Whenever two nations with an historic, long-standing enmity engage in any professional sport, opportunities and risks are present in terms of furthering or hampering their relationships. Successfully managed, promoted and administered, professional sporting contests can be great opportunities for historic enemies to compete with one another and enjoy recreational events together, opening doors to increased and better dialogue, and possibly putting to rest the issues which have colored their relationships in the past.
Turkey and Armenia are two countries which have a very long-standing enmity. Armenians still demand justice for an alleged genocide committed by the Turks of the Ottoman empire during and just after the first world war. Turkish military detachments and irregulars committed to the wholesale destruction of the Armenian state and its indigenous ethnic groups are alleged to have murdered upwards of 1.5 million men, women and children, and deported far more through inhumane forced marches which resulted in untold numbers of casualties among the civilian populace. These events have led to less than harmonious relations over the past 100 years, and with the break-up of the Ottoman empire, Armenia has been reestablished as a sovereign state.
Today, the opportunities that playing sports present may serve to bridge the gap between contemporary Armenian and Turkish citizens and governments by enjoying the play and spectacle of an historic and incredibly popular game.