Tuesday, May 29, 2018
Zabivaka™ :2018 FIFA World Cup TM Mascot
Zabivaka™, is the Official Mascot for the 2018 FIFA World Cup TM and means “the one who scores” in Russian. Zabivaka™, the wolf, will promote the event and entertain crowds at the stadiums. The character was designed by Ekaterina Bocharova, and got 53 per cent of the over one million votes cast over a month on the FIFA website.
Zabivaka is always seen wearing orange sports glasses along with a pair of red shorts and a white T-shirt with blue sleeves where are the national colours.
Monday, May 28, 2018
FIFA World Cup TM Russia: adidas Telstar 18
The adidas Telstar 18 is the official ball of the 2018 World Cup TM in Russia. It is the first tournament ball since 1994 to be predominantly black and white and a recreation of the first adidas ball used at a World Cup, the classic 1970 Telstar.
Unlike the original Telstar with 32 panels, the new ball has only six, and they are not stitched but glued together. According to adidas, the newly designed latex bladder, ensures a more stable performance from ball to ball and the familiar visuals have been modernized, with the corners of the pentagons stretched into pixilated gradients. The only colour on the Telstar 18 is the gold Adidas, Telstar and World Cup logos printed on the white surface of the ball, with the black sections given a gradient, mosaic effect.
The Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA) have been testing footballs for the world’s football governing body FIFA for 22 years. The tests were specially developed by EMPA experts in St. Gallen for official tournament footballs and after extensive rigorous testing have given the Telstar 18 the ‘thumbs up’,
adidas claim the new ball is the most technologically advanced World Cup ball in history and has taken four years of design and testing. The Telstar 18 underwent a series of rigorous tests on three continents, at altitude and at sea level, and in temperatures ranging from below freezing to over 100 degrees. It was even shot out of an air gun against a metal wall 2,000 times at more than 30 miles an hour in a cage resembling a giant pinball‐machine to ensure it retained its shape. The ball was also dropped 10 times on to a steel plate from a height of 6.5ft to test for rebound. The aim of the test was to ensure the ball was able to hold its air and always bounce up from the ground at the same height.
For good measure the Telstar 18 was also compressed 250 times into a bath to check it only absorbs a minimal amount of water. The ball was also extensively tested in situ in the lead-up to the tournament and has already been used in various youth competitions (with a different design), including the Under-20 World Cup.
Not for the first time, the new World Cup ball has met with criticism from independent goalkeepers like Spain's David de Gea and Pepe Reina; and Germany's Marc-André ter Stegen. They believe ball moves in unpredictable ways and is difficult to grip because of its “plastic film”.
The new ball includes an embedded near-field communication (NFC) chip, which enables consumers to interact with the ball using a smartphone. Unfortunately, the technology does not measure the ball's speed, height or curl, and so is rather a novelty to allow users to do little more than interact with the ball by giving it a name or accessing content and information unique to that ball.
This is not the first time adidas has experimented with a smart ball and the miCoach Smart Ball used an integrated sensor to record strike point, spin and trajectory, but the ball was discontinued because it was never durable enough for use in competitive leagues.
The new world cup ball was manufactured by Forward Sports, Pakistan. The same firm provided the Brazuka, the official ball of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
A total of 64 children from across the world are selected to be Official Match Ball Carriers, with the lucky ones marching into the stadium and handing over the official ball before each match during the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The official poster for the 2018 World Cup TM Russia
The official poster for the 2018 World Cup TM Russia features the legendary Lev "Black Spider" Yashin created by Igor Gurovich , an artist inspired by the "unique visual language" of the Russian postconstructivist art movement in the late 1920s and early 1930s. The rays of light emanating from the ball are said to symbolise the World Cup's innate energy, while the green circle represent the 12 pitches on which the matches will be played.
2018 World Cup TM Russia Official Emblem
The logo for the 2018 FIFA World Cup TM Russia was designed by Lisbon-based Brandia Central. The trophy-shaped logo uses red and blue (colours of the Russian flag), gold and black colours brilliantly. The 'magic ball' at the top not only signifies the love for football but is also a homage to Sputnik, the world's first artificial satellite. The human figures, with arms raised in celebration and trying to reach for the stars symbolise the players and fans.
Sunday, May 27, 2018
Drug testing at the 2018 FIFA World Cup TM Russia
In 2016 , a report commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was compiled by Canadian sports lawyer Richard McLaren, he found more than 1,000 Russian competitors were involved in a conspiracy to conceal positive tests over a five-year period. Russia has acknowledged some findings of the McLaren Report, but repeatedly denied the existence of a state-sponsored doping program.
To avoid any concerns of State cheating or other improprieties, FIFA are determined to reassure all teams samples at the 2018 FIFA World Cup TM cannot be tampered with. Further, no Russian personnel will be involved in the drug testing procedures at the 2018 tournament. FIFA designated chaperones, will accompany all players taken from the field for testing at the doping control room. This facility is staffed by FIFA approved medical people with no admittance to anyone other than designated officials. All samples are sealed and brought to the control of the laboratory in Lausanne under strict security.
Saturday, May 26, 2018
World Cup Bank note Russia 2018
To celebrate the 2018 FIFA World Cup TM , Russia has issued a special 100-rouble banknote. This is the first Russian note fully made up of polymer substrates and the first to display a historical figure who was not head of state. It depicts a child holding a soccer ball, looking up to a spectre of Soviet goalks. keeping legend Lev Yashin. The opposite side shows a soccer ball mid-flight with a map of Russia on it and the names of the 11 host cities.
The Bank of Russia assumed fans and numismatists primarily snap it up as a souvenir or for a collection however, the note is legal tender and the equivalent to just over 1.38 euros. The notes are available from most Russian Banks
The new note is made of polymer substrates with one drawback these cannot currently be used in technologies for paper currencies i.e. ATMs. According to experts, the life of plastic banknotes is about 2.5 times higher than that of paper money of low denomination. The Bank of Russia intends to produce ordinary banknotes using the same technology in the near future.
FIFA World Cup TM Trophy Tour
FIFA World Cup TM Trophy is currently on a nine-month global tour . The FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour kicked off in Moscow and traveled across Russian cities until December, when it continued its journey abroad visiting over 50 countries across six continents. The FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour was first introduced ahead of the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. Then it visited 29 countries and saw over 175,000 football fans taking pictures next to the FIFA World Cup Trophy.
When not on tour or being presented at the World Cup, the Trophy is normally displayed at the FIFA World Football Museum in Zurich.
Friday, May 25, 2018
FIFA Fan Fests @ Russia 2018
After it was noted many people during the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™ watched the World Cup games away from the stadia and their own domestic televisions Impromptu gatherings made it clear, sometimes with hndreds of people meant there was a greter social component to the World Cup than had been previously recognised. FIFA introduced the FIFA Fan Fest™ became part of the Official Programme at the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ in Germany . Locations for the FIFA Fan Fests were large enough to accommodate many thousands of people, and gigantic LED displays broadcast the matches live. This allowed many fans unable to afford the price of match tickets the opportunity to cheer on their national teams with other supporters. The carnival-like atmosphere soon proved popular and thousands of supporters flocked to the sites to watch all the games.The FIFA Fan Fest™ proved the perfect place to watch all matches of the FIFA World Cup™ live, and to enjoy an exciting music and cultural entertainment programme, free of charge on matchdays.
At the the 2010 FIFA World Cup TM, the FIFA Fan Fests was expanded to include not only the South African host cities but 7 other cities around the world. Over six million football fans gathered to watch the tournament.
In 2014. The FIFA Fan Fests was held in each of Brazil's 12 host cities. 5,154,386 attended FIFA Fan Fests in Brazil during the World Cup, with Rio de Janeiro's spectacular Copacabana site attracting 937,330 which was the highest number in any individual city.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup™ , FIFA Fan Fest™ venues are located in the eleven host cities in Russia.
French World Cup winner Marcel Desailly and former Russia international Aleksandr Kerzhakov officially opened the FIFA Fan Fest zone in Moscow, in front of thousands of fans.
Monday, May 21, 2018
Can you bend it like Beckham?
Researchers at Queen's University, Belfast have suggested the human vision system is unable to predict the trajectory of a curving ball through the air. If true, this means goal keepers are handicapped and rely on chance to save rocket shots from sharp shooters like Zlatan Ibrahimovic or Lionel Messi.
Goal keepers were asked to watch computer simulation of spinning shots of 600 revolutions per minute and predict how the spin would influence the ball’s trajectory. Even professionals failed to do this. Spinning balls do not occur naturally and the side spin on the ball produces something called a Magnus force. This accelerates the ball in a direction that humans simply cannot visually process and the skill of the keeper to make a save from a bending ball is based on an educated guess.
The Magnus effect was first described by German physicist Heinrich Magnus in 1853. It is a product of various phenomena including the Bernoulli effect. According to Bernoulli's principle, the pressure is lower on the side where the velocity is greater, and consequently there is an unbalanced force at right angles to the wind. This is the magnus force. Another variable is the formation of boundary layers in the medium around moving objects.
The boundary layer is that layer of fluid in the immediate vicinity of a bounding surface. In the atmosphere the boundary layer is the air layer near the ground affected by diurnal heat, moisture or momentum transfer to or from the surface. The Boundary layer effect occurs at the field region in which all changes occur in the flow pattern. The boundary layer distorts surrounding nonviscous flow. It is a phenomenon of viscous forces. This effect is related to the Leidenfrost effect and the Reynolds number.
The ball spinning through the air creates a whirlpool of rotating air about itself. On one side of the object, the motion of the whirlpool will be in the same direction as the wind stream that the object is exposed to. On this side the velocity will be increased. On the other side, the motion of the whirlpool is in the opposite direction of the windstream and the velocity will be decreased. The pressure in the air is reduced from atmospheric pressure by an amount proportional to the square of the velocity, so the pressure will be lower on one side than the other causing an unbalanced force at right angles to the wind. The overall behaviour is similar to around an aerofoil with a circulation which is generated by the mechanical rotation, rather than by aerofoil action. An experienced player can place a wide array of spins on the ball, the effects of which are an integral part of the sport itself. The way the ball spins and changes the air flow can really confuse the opposition," says Dr David James, of Sheffield Hallam University, Centre for Sport and Exercise Science.
The surface of the ball is affected by its shape and stitching which increase traction between the ball and boot. The Adidas Telstar 18 has six textured panels. These are not stitched, but seamlessly glued together. This makes the ball a lot more round with better sphericity, so it behaves more like a billiard ball than the traditional bladder. Changes in the design of football boots including improved traction on the boot upper and greater sole stiffness combine to give better control of the ball by the player.
Friday, May 11, 2018
Blistering feats and blistered feet
The origins of the name soccer are thought to have come from an Oxford footballer by the name of Charles Wreford Brown (1863). He borrowed 'socc' from Association and added 'er' to give the term "socc'er'". Such vernacular was common at the time and gave counter speak to the other football code, rugby or "rugger". By ironic coincidence the Latin word for slipper is soccus, and in antiquity the soccus was worn by entertainers, women and effeminate young, men. It described a simple slipper or calceoli and laterally became a sock that fitted loosely so they could be removed quickly. Soccus were commonly dyed yellow from the seed of the pomegranate.
Fashion dictates meant the original soccer boot became a soccer slipper. Black boots were once universal but as more colourful boots graced the field fans became suspicious as to the to the sexual orientation of the wearer. In a world once the prerogative of the heterosexual anything other than 100% machismo was vocally criticised from the terracing. Thankfully these days are gone and blistering feats in colourful boots are all part of the modern game. Fashion never rests and now hi boots have crept back into fashion.
In the 2005 Ping Pong video (Nike), Brazilian superstar Ronaldo de Assis Moreira (Ronaldinho), laces a pair of gold soccer shoes in an empty FC Barcelona's training ground stadium and starts juggling a ball with the new boots. He proceeds to the top of the 18-yard box, keeping the ball aloft as he goes, and then does the unimaginable. With the ball never touching the ground, the twice FIFA World Player of Year casually strikes a right-footed shot that hits the crossbar and rebounds back to him. He traps the ball on his chest and repeats the feat three more times. all in one camera take. Likely to be computer trickery of course, but the Brazilian sumpremo’s natural talent makes it all the more credible.
Twelve million people watched 'Ping Pong' which is eleven million. nine hundred thousand, nine hundred and ninety nine more people than spied a young Jimmy “Jinky” Johnstone (Celtic and Scotland ). Dubbed the 'Lord of the Wing', his former Scotland manager Tommy Docherty in a television interview, commented in his formative youth with no real mates other than his football he endlessly hit a ball against the gable wall to become a master of footwork. No trickery there.
Footgear plays a vital role in a footballer's game with even minor irritations resulting in painful blisters. In a warm up game against New Zealand in 2016, two weeks prior to the 2006 FIFA World Cup TM , Brazil captain, Ronaldo limped off after complaining he had four blisters on his left foot and two on his right. The Brazilian doctor, Jose Luiz Runco was convinced his blisters were caused by a defect in Ronaldo's boots. Ooops !! The BBC confirmed Ronaldo’s old boots were sent for.
The Brazilian Captain made a full recovery and was able to play in the 2006 FIFA World Cup TM. Brazil were eventually knocked out in the quarter finals.
Preparing boots for play is a necessary task, even for superstars. Most of us do not have the luxury of a new pair of boots each time we grace the field which makes life a little easier, but routine care and maintenance is recommended if irksome problems like blisters are to be avoided.
Sunday, April 29, 2018
What holds over three billion people's attention?: A. The FIFA World Cup TM
According to FIFA and Kantar Media , over three billion people watched the 2014 FIFA World Cup TM, making soccer the most watched sport in the world. Despite the rivalry between loyal fans, the beautiful game in the wake of war and international disputes is also considered to be the “peacemaker” of the 21st century. So what is it that makes twenty two people kicking a round ball about that so compulsive viewing for millions?
According to a study published in the New Scientist, what holds our attention is, the excitement factor, or more simply put the idea anything can happen in the next 45 minutes. Other codes have their attractions but soccer takes the crown, according to the findings of New Mexican researchers from Los Alamos National Laboratory. The research team analyzed results from more than 300,000 games over the last century from the US's national hockey, football, baseball and basketball leagues and the top English football league. Researchers looked for factors which attracted spectators to a specific sport. Their results showed the "upset frequency" was highest for soccer, followed by baseball, hockey, basketball and finally American football. Rugby and cricket were omitted because they do not have a big following in the US.
Seems it is the “Jack the Giant killer” prospect i.e. the underdog beating a favoured team, which is compelling. Something that has been witnessed many times in the earlier rounds of the FIFA World Cup TM tournaments.
By contrast, the researchers compared data from the past 10 years and found the “upset frequency” associated with English Football Premiership and US baseball, surprisingly, the data would suggest the popularity of soccer is beginning to fall behind. The authors concluded soccer might have peaked and become more predictable in recent years with increased emphasis on tactics and absence of game changing players, making soccer less exciting to watch.
Footnote
When I was a schoolboy, my English teacher was convinced many fans followed sport they themselves had never participated in, other than to watch others play e.g. boxing. Football was the notable exception, since each member of the crowd could, with little provocation, join the players on the field and came dressed accordingly, just to prove the point.
Saturday, April 28, 2018
Soccer : The good old, bad old days
On October 26th, 1863, at The Freemasons Arms, in Covent Garden, London, a group of former public-school men announced that they would call themselves the Football Association (a title which, abbreviated, gave the world the word. 'soccer'). They went on to establish 13 laws of the game. In 1885, the Football Association legalized payments to players, and three years later, the world’s first professional football league was founded. The first 12 teams were drawn from towns in the industrial northwest and midlands of England. Within a few years, enormous crowds were turning out to watch the games.
By the 1890s. so many Lancashire textile workers had migrated to the US that in Fall River, Massachusetts. The Fall River Rovers were founded in 1884 and inter-regional rivalry ensured games between Rovers and Bethlehem Steel Football Club routinely drew crowds in the thousands. The new football stadium filled with working class men (in the main), drinking, smoking and gambling. Toilet facilities were scarce and basic, hence men would regularly relieve themselves standing in the crowd. Seating was restricted to small sections in the ground and the majority of support stood on the terracing.
Prior to the 1970s, crowd capacity in the UK was rarely restricted and throngs of supporters crammed into the grounds at key matches. I recall being at a Rangers versus Hibernian match at Ibrox Stadium where over 100,000 people stood. Space on these occasions was restricted and supporters stood shoulder to shoulder. Small people and children were carried with the crowd, lifted off their feet and pulled into a rip curl sway. Many injuries were recorded.
On another occasion I was at Old Trafford at a Manchester United versus Tottenham Hotspur match and the wooden stand swayed as if made in rubber. The only other time I have ever experienced a similar movement was during an earthquake in Wellington , New Zealand.
In big football crowds, small kids crowded around the lower end of the terracing separated from adults and close to the field. Provided there was no push from the upper terracing the kids were comparatively safe however, this was rare. Eventually steel barriers had to be erected to help with crowd control. The sale of alcohol was banned in the stadium but fans frequently smuggled it into the stadium and openly consumed on the terracing. Disgruntled fans throw their empty cans and beer bottles towards the field of play. More often than not, these projectiles landed on the children standing in the lower terracing. Eventually consumption of alcohol was banned in the UK. British fans looked enviously on their Continental and South American counterparts who watched football in superb stadium with social facilities and seated Stands.
Most football grounds initially allowed supporters to move from end to end during the game. This meant you could watch from behind the opposition’s goal in both halves. Inevitably inter rivalry between fans meant fights ensued and eventually movement with in the grounds were stopped.
Increased crowd problems throughout the 70s and 80s including horrible disasters forced major changes to the design of football stadium in the UK.
Thursday, April 26, 2018
Russian soccer casuals
The first time people outside Russia became aware of Russian hooligans was in 2002, when fans rioted in Moscow, burning cars and fighting police after the national team lost to Japan in the World Cup. Police have struggled to contain the growth of hooliganism. Names like the TsSKA firm, and the Red and Blue Warriors emulate the English bad boy supporters and are very well organised boasting of consultation with established groups and hooligan consultants.
Pirate copies of The Firm , The Football Factory , and Green Street Hooligans , all about hooliganism, and books such as Everywhere We Go: Behind the Matchday Madness by Dougie and Eddie Brimson, all sold well on the Black Market
Organised happy slapping became a major feature of the new order. To avoid authorities, gangs agreed before matches by phone to where they would meet and fight. Rumbles were regularly filmed for later analysis. Engagements usually take place without weaponry and firms were banned carrying weapons or from wearing bovver boots after reports of serious injuries.
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The soker kezhuali fashion advice from casual fashionista, suggests the conventional Aquascutum, and Fred Perry gear was replaced with Stone Island, Lacoste and Dima and 21. Authentic gear is vital with real casuals avoiding fake brands as bling and chavs are considered uncool.
Further Reading
Warren J (2003) Sheilas , wogs and poofters Random House Australia
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