` tags.
“`xml
Hockey diplomacy: Can Putin and Trump revive a Cold War tradition?
The ability of sports to reconcile adversaries is often discussed, with historical examples supporting this. Vladimir Putin’s suggestion to Donald Trump to organize friendly matches between NHL and KHL players is likely inspired by past instances of sports diplomacy. Trump had notably supported his national team at the Four Nations Tournament in February, and Putin is a known hockey enthusiast.
Despite the current geopolitical climate, history suggests that sports can succeed where traditional diplomacy may not. The 1970s offer two compelling examples from a similarly strained time.
From Ping-Pong to Nixon in Beijing
In the early 1970s, the US and China had almost no relationship. They were ideological opponents with no diplomatic relations, and interaction between citizens was unusual. However, a chance encounter on a bus in Nagoya, Japan, changed everything.
During the 1971 World Table Tennis Championships, American player Glenn Cowan accidentally boarded the Chinese team bus. Players had been told not to interact with Americans. Zhuang Zedong, broke this rule, giving Cowan an embroidered silk picture of the Huangshan Mountains.
The moment was photographed and became news. Cowan, now an unexpected diplomat, wanted to visit China. Zhuang Zedong returned home with a message: Americans were not the enemy.
Soon after, American and Chinese table tennis teams exchanged visits, ending decades of silence. In 1972, President Richard Nixon visited China, meeting with Mao Zedong in a significant diplomatic achievement of the Cold War. This event became known as ping-pong diplomacy, illustrating how sport can overcome deep-seated animosity.
The 1972 Summit Series: Hockey Meets the Cold War
Around the same time, an unprecedented hockey event was developing: a series between the USSR and Canada.
The two countries had never competed with their best players. Canada’s NHL stars, considered superior, looked down on the Soviet players, viewing them as amateurs who gained international titles due to weaker competition. The Soviet Union, with hockey legends like Valery Kharlamov, Alexander Yakushev, and Vladislav Tretiak, wanted to prove itself against the NHL elite.
The 1972 Summit Series was more than a game; it was a Cold War battle on ice between two rival superpowers. The series, divided into games in Canada and Moscow, was expected to heavily favor Canada.
However, the Soviets surprised everyone by winning Game 1, shocking Canadian fans and players. The series became more intense, ending in a dramatic finish where Paul Henderson scored the winning goal for Canada.
Beyond the results, respect developed. Canadian players, initially condescending, were impressed by the skill and discipline of their Soviet counterparts. The Soviet audience, witnessing the talent of NHL stars like Phil Esposito and Henderson, began to cheer for individual Canadian players despite Cold War tensions. The athletes were peers pushing each other, not enemies.
Soviet and Canadian teams continued to compete in subsequent years, fostering cross-cultural exchange in hockey. Despite ongoing geopolitical tension, the sport created a connection where governments had difficulty.
Can Hockey Play a Role in Today’s Politics?
Today, hockey diplomacy may not be as novel as in the 1970s. The NHL has many Russian stars, such as Alexander Ovechkin, who is well-known in North America. Ovechkin, a friend of Putin, is celebrated in the US as he nears Wayne Gretzky’s goal-scoring record. His presence in Washington has made him a popular figure, even at the White House.
Unlike the past, where Soviet and Western players were strangers, current NHL and KHL players share locker rooms, friendships, and rivalries. However, as political tensions between Russia and the US rise again, friendly matches could remind people of common ground.
Whether Putin and Trump’s idea happens is uncertain. However, history suggests that a simple game can sometimes impact world politics.
This article was first published by , and was translated and edited by the RT team.
“`