The world cup of the most popular sport in the world will take place this summer in South Africa. Los ojos del mundo van a estar en la Copa el Mundo! Be forewarned: this post rambles a little!
When I was a kid in the town where I lived, girls were not allowed to play soccer. It was strange; we could play volleyball and basketball, we competed in bike races (some were pretty long, all around the southern perimeter of the island of Cozumel) and track meets. When our middle school basketball team got second national place, everyone was elated. When we beat the guys' basketball team, it really did not bother anyone. Still, we were told that girls did not play soccer. I am five years older than my sister - and when she came around, they did have a girls' soccer team. She played for a while and loved it.
Soccer is the most popular sport in Latin America, along with the world. Baseball (beisbol) is played quite a bit in the Caribbean and is rumored to be Fidel Castro's favorite sport, but it comes nowhere near to soccer.
Futbol is played as a 90 minute game: 45 minutes of play, a 15 minute break, and another 45 minutes of play. If the game must have a winner, if it cannot end in a tie, two 15 minute periods are added, with no break. If the teams are still tied, go to a penalty shoot-out (players try to kick the ball in between the goal posts while being blocked by opponents - there is no running around or intercepting the ball - just kick and block if possible). 10 players and a goal keeper are on the field at any given time. If you want to know more about the rules, you can check out: http://www.soccer-fans-info.com/soccer-rules.html. WileyPlus also has a video on soccer in chapter 4.
The World Cup is celebrated every 4 years with teams from 32 countries from all over the world. According to FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association (International Federation of Association Football), the cumulative TV audience of the matches, up to 2006, has been 26.29 billion people since they were first televised in 1954 (WOW!).
Rambling here again: I am concerned about the cup being held in South Africa: this is not a worry about terrorism or crime, but a health concern. In 2007, an estimated 25% of the population was HIV+. When a big international sports event is held somewhere - this applies to the Olympics as well - prostitution goes up. You have young athletes who want to celebrate victory or get consolation for losses, tons of fans and visitors and sex trade has an uptick in the region. I hope there is enough health info to avoid tragedies.
OK, on to my questions. You need to answer both of these for extra credit for the quiz on chapter 4, or for credit for the cultural assignment. Note: Brazil is NOT a Spanish-speaking country; they speak Portuguese.
1.- Why do you think soccer is so popular worldwide?
2.- Once one of the options for question 2 has been answered, move on to the next question. Do not replicate anything that was already answered:
a) How many Spanish-Speaking countries will participate in the 2010 World Cup? (THIS WAS ALREADY ANSWERED SO GO TO B, WHEN B IS ANSWERED GO TO C - ONLY DO ONE OF THESE)
b) Which Spanish-speaking country was the first to host a World Cup?
c) Have any Spanish-speaking countries won the World Cup? If so, when?
d) What was the highest ranking Spanish-speaking country in the 2006 World Cup?
e) How many professional soccer teams are in the national leagues of (choose one):
i) Argentina
ii) Mexico
iii) Spain
f) What other Spanish-speaking countries have professional soccer leagues?
Many factors contribute to soccer being the most popular sport around the world, both in terms of spectators and participants. The most important in my opinion are its simplicity, the sense of involvement that it engenders in players, its excitement and, in the modern era, its appeal as a television sport.Its simplicity is one of its greatest attractions and one of the major reasons why every small child, virtually from the time that it can stand, begins to learn to play soccer. Also there is no equipment needed besides a ball. A) 32 countries will participate in the 2010 World Cup. FROM MIKE C
ReplyDelete1) I think soccer is so popular worldwide because it's pretty simple. If you ask people who don't like football why they don't, most of the time the answer is because they don't understand the rules. The rules are pretty straight forward and easy for people to understand. Another reason I think it's popular is because it's usually introduced to us at a young age. There's so many soccer programs for younger kids now, in school and out. I remember when I was a kid my friends and I all played for a league that was run through the town.
ReplyDelete2b)Mexico was the first spanish speaking country to host a world cup. FROM COURTNEY T
I think soccer is very popular because of the fact its very entertaining. Theres always movement and excitement because the game can turn around at any second. Its kind of similar to the way hockey is played, players run back and forth from one side to the other, constantly moving. There are alot of sports that involve a lot of specific rules such as baseball and can be hard to follow. Meanwhile you can watch and enjoy soccer without knowing all the terms and specific rules.
ReplyDelete2c) Argentina was the highest ranked spanish speaking country that came in 5th place.
--TAYLOR M
i think that soccer is so popular world wide becasue it is a very simple game to learn to play. As kids most of us have memoires of our parents giving us a rubber ball to kick around on the front lawn. I think that soccer is so popular becasue so many people have the same memory from thier child hood and when you play soccer it allows many differnt people to all come together and play the same game and all relate to the same thing. Also i think that it is so popular because it needs no real skill for the most part so it also allows for every one from super athletic to the non athletic that ability to just have fun and not have to worry about how good they are doing
ReplyDelete2c) Uruguay-1930
brazil-1950
chile-1962
mexico-1970
argentina-1978
spain-1982
mexico-1986
usa-1994( we speak spanish but not as a 1st language)
I think that soccer is so popular worldwide because its been around for so long. I feel that no matter where you're from, soccer is important to some part of your family. Speaking for myself, I am 100% italian, and my father lives for soccer. Although i am more interested in football and not soccer, i know what it means to my family, therefore when there are games on (esp. if it involves italy) it is almost like a family night where we can all cheer for out country..just as New Yorkers would cheer for the jets/giants.
ReplyDeleteSoccer is the most popular sport worldwide because it is very inexpensive to play. This results in it being the most popular sport in almost all of the worlds poorer countries. The only real requirement to play is a ball. Goals can be constructed from anything really. Other sports such as baseball and basketball require more equiptment and a more specialized area to play the game.
ReplyDeleteThe Primera División is the top level of the Argentine football league, and is organized by the Argentine Football Association. Founded in 1893, it is currently composed of 20 teams
well i think soccer is also one of the most popular sports. its something thats played world wide and its very exciting. when you watch a soccer game your always on the edge of your seat as when you watch say football. its always unexpected. I think now a days soccer is one of the most common sports played amongst teens and young children and its a sport that everyone can get involved in.
ReplyDeletesoccer is so popular worldwide because it is very easy sport to learn. Every country probably had a similar sport like this and they just combined the rules. Anyone can also playsoccer you do not have to be big or small. Soccer is also a sport that does not need to many materials to play. It is also an addicing sport once you actually start playing it. It is also a sport that you can play with a lot of people. This makes it so that more people can come in and get active. Mexico is the highest ranking Spanish speaking country in the 2006 World Cup.
ReplyDeleteSoccer is a very interesting sport to watch as well as to play. Soccer is very popular worldwide. Even though i am not a big fan of soccer, i think that watching the world cup is the most exciting and amazing thing to watch. It can get very intense. Anyone can play soccer and it is the easiest sport to learn the concept for. The only materials you really need is a ball. You can use goals out of anything. The highest ranked Spanish speaking country in the world cup in 2006 was Mexico. Now a days Spain is the powerhouse of all Spanish speaking countries. I think soccer is going to continue to grow and becomes so much more popular.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is such a popular sport because not that it is easy because you have to be pretty athletic to play but it is a natural sport. It is pretty much easy to learn. You kick a ball. Everyone can kick a ball rather than throwing it because some can throw longer and harder than others. Soccer is just a more easier sport to learn and bring people together.
ReplyDeletef) there are 32 professional teams in Chile
I think that soccer is so popular world-wide because it was first european coompetitive sport that all western countries played. Once it became popular in europe, the sport diffused to its colonies around the world, leaving a stamp on the cultures today. In my opinion, its really become popular in the post WWII era because the strong tension between close european countries like France and Britain which creates rivalries, and then has spread globally. ... Its not popular in America cause we have baseball.
ReplyDelete