The world cup football is now going on in Qatar. People from all over the world have gone to Qatar to watch the matches physically and support their favorite teams. Qatar is a small country of 2.5 million people of which only about 12% are Qataris and the rest are migrants. It has an area of only 11,586 square kilometers most of which are deserts. But it has huge deposits of oil and gas. It is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of per capita GDP. Forbes estimates that Qatar has spent about $220 billion since 2010 when it was chosen for hosting the world cup in 2022.
Think about it! The country has spent $220 billion for providing entertainment to the football-loving people of the world for only 29 days!
That perhaps underscores the value of entertainment. People need entertainment. Entertainment refreshes our minds, relieves stress, makes us happy, preserves our mental health, and so on.
Ancient humans are thought to have obtained entertainment from storytelling, playing games, and playing musical instruments. Flutes made from bird bone have been found in a cave in southern Germany that are around 42,000 years old.
In modern times the means of entertainment have increased, thanks to technology. We have now video games, virtual reality, 3D movies, big-screen flat televisions, and so on.
The modes of entertainment vary with time, culture, personalities, profession, etc. A scientist might find entertainment in solving a complex mathematical problem. Adventurous people may seek entertainment in activities like bungee jumping, rafting, and trekking.
Sometimes people derive entertainment from the use of harmful substances like drugs. Those who entertain people often entertain themselves with drugs. Celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor, John Lennon, Marilyn Monroe, Willie Nelson, and Farrah Fawcett, were all known to have drug addictions.
The Romans subjected gladiators to fight and kill each other and watched it for entertainment. They built huge amphitheaters where thousands of spectators could sit and enjoy the fights and sights of brutal killings. The giant amphitheater, the colosseum was built around 70 AD. In modern times amphitheaters have been replaced by stadiums. Thousands of people gather in the stadiums usually to enjoy sports events like football, baseball, cricket, etc. instead of fighting and killing.
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This article was published in the Daily Sun on December 13, 2022. Please read the full article here or here.