Game, sport, passion and business

 

On Day 4 of Thinking, Letrak eta Futbola, Karmele Jaio, Amets Arzallus and Igor Elortza spoke about the social and cultural dimension of football

Writers Karmele Jaio, Ametz Arzallus and Igor Elortza spoke about the social and cultural dimension of football in the latest event from the festival organised by the Athletic Club Foundation. In the central tier’s North Room, with views of San Mamés’ pitch, the conversation revolved around different aspects of football: Game, sport, passion and business.

Igor Elortza, who in a way served as a “gai-jartzaile”, used some spoken-word poems by Inazio “Basarri” Eizmendi Manterola to kick off proceedings and they acted as the centrepiece of the discussion. In Ostikoketa (Football), spoken-word poems from 1960, Basarri was already describing football’s enormous social dimension. Amets Arzallus and Karmele Jaio reflected on the different themes and topics brought up by Elortza. Are footballers, like writers, born or made? At what point does a hobby become a job? How does pressure impact performance? To what extent does business have an influence? Parallels and questions that apply to both the world of football and the world of culture.

Day 5: Carnero, Zanón and Ballester

The penultimate day of Thinking, Letrak eta Futbola will take place on Friday at 19:00 CET, once again in San Mamés. Writers José Ignacio Carnero and Carlos Zanón will speak about football and life in a discussion overseen by Enrique Ballester.