The FIFA World Cup 2014
I first watched the World Cup Finals in 1974. It was on a black and white TV in my grandfathers house, surrounded by my much noisier older cousins. I remembered cheering the Gerd Muller goal which secured Germany their second world cup success at the expense of a very talented Johan Cruyff led Netherlands team. I have not missed a World Cup final since and watched every successive edition of soccer's biggest game live on a colour TV.
Until 2014 when I watched it live in the Maracana Stadium in Rio De Janeiro.
This privilege came about due to my association with the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) and was invited to attend the event by FIFA. The host nation made the event that much more special because Brazilians are soccer crazy and expected the five times world champion to march into the final and win it before an adoring nation. I was told by my guide : "85% of Brazilians are Roman Catholics, but 100% of Brazilians worship soccer." Only in Brazil can a domestic airline be named "Gol" or "Goal"!
As FIFA's guest, we had the privilege of riding on FIFA's chartered buses and driving direct to the stadium's VIP entrance. [Lothar Matthaus was on the bus and I could not help asking him for a picture.]There are two things you notice when you step into a modern soccer stadium which are built to FIFA's requirements. First, they are large. Stadiums must be able to accommodate 20000 square feet of hospitality village and the finals must be hosted in a stadium of 60000 people seated. In addition, there are a host of requirements for reception, security, broadcasting, ingress and egress, car parking etc all making the event a logistical achievement. Second, views are unobstructed. Gone are the pillars. Most of Maracana was also covered. I walked around the stadium and there were no bad seats. At almost every seat, one could see the four corners of the field . The exception was if you pitch side. There the benefit is that you are within touching distances of the players when they take throw ins or corners. Rarely will you ever come so close to these individuals.
Until 2014 when I watched it live in the Maracana Stadium in Rio De Janeiro.
This privilege came about due to my association with the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) and was invited to attend the event by FIFA. The host nation made the event that much more special because Brazilians are soccer crazy and expected the five times world champion to march into the final and win it before an adoring nation. I was told by my guide : "85% of Brazilians are Roman Catholics, but 100% of Brazilians worship soccer." Only in Brazil can a domestic airline be named "Gol" or "Goal"!
As FIFA's guest, we had the privilege of riding on FIFA's chartered buses and driving direct to the stadium's VIP entrance. [Lothar Matthaus was on the bus and I could not help asking him for a picture.]There are two things you notice when you step into a modern soccer stadium which are built to FIFA's requirements. First, they are large. Stadiums must be able to accommodate 20000 square feet of hospitality village and the finals must be hosted in a stadium of 60000 people seated. In addition, there are a host of requirements for reception, security, broadcasting, ingress and egress, car parking etc all making the event a logistical achievement. Second, views are unobstructed. Gone are the pillars. Most of Maracana was also covered. I walked around the stadium and there were no bad seats. At almost every seat, one could see the four corners of the field . The exception was if you pitch side. There the benefit is that you are within touching distances of the players when they take throw ins or corners. Rarely will you ever come so close to these individuals.
posted by BT at 8:40 PM
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