About the discussion
Monday, March 8 • 7 to 9 p.m.
Guest: Charles Cho
Moderator: Daniel Bouchard
Venue: Parc des Princes
Do you yell at your TV or radio when the game is on? Do you eat in front of the tube? Do you meet with friends to watch a game together at home or in a sports bar? Well, then you are probably a sports fanatic, and you are far from being alone. Sports fanaticism is not a new global phenomenon, historians have documented that loyalty to chariot-racing leagues in Ancient Rome eclipsed all political passions. It isn’t a foreign concept to our city either, where every other car has a Habs flag flying.
In this conversation, we will go beyond the stigma of hooliganism associated with sports fanaticism and explore what being a sports fanatic really means, and what draws people into a life of unwavering commitment to a sports team (in any sport). What are the positive contributions of this passion to our communities, and what does the grittier side of sports fanaticism say about us?
Guest: Charles Cho is an Assistant Professor in the Accountancy Department of Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business. His big hobby is to play and watch soccer (football) games. Before moving to the US for his studies, Charles spent most of his childhood in Paris, France. During his high school years, he became an avid fan of the Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) football club, the Paris local team. The home game venue was the "Parc des Princes" to which Charles usually walked on game nights. Charles was also a season ticket holder for two years and even traveled outside France to follow and support his team. Most importantly, after moving to Montreal, Charles helped create the PSG Club Montreal with other fans, which unites all PSG fans in Montreal to watch all the games in the French bistro called...the "Parc des Princes" on Avenue du Parc in Montreal (venue for this conversation).
Moderator: Daniel Bouchard has a professional background in community organizations and the health and social services sector. He is passionate about both human relations and sports. He enjoys being taken through the whole range of emotions while watching a game, and the unpredictable rawness of the events that unfold.