Sports has once again proved its a unifying factor.
In what would go down as one of the most inspiring stories in sports, Iraq provided the perfect ending to an amazing Asian Cup campaign, beating Saudi Arabia, 1-0, sparking a huge celebration in the strife-torn nation.
Canons belched white confetti as captain and goal-scorer Younes Mahmoud held the Asian Cup aloft.
It was an amazing win and I'm hoping that the celebrations in Baghdad don't turn violent just like what happened after Iraq's semifinal triumph over Korea. The celebrations left 50 dead and more than 100 injured.
I hope, too, that the Iraq victory is also a triumph for peace and that would spillover to the political process as Iraq rebuilds itself as a nation.
Sports has once again proved it can do things that diplomacy and politic process cannot do: To Unite People. A few weeks ago, the team in itself is one divided bunch: Sunnis, the Shiites. But they got their acts together for flag and country.
Its interesting to note that Iraq doesn't use a crest on its jersey, but the national flag. Call it a show of genuine patriotism.
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