Soccer, a sport with a history of violence on and off the field, was nominated for the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize for promoting understanding among nations. Despite the fact that more than a dozen fans died during stampedes and riots at games the previous year, Swedish lawmaker Lars Gustafsson argued that the game is beneficial to international relations. "Soccer has and will continue to play an important role in the global arena, when it comes to creating understanding between people," Gustafsson wrote in his nomination letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo. Ultimately, the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Kofi Annan and the United Nations.
Soccer, a sport with a history of violence on and off the field, was nominated for the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize for promoting understanding among nations. Despite the fact that more than a dozen fans died during stampedes and riots at games the previous year, Swedish lawmaker Lars Gustafsson argued that the game is beneficial to international relations. "Soccer has and will continue to play an important role in the global arena, when it comes to creating understanding between people," Gustafsson wrote in his nomination letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo. Ultimately, the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Kofi Annan and the United Nations.
