How media shapes national identity and fuels sports rivalries

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

In today’s world, media is the primary gateway through which people experience sports in its diverse forms, including national identity, unity, and rivalries.

From TV broadcasts to social media, the media shapes how fans view their favourite teams and athletes. This influence extends beyond the field as it often links sports to national pride and identity.

The way media covers sports can turn a ‘simple’ game into a symbol of national unity. This connection often amplifies nationalism, as sports stories are spun to evoke pride and loyalty.

Whether it’s through heartwarming tales of victory or intense rivalries, the media is responsible for crafting narratives that resonate with fans worldwide.

How television turned sports into a national affair

Television has played a massive role in transforming sports into a global and national spectacle.

We can talk about iconic moments like the “Miracle on Ice,” which were more than games — they became national milestones. The United States hockey team’s win over the Soviet Union in 1980 was captured as a Cold War triumph.

During events like the Olympics, the Africa Cup of Nations, the Asian Cup, or the FIFA World Cup, TV broadcasts feed fans nationalistic narratives. Countries celebrate athletes’ victories as if they were personal wins.

A good example is legendary former athlete Sir Mo Farah who won double gold at the 2012 Olympics. His victories in the Men’s 10,000m and 5,000m were portrayed as a symbol of Britain’s diverse identity.

Farah stands tall in British sports and he serves rightly as an ambassador of Britain’s identity. He won a total of ten global championship gold medals.

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No wonder he is the most successful male track runner in the history of the sports as well as being the most successful British track athlete in modern Olympic Games history.

This widespread TV coverage of sports stirs national pride, even during tough and turbulent times. Television networks carefully craft stories that position athletes as symbols of resilience, making every victory count. It’s not just about the gold—it’s about what the gold means for the country.

Social media’s fast-paced impact on nationalism

Social media has taken sports fandom to a whole new level of intensity. Platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram bring real-time updates and instant reactions to every major sporting moment.

Hashtags like #SoarSuperEagles, #TeamUSA, or #ForçaPortugal turn support for national teams into a digital movement.

Fans across the world rally behind their teams with the click of a button. During Croatia’s unbelievable run to the FIFA World Cup final in 2018, the internet exploded with messages of national pride. Social media transformed their journey from an underdog story to a celebration of national resilience.

The same can be said about Morocco’s magnificent journey to the 2022 World Cup semi-final. The Atlas Lions became the first African country in history to reach that stage of the mundial.

When Nigeria claimed her fifth U17 World Cup title in 2015, social media went agog as the West Africans made history. Becoming record holders of the World Cup was no mean feat.

Notable among the players that won the title are reigning Africa Player of the Year Victor Osimhen, AC Milan winger Samuel Chukwueze, and Kelechi Nwakali.

Even debates about national identity play out on social media, as seen with France’s 2018 World Cup win.

Fans discussed the team’s diverse backgrounds which then sparked conversations about what it means to represent a nation. Social media doesn’t just report the story—it helps shape the narrative.

Memes, videos, and live reactions flood the internet, creating an online battleground that mirrors real-world contests on the pitch.

National heroes and media’s role in crafting their legacy

The media has a habit of turning athletes into national icons. When athletes shine on the global stage, their victories often go beyond personal glory. They become symbols of national excellence. This oftentimes make them embody the hopes and dreams of entire countries.

Take Usain Bolt, for instance—his success is a matter of Jamaican pride. Media framed him not just as the fastest man alive but as a symbol of Jamaica’s greatness. His dominance on the track put Jamaica on the map and gave the country a global hero.

Bolt was truly an incredible athlete before his retirement. To put it in context, he won Gold in the 100m and 200m events in three consecutive Olympic Games – Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Rio 2016.

The 38-year-old won Olympic gold eight times and holds the world record in the 100 metres, 200 metres, and 4 × 100 metres relay.

Similarly, Novak Djokovic’s success in tennis has been captured as a symbol of Serbia’s resurgence. Media outlets in Serbia view his wins as proof of the country’s resilience.

When Kanu Nwankwo won the CAF Africa Player of the Year award for the second time in 1999 (his first in 1996), he was projected by the media as a national hero, and rightly so.

He won the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, the English Premier League, and the English FA Cup while playing for Ajax and Arsenal. He also won Olympic gold with Nigeria’s Dream Team I.

After winning the prestigious individual CAF honour in 1999, it took Nigeria 24 years before producing her next winner of the award.

Athletes like Bolt, Djokovic, and Kanu represent more than their personal achievements; they are symbols of national triumph.

Media’s power to fuel rivalries and unity

Media doesn’t just unite nations; truth is it can also fuel intense rivalries. The press amplifies historical tensions, especially during high-stakes international competitions. The 1986 World Cup match between Argentina and England, marked by Maradona’s popular and iconic “Hand of God,” became a battle beyond football.

In cricket, the fierce rivalry between India and Pakistan is often escalated by media narratives. News outlets in both countries promote matches as a “do-or-die” event.

For example, headlines in Indian and Pakistani newspapers often focus on military metaphors, describing victories as “conquests” and defeats as “blows” to national pride. This outlook encourages a heightened emotional response, which unites each country’s fanbase around their teams while deepening the rivalry.

The media’s role in amplifying these sentiments ensures that the rivalry remains one of the fiercest in global sports.

These games are portrayed as more than just sporting events—they are symbolic clashes between two nations. This media-fueled tension can both unite fans and exacerbate divisions.

At the same time, media can turn defeat into moments of national reflection or unity. Brazil’s shocking 7-1 loss to Germany in the 2014 World Cup wasn’t just a football disaster. It became a moment of national mourning, conveyed by the press as a big blow to football-loving Brazil’s identity.

Hosts Brazil were heavily defeated by the Germans in the semi-finals of the tournament, right in front of their fans.

In the end, media is the architect of how we experience sports on a national level. Whether it’s celebrating victories, stoking rivalries, or turning athletes into heroes, the media shapes our perception of sports.

Through its lens, sports become more than a game—they become a reflection of who we are as a nation.

Tags: sports, media, national identities, rivalries, Usain Bolt, Sir Mo Farah, Kanu Nwankwo, Morocco, World Cup, Olympics, India, Pakistan, Cricket, Miracle on the Ice, #NewsRoundTheClock, #nrtcnewsnigeria, #nrtcnews, #nrtcnigeria, #nrtcsports.