As I write this (11:00 pm) the UAE has just defeated Saudi Arabia in the semi-final game of the
18th biannual Arabian Gulf Cup. The celebrations are reminescent of National Day in December. Cars honking and engines reving and backfiring. I can see that traffic on the Corniche is backed up too. The host team (UAE) was an underdog going into the tournament and they barely squeaked into the playoffs. The UAE has never wone the cup so the country is pumped up for the final. I don't know who they play though. The defeat of defending cup champions Saudi Arabia is obviously cause for celebration. Despite the loud celebrations it nice to know that virtually none of it is alcohol induced. Just good, clean fun unlike professional sports victories in the West!
I forgot to mention that we just started subscribing to the Gulf News newspaper. It reputed to be the best English language daily newspaper in the UAE. It features several articles from the New York Times along with good European and Arab coverage. It only cost about $100 USD for the year so it's pretty cheap.
That's all for now. I better get to bed as tomorrow's Sunday and back to work. I have to get up at 5:15 am....
I could hear the crowd on the street as well .. was too lazey to go down and check it out .. could hear lound fire crackers being set off all night ..
ReplyDeleteI think they will play Oman in the finals ..
Does your sweeping generalization of sports celebrations in the West include drunken activities in Edmonton seeing that your profiles indicate that you are from Western Canada?
ReplyDeleteUmmmm....yes, anonymous, whoever you are..that "sweeping generalization" was based directly on the Blue and White Mile mayhem this summer, which we witnessed personally. And weren't too impressed with.
ReplyDeleteIt's cool how they get as much into sports as the West does. Cool!
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