FIFA World Cup Tourney
June 12th – 13th July 2014:
In Brazil
2014 is officially here. The world cup year has once again knocked on the door. It is the ‘Brazuca year’, named after the official Adidas ball that will be used in all the matches.
Kawowo Sports’ David Isabirye flashes at the long awaited FIFA World Cup, where for the first time ever goal line technology will be applied in a world cup tournament. The event also harbors a whopping global evidence on all the media, brings forth great revenue to the World’s football federation and the ‘home’ host nation.
To many a sporting enthusiast, especially so the football fraternity, what comes first to the mind is the Federation of International Football Federation (FIFA) coca cola world cup that is set to be hosted by South American nation of Brazil, a nation best known for her hospitality and the Samba Dance carnivals.
Barely 6 months to the kick – off of the world’s biggest sporting fiesta, is the stage almost set for all the 12 host cities and Stadia.
Infact, apart from a few polish ups left, it is only kick-off that remains of the tournament played every after 4 years.
By now, all the qualified 32 nations from the respective continents know their groups and the respective national team coaches and their technical team department ‘never sleep’ as they plan for the already known match schedules.
Held since 1930 (with the exception of 1942 and 1946 due to the world war two issues when the tourney was not played), the event has continued to grow in stature and value over the years.
Previous Winners:
2014 hosts, Brazil boast of the most tourneys won (5), and are the only team to have played in every tournament. The other winners are Italy (4), Germany (3), Argentina and the inaugural winners, Uruguay (have won it twice apiece) while England, France and Spain have lifted the golden cup once each.
Global Following:
The FIFA World Cup is the most widely viewed sporting event on the globe. For the record, an estimated 715.1 million people watched the final match of the 2006 FIFA World Cup held in Germany as Brazil lifted the title for the 5th time running.
For the past edition (2010), held on the African soil for the first time in the history of the event (South Africa), 204 nations watched the matches live broadcast to over 245 different channels. Just inside the stadium, 3,170,856 spectators attended the 64 games – averaging 49,670 per match.
Like in the rest of the host nations, special public viewing places will be visible across Brazil with fan fests that start in the earliest morning hours till late in the night.
Brazuca, The Official Ball:
Over the years, FIFA in conjunction with the official ball suppliers – Adidas have designed different match balls. For the 2014 edition, the Brazuca, which succeeds ‘Jabulani’ wiil be used.
The Brazuca ball that was launched in November 2013 has already received the nod of over 2000 players across the world that have’ felt’ and tested it.
From Neymar Junior, Christiano Ronaldo, Franck Ribery, Lionel Messi, Obi Mikel, Michaeal Essien, Antonio Valencia, Phillip Lahm to thousands of other players, the ball is good to go. According to FIFA “the informal term “brazuca” is used by Brazilians to describe national pride in the Brazilian way of life”, and “mirroring their approach to football, it symbolises emotion, pride and goodwill to all”.
The term is also used as slang for “Brazilian” and became well-known abroad due to the Brazilian diaspora.The ball has six polyurethane panels that are bonded to keep the ball the same weight and roundness in even the thickest of rain. The never-before-seen panel shape revolutionizes the game by producing faster flight speed and maintaining true roundness. Its bladder is made of latex and provides the desired rebound.
The ball is textured and feels more like the adidas’ Finale 13, the official UEFA Champions League ball, than the adidas Jabulani used in South Africa four years ago.
The Brazuca ball, beat (with 77 percent majority) Bossa Nova and Carnavalesca, the other two names suggested after a public poll that was organised by the Local Organising Committee and Adidas, where over one million Brazilian football fans voted.
A Great Tourism Potential:
There is no other plat form that offers a nation as much publicity across the world than the FIFA World Cup. Host nations and neighbors alike have benefited from the tourney that attracts millions and millions of players, officials, fans, mere travelers, special guests – all of whom are potential tourists.
In South Africa alone, 177,853 accreditations were printed while the hospitality programme attracted almost a quarter of a million guests. All these guests, buy and drink hotel foods, pay for residential visas, book hotel accommodation and evidently tour guides will smile home with that much desired ‘tip’ to take home about.
Revenue and TV Rights:
The FIFA World Cup brings in that much needed revenue from all the official FIFA partners and the TV rights. This money has always enabled FIFA to invest in all the social activities related to spicing the tournament.
Thousands will be employed directly and indirectly from the tourney. From Information Technology (I.T) specialists, camera personnel, book authors, website administrators, informal and formal workers in big associate companies and stadia, name them, every one stands to gain.
It will be another bee hive daily routine for the special print and electronic media pundits (local and international), tipsters and the punters, who are expected to earn quite a respectable fortune from the month long tournament.
Community Health, Education Campaigns:
During this month long tourney, it is a special plat form for the different Non-Governmental Parastatals to use the global limelight that comes forth with this beautiful game to preach about equality, humanity respect, behavioral change, health safety campaigns, environmental awareness drives and other forms of purposeful education in all the aspects.
And The Samba Carnivals:
One of the sole reasons embedded at the back of my mind for the Brazuca world cup in Brazil is to attend the day – night long carnivals.
Watching the beautiful flicks, dribbles and goals with beautiful ladies in multi-colored sexy attires will be a life time fulfillment ambition.
I cannot wait to book my Travel Plan, Hotel Room, official media accreditation and obviously those beautiful hospitable creatures next door.
See You in Brazil 2014.
Happy New Year.
Post Your Thoughts about this piece on: david@kawowo.com or reach me on +256793248381.
