Heartbeat of a City: The Influence of Soccer in Rome :: Free Essays Online

Heartbeat of a City: The Influence of Soccer in Rome The first time I went to Italy the taxi driver that picked my parents and I up at Rome’s Fiumicino airport had his radio turned to a station playing a Serie A soccer match between two Italian powerhouse teams, AS Roma and Turin’s Juventus FC. At first I just assumed the low-level, even sound of the announcers voice was merely a talk radio show, but as I heard the excitement in his voice build as each team became closer to scoring, and the background sounds of the crowds chanting and singing for their teams I began to understand the phenomenon that calico, the Italian word for soccer, was in Italy. Literally the heartbeat of a nation whose history has been tumultuous to say the least, soccer has been a mainstay in Italian culture for generations. Known as the world’s most popular sport, professional soccer has helped create and define different groups of people around the world for longer than a century. The hoopla surrounding teams, geographic areas fans dwell in, and political ideals associated with individual clubs have carved an identity for millions of supporters whose heart and soul becomes dedicated to their favorite players, stadiums, and coaches. Soccer teams and their fans can give us a window into how people can be divided and defined by their allegiances and ideals, and why those with similar views band together to create a familiar environment for themselves. Large questions still remain about the role of soccer in today’s world. Why do people in Europe and abroad become so dedicated to their teams, over all other cultural factors like politics, clubs, and organizations? How does soccer affect Italian and Roman political allegiances, and how does the commitment of each team’s fans affect the Roman urban space, the policies and reactions of the Italian government, and each other? By uncovering and defining the importance of soccer in Rome, I am arguing that Roman soccer fans are not only divided by team colors and name, but also by geography within the city, political allegiances, and social differences. I am also arguing that the importance of soccer represents far more than an interest in a game, but a representation of all that a Roman citizen, as well as the majority of all Europeans, live for and love.