Iraq

In the early 1930s the British archaeologist Sir Leonard Woolley, digging at the site of the ancient city of Ur, uncovered what became known as the “Game of Ur,” then the oldest surviving board game in the world, dating from 2600 b.c.e., although a game recently found in Iran is believed to 500 years older.

It consisted of a board inlaid with lapis lazuli, shell, bone, and red limestone; had 38 squares; and was found with two sets of seven pieces. Many scholars and games enthusiasts have tried to work out the possible rules, and although a commercial version of it was made out of cardboard in the 1970s, the exact rules have not been ascertained.

Stringed instruments were used in medieval Baghdad, which was a great center of culture for the region. In the north of the country, the long-necked lute is played by the Kurds and the Turkmens. During the 1930s, Iraqi orchestras included both Jewish and Muslim musicians. Drama in medieval and early modern times was largely along the lines of Koranic stories and morality tales, used to educate children and adults alike. During Ottoman rule, Turkish games such as Tavla, similar to Backgammon, became common, with some card games appearing from the 18th century. Chess also gained many adherents and is now run under the aegis of the Iraqi Chess Federation. In the 1970s there was a revival of interest in Iraqi classical music, largely through the creation of the National School of Music and Dance. Western-style music was also encouraged with the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra. Some Iraqis also play the bagpipes for important festivities such as marriages.

It was the reorganization of the country's education system in the 1920s that transformed sport in the country. Soccer quickly became the sport of choice for most boys and young men in the country, and Iraq become a member of the Asian Football Confederation, which was established in 1954. However, it was not until 1986 that the Iraqi soccer team was invited to participate in the World Cup. For most occasions since then, for political reasons, the team has not been allowed to participate—being under the control of Saddam Hussein's son Uday—although it competed well in the games played in 2008 in the run-up to the 2010 World Cup.

Swimming has long been an important part of Iraqi national identity, with the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers providing much of the water for the country. During the 1980s, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein swam in the Tigris near the Tikrit each year to commemorate his escape following the failed assassination attempt on the Iraqi Prime Minister Qassim in 1959. Boating, boxing, volleyball, and basketball have also been popular, with the Baafhist government of Saddam Hussein building many sporting [Page 325]facilities and encouraging participation by women. Falconry was also popular among the Bedouin tribesmen. Board games such as Monopoly were played by family members of the elite, and with the upsurge in violence following the invasion of Iraq in 2003, many people have stayed at home, resulting in an increase in indoor games, especially computer games.

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