Biarritz's rugby team defeated Munster 19-10 at the Anoeta Stadium in Donostia today.
To the uneducated eye and to the uninformed this may seem like just another sporting event.
But the whole thing conveys something bigger, something that runs deep.
Biarritz it's a touristic town in Lapurdi, one of the three provinces that are today known as Iparralde, the Northern Basque Country, sometimes refered to as the French Basque Country.
Donostia, on the other hand, is a touristic town in Gipuzkoa, one of the four provinces that are today known as Hegoalde, the Southern Basque country, sometimes refered to as the Spanish Basque Country.
Biarritz it's on a run to win the European Rugby Championship, as the team makes it to the next stage of the competition, it becomes more and more evident that their stadium is not big enough to hold an event of this importance.
So, they decided to look for a new location to call home.
What about a nearby town in France?
Well, think again.
Those who called the shots decided to move the home games to another Basque town, and since for the Basques the artificial borders imposed on them do not really exist, they decided to go to nearby Donostia, on the other side of the Pyrinees, but still within Euskal Herria.
The Irish cousins had to face the Basque squad nestled among 20,000 supporters. They put up a fight, they took to the field with courage and dignity, but in the end, more than a simple rugby match was at play.
Today the Basques from both sides of the Pyrinees told the world a simple message:
Zazpiak Bat.
The Seven are One.
To the uneducated eye and to the uninformed this may seem like just another sporting event.
But the whole thing conveys something bigger, something that runs deep.
Biarritz it's a touristic town in Lapurdi, one of the three provinces that are today known as Iparralde, the Northern Basque Country, sometimes refered to as the French Basque Country.
Donostia, on the other hand, is a touristic town in Gipuzkoa, one of the four provinces that are today known as Hegoalde, the Southern Basque country, sometimes refered to as the Spanish Basque Country.
Biarritz it's on a run to win the European Rugby Championship, as the team makes it to the next stage of the competition, it becomes more and more evident that their stadium is not big enough to hold an event of this importance.
So, they decided to look for a new location to call home.
What about a nearby town in France?
Well, think again.
Those who called the shots decided to move the home games to another Basque town, and since for the Basques the artificial borders imposed on them do not really exist, they decided to go to nearby Donostia, on the other side of the Pyrinees, but still within Euskal Herria.
The Irish cousins had to face the Basque squad nestled among 20,000 supporters. They put up a fight, they took to the field with courage and dignity, but in the end, more than a simple rugby match was at play.
Today the Basques from both sides of the Pyrinees told the world a simple message:
Zazpiak Bat.
The Seven are One.
Biarritz Anoeta
Biarritz's center Martin Gaetan (L) of Argentina runs with the ball in front of Munster's center Rob Henderson during European Cup quarter final Rugby Union match, 03 April 2005 at the Anoeta stadium in San Sebastian. Biarritz beat Munster 19-10.(AFP/Michel Gagne)
.... ... .
No comments:
Post a Comment