The writer is critical of the belief that sport fosters international goodwill. He argues that sport arouses combative instincts, especially when national prestige is involved. He says, “...the significant thing is not the behaviour of the players but the attitude of the spectators and behind the spectators are the nations who work themselves into furies... and seriously believe... that running, jumping and kicking a ball are tests of national virtue.” This directly supports option D: Nations work themselves up because they tend to believe that sports are tests of national virtue.