national team is made up Catalan players. I continued by pointing out Martin Zubimendi, Unai Simon, Mikel Oyarzabal, Mikel Merino and Nico Williams are all Basque.

That is to say, roughly two thirds of the Spanish national team are from the Basque Country and Catalonia. This is because Spain doesn’t allow the Basque Country and Catalonia’s national teams play in competitions. They’re only allowed to play friendly games and when they go and play for Spain, their national and cultural identities get erased.

I also pointed out that Unai Simon has been instrumental in Spain’s success. An excellent goalkeeper. Mikel Oyarzabal is the top scorer for Spain. And Mikel Merino came out from the bench in the last few minutes of the game twice, in two different games and scored the winning goals that took Spain into the semi-final.

But for all effects and purposes, according to the media, they’re ‘spaniards’.

Then the Tour de France started. The first two stages were around Barcelona. It was great to see the podium clearly stating: Barcelona, Catalunya (which is how Catalonia is named in Catalan). There was no mention of Spain anywhere.

But the SBS commentators, kept talking about Spain. Unaware of the cultural and national identity of Catalonia or refusing to acknowledge it?

And, of course, the same thing happens when Basque riders make an appearance in a breakaway or the mountain is lined with fans from the Basque Country brandishing the Basque flag. SBS commentators often mention how important cycling is in the Basque Country and they highlight constant sea of Basque fans along the road but in the next breath they call the fans and Basque riders ‘spaniards’.

And what can I say… this is how slowly, but gradually cultural and national identities are made invisible. What saddens me the most is that this is SBS, which is meant to be Australia’s multicultural broadcaster.

And, of course, this is only the tip of the iceberg, just a personal observation from personal experience that makes me wonder how many other cultural and national identities are rendered invisible by big sporting events and by the media.

KICKING AROUND THE NET

• AI and technology have played a huge part in the FIFA World Cup. Rest of the World has published a really interesting article exploring how AI and human annotators in Brazil, Cambodia and the Philippines are tracking every movement in the football tournament for teams, broadcasters, and the betting industry. Yep, I think that last one, unfortunately, is the biggest driver.

• Brian Merchant has published a really interesting article about AI and VAR in the FIFA World Cup. He outlines why AI and VAR has been widely adopted, who pushed for it, and some of the controversies and inconsistencies. There have been a few controversies around VAR and I agree with him and with the majority of football fans in my disgust of it. It could’ve been different but Infantino was a key pusher for AI and VAR and, I gotta say, it’s been pretty bad in this World Cup. We would’ve been better served by referees reviewing video footage for decision making in key moments, but without widespread AI and VAR use.

And that’s it for today. I said it’d be a short one. There will be more to come soon.