the
POLYGLOT Issue 14
SPORT INCLUDES Legacy of Olympic Games
Chinese Cricket Fighting
Weird, wacky & wonderful sports
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Contents
Inspirational Sportspeopl High Tackles & Hagib Le ski et l'environne Disabled sports Weird, wacky & Chinese Cr Legacy o Is WA Did
T-Mobile Park, Seattle, US
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le 4 bis 6 ement 8 10 & wonderful sports 12 ricket Fighting 14 of the Olympic Games 16 ADA's Russia ban sufficient? 18 d You Know? 20 Flying for Football 22
Editorial Welcome to Issue 15 of The Polyglot, Sport. Clearly, sport has been a central component of many cultures for centuries and of course it is important to recognise the ancient beginnings of the Olympic Games. However, the worrying rise of Coronavirus has called into question the viability of many sporting events happening this year, including that of the Tokyo Olympics. In this issue, we have attempted to give you an appreciation of a variety of sports and how they both influence and are influenced by culture. With articles about Euros 2020, the Japanese Rugby World Cup and the legacy of the Olympic Games we have tried to hit home the difficulty of planning major sporting events. Conversely, articles ranging from Chinese cricket fighting to British cheese-rolling to Russian face-slapping have been written to help you explore the incredibly diverse and sometimes weird sporting world. Once again thanks must go to our committed team of writers, who have produced an interesting and well-researched set of articles that we hope will kick off your interest in different cultures from around the world. Jimmy Strainge Editor-in-Chief
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Inspirational Sportspeople The Polyglot Team looks at the world's most inspirational sportspeople
JĂźrgen Klopp FC Liverpool, Manager Previously professional footballer (striker) at Mainz 05, manager of Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund. Inspirational because of his charisma, enthusiasm and his achievements in the football world. Ambassador of German Anti-racism campaign "Respect! No room for racism".
Buakaw Banchamek Muay Thai fighter Currently competing as Muay Thai fighter nationally and internationally. Biggest achievement is winning the international K1 kickboxing tournament, with his aggressive, attacking-focused Muay Thai fighting style. Inspirational because he has risen to the apex of his sport in its most competitive environment to become a renowned champion, through immense dedication to a very difficult training regime.
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Serena Williams Tennis player Biggest achievement is winning 23 Grand Slam titles, more than any other man or woman in the Open Era and has ranked first in the world for a total of 319 weeks. Inspirational because she is regarded as an ambassador for tennis and a role model for future generations. Her return to high level tennis after becoming a mother is a testament to her great talent and determination.
Lewis Hamilton F1 driver for Mercedes F1 Biggest achievement is recently achieving his 6th World Championship in emphatic style. He won 11/21 races and finished the season with 413 points (87 more than his nearest competitor). Inspirational because he is one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time, and demonstrates how success can be achieved from humble origins through perseverance and talent.
Kylian MbappĂŠ Footballer for Paris Saint Germain, French national team Biggest achievement is becoming the youngest world cup winner since PelĂŠ and the youngest French world cup goal scorer in history. Inspirational because he managed to succeed despite obstacles in living in very precarious conditions. He's a role model for anyone growing up in poverty, with his estimated ÂŁ200m net worth a testament to his true 'rags-to-riches' story.
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High Tackles and Hagibis Jimmy Strainge investigates the impact of the Typhoon Hagibis on the Japanese Rugby World Cup
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espite the heart-break and disappointment many English rugby fans will have felt after the final of the Rugby World Cup last year, Japan had much more to contend with than just big tackles. The massive success of the competition has been highlighted by the unbelievable way in which Japan dealt with a category 5 super typhoon that added up to $15 billion worth of damage. The huge scrutiny that any country hosting a major sporting event - like a Rugby World Cup - puts them under huge pressure. But with such a catastrophic natural disaster, the challenge was immense. The super typhoon that hit Japan in early October reached its peak intensity on the 7th October. The severe consequences of this immense natural disaster were fortunately very well-managed due to the regular natural blows Japan has to endure every year. Nevertheless, the country was still struck with 98 deaths and the destruction of over 300,000 homes. Clearly, there is a lot to be admired in the way that the country was able to diminish the impacts of this natural catastrophe, especially due to the sheer scale of the typhoon. There is no doubt that the Japanese proverb ‘Futaba ni shite karazareba, ono wo mochiyuru ni ataru’, loosely translated as ‘take necessary measures early’, was extremely useful in the mitigation of this hazard.
"Japan dealt with a category 5 super typhoon that added up to $15 billion worth of damage."
The timing of any disaster is always difficult but the simultaneous running of the Rugby World Cup made matters much worse. Although, despite the massive area that was affected by Hagibis, the organisers only had to cancel three matches due to how well prepared they were to deal with the storm-induced flooding that occured around several stadiums. However, it wasn’t just the physical response to the destruction caused by the hurricane that was so inspirational, it was
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Typhoon Hagibis causes widespread bad weather across Japan the solidarity and nation-wide sense of togetherness that was so powerful. Expressions of this solidarity were seen in the minute silences that were held at the start of every match in recognition of the people who fell victim to the storm. The success of the Japanese national team in reaching the quarterfinals of the competition was a great testament to the success of the whole country in dealing with the typhoon. At the end of the day, the success of the team was such that it wasn’t just Japan mourning the loss of 98 people but the entire rugby community spread across the globe.
The cost of Typhoon Hagibis
"It was the solidarity and nation-wide sense of togetherness that was so powerful"
$10 billion cost to Japan's economy $100m damage sustained
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Le ski et l'environnement: une pente glissante Jakob Hobbs assesses the impact of skiing on the environment
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e nos jours, il est bien connu que le réchauffement climatique devient un problème de plus en plus préoccupant. Un nombre croissant de gens essayent de changer leurs modes de vie pour protéger l’environnement et sauver la planète. Sur cette toile de fond, certains prétendent que le ski constitue une menace pour l’environnement local. Cependant, est-ce que cet argument est valide? D’abord, un fait peu connu est que l’utilisation de l'enneigement artificiel peut être extrêmement nocive pour l’environnement. À cause du réchauffement climatique, beaucoup de stations de ski doivent utiliser des canons à neige pour assurer un enneigement suffisant des pistes et augmenter le nombre de jours de pratique du ski. Par exemple, en France, 20% des pistes sont équipées de canons à neige. Cependant, cette pratique a besoin de grandes quantités d’eau étant donné que 4000m3 d'eau sont nécessaires pour couvrir un hectare de piste. Selon les estimations, pour couvrir les pistes
des Alpes, l’enneigement artificiel consomme autant d’eau que 1,5 million de personnes. En plus, l’enneigement artificiel met plus de temps à disparaître ce qui menace la faune et la flore des montagnes. Par ailleurs, la construction de stations de sports d’hiver a des nombreux impacts environnementaux. Par exemple, afin de construire des pistes et des remonte-pentes, il faut modifier le paysage et abattre des arbres ce qui cause le déboisement et la destruction des habitats. De plus, les remonte-pentes utilisent beaucoup d'énergie et contribuent à la pollution atmosphérique et à la pollution visuelle. Finalement, le ski résulte en des problèmes environnementaux indirects. Avant tout, ce sport a une empreinte carbone énorme principalement à cause du transport. Les stations de ski sont depuis toujours concentrées autour d'un seul moyen de transport: la voiture (57 % de la pollution dans les stations), et presque tous les visiteurs voyagent en avion. Il est évident que c’est une énorme source de pollution étant donné qu'environ 60 millions de personnes vont aux Alpes chaque année et un aller simple typique en avion génère environ 122kg de CO2 par personne.
Damage to a landscape in Flaine, France
En faisant du ski, on éprouve un lien enrichissant avec la nature et un sentiment de liberté absolue.
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Snow cannons are becoming a more and more frequent sight in ski resorts
Cependant, si on ne réagit pas, les conséquences pour l'environnement des Alpes pourraient être catastrophiques. Il est clair que le ski ne peut jamais être complètement écologique. Malgré cela, il est possible de "verdir" ce sport. Par conséquent, que pouvez-vous faire pour protéger l’environnement en faisant du ski? On peut: -Voyager en train afin de réduire les émissions de CO2. -Aller à une station de ski écologique. -Essayer d’utiliser les transports en commun comme le bus au lieu de la voiture. -Ramasser des déchets. -Encourager les stations de ski à essayer d'être plus écologiques.
"Si on ne réagit pas, les conséquences pour l'environnement des Alpes pourraient être catastrophiques"
Glossary de nos jours - nowadays le réchauffement climatique - global warming préoccupant - worrying croissant - growing sur cette toile de fond - against this backdrop prétendre - to argue un fait peu connu - a little known fact l'enneigement artificiel - artificial snow nocive - harmful
le canon à neige - snow cannon étant donné que - given that disparaître - to disappear le remonte-pente - ski lift abattre - to cut down le déboisement - deforestation enrichissant - rewarding ramasser des déchets - to pick up litter malgré cela - despite this
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Disabled sports: The struggle for representation Tom Gardener evaluates the ups and downs of disabled sports
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ince the start of the Millennium, we have seen a continued rise of disabled sports in a bid to give people with disabilities and other limitations a chance to partake in the international language of sport. This movement has taken off all over the world with varying levels of success. The 2012 Paralympics held in London were a highlight that boosted the number of people practicing disabled sports to an all-time high. Since then it has been a bumpy road, however, all governments are determined to support this sector so that everyone with a talent can explore what they have to offer. The London Paralympics saw more than 4,200 participants from 167 countries compete and celebrated the pure talent of all the athletes. However, the 2016 Paralympics in Rio were, although still a success, less popular with 700,000 fewer tickets sold than in 2012. Combined with a last-minute cut to their budget, many athletes became downhearted due to a lack of representation, claiming the Paralympics had returned to a compulsory custom that was needed to tick off disabled representation from the list of governments. By the end of 2016, sports clubs recorded the number of disabled people participating in weekly exercise had fallen by 169,000 since the London paralympics, suggesting disabled sports were in decline. A recent survey in the UK showed that 7/10 people would like to be more active and get out more, however, there are obstacles which disabled people must overcome in order to make it to sports practices. Disabled sports struggle with a lack of accessibility and training of staff and the facilities are often put aside for disabled sports at inconvenient times (e.g Sunday morning or Friday evening.) There is a general worldwide lack of funding for disabled sports, as able-bodied sports are often more lucrative and better supported. However since 2012, Sport England has invested £20.3 million of National Lottery and Exchequer funding into recent programmes to ad-
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Wheelchair athletics at the 2012 Paralympics dress the decline and to get more disabled people playing sport, including the training of more than 10,000 coaches, leaders and parents to develop the skills to include disabled people in sporting activity. Overall, the world of disabled sports may seem to be at a low point currently but there is lots of hope for the future as people become increasingly aware of equal-representation. Hopefully the Tokyo Paralympics will increase support and the growth of this sector so that we can celebrate the skills and the gifts of these athletes.
"All governments are determined to support this sector so that everyone with a talent can explore what they have to offer"
Disabled sports facts & figures 11 million disabled people in the UK 80% of disabled peoplewould like to be more active
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Weird, Wacky & Wonderful Sports The Polyglot Team investigates the variety of sports around the world.
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CHEESE ROLLING - ENG
Originating in Gloucestershire of England’s most peculiar sp late 15th century, the cultura thought to have dated back to festival. The sport consists of Cooper’s Hill, a 300 yard 45 d finish line at the end. Althoug cheese, the victory is awarded descent. As one would imagin dangerous with those who com during the 1997 edition, 33 c ed.
PÉTANQUE (BOULES) - FRANCE Le jeu de pétanque a été inventé en 1910 dans la petite ville de « La Ciotat » sur la Côte d’Azur. Le fondateur, Jules Lenoir, ayant un rheumatism, trouve tout naturel de créer un sport qui ne nécessite aucune mobilité. Étymologiquement le nom ‘pétanque’ vient de la langue occitane « pès tancats » qui signifie « pieds plantés » . Le jeu est constitué de deux participants jetant tour-à-tour leurs boules sur une distance de 15 mètres afin d’être aussi proche que possible d’un cochonnet (un petit ballon) qui se trouve au sol. La personne avec les boules les plus proche gagne.
GLOSSARY le fondateur: founder | rheumatism: a disease associated with
muscular pains in predominantly the joints | jeter: to throw | tour-à-tour: in turn | aussi proche que possible: as close as possible
PÁDEL (PADDLE TENNIS) - SPAIN Consiste en un híbrido entre tenis y squash que se juega en parejas. Es un deporte de raqueta muy popular en España y, en los últimos diez años, ha empezado a extenderse rápidamente por los Estados Unidos y por el resto de Europa con el apoyo de deportistas como Andy Murray. Aunque la raqueta es más pequeña que la del tenis, las reglas son muy similares a las del squash, pero la pelota puede botar en las paredes de la pista una vez que haya tocado el suelo. ¡Un partido de pádel es muy rápido de jugar!
GLOSSARY híbrido: a hybrid | el apoyo: support |
botar: to bounce | las paredes de la pista: the walls of the court | un partido: a match
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e, cheese-rolling is certainly one ports. First officially played in the al beginnings of the tradition are o pagan times as an early harvest chasing an 8lb cheese down degree downward slope with a gh impossible to actually catch the d to the first person to finish the ne, this particular pastime is rather mpete being rather ‘emmental’ as competitors were medically treat-
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RHÖNRAD (GYMNASTIC WHEEL) - GERMANY Das Rhönrad wurde 1928 in der deustchen Region Rhön erfunden. Am Anfang rollte man in zwei Metallreifen von einem großen Fass den Berg hinunter. Jetzt ist Rhönradturnen ein komplizierter Sport mit vielen Regeln und drei Disziplinen. Man turnt Gerade, Spirale oder Sprung. Der Sport ist nicht olympisch, aber es gibt Weltmeisterschaften.
GLOSSARY
erfinden: to invent | der Reifen: the wheel | das Fass: the barrel | hinunter: downhill | turnen: do gymnastics | gerade: straight | der Sprung - springen: to jump | die Weltmeisterschaft: world championships
CALCIO STORICO (FLORENTINE FOOTBALL) - ITALY Il calcio storico, è conosciuto come il calcio in costume, ed è uno sport principalmente giocato a Firenze. Il gioco è considerato il padre del calcio, ma molti dicono che è più simile al rugby. È comunque un gioco che richiede molta aggressività e resistenza. Le prime fonti che ne parlano direttamente sono medievali. Dove certi scrittori come Dante, descrivono la disciplina come un passa tempo molto popolare. È praticata nella famosa piazza Santa Croce, dove per segnare un punto una delle squadre deve tirare il pallone in una rete in fondo al campo.
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Chinese Cricket Fighting Kiran Gathani delves into the underground competitive sport of Chinese Cricket Fighting
"Cash prizes for some of the more well known tournaments can be as much as ÂŁ1100"
H I STO R I C A L O V E R V I E W Cricket fighting is an ancient sport, originating in China over 1000 years ago during the Tang dynasty. It first came into prominence in Chinese aristocratic circles, with the wealthy paying massive amounts of money to buy the most ferocious breeds of cricket from across the world. Cash prizes for some of the more well known tournaments could have been as much as 10,000 RMB (about ÂŁ1100), which was a fortune that long ago. This sport later became known as a popular form of entertainment even among lower classes, and it was filmed on television and bets were regularly placed on cricket fighting matches. One prime minister of the Southern Song dynasty wrote a guidebook on cricket fighting, and after the cultural revolution - which took place in 1976 - the new communist government outlawed cricket fighting altogether as a bourgeois extravaganza. These events prove that cricket fighting must have had a historical and symbolic significance in regards to Chinese aristocracy and the ideas of class hierarchy. Nowadays, cricket fighting is more prevalent in the underground, as it has been officially made illegal to place bets on the fights. A cricket fighting ring
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H O W D O T H E F I G H T S TA K E P L A C E ? Crickets are placed in a box with a partition in the middle, opposite an opponent of the same weight class. Often, the night before a fight, female crickets are put in their pots, some cricket handlers believe that mating with females reduces the stress of the crickets. Sticks are used to poke the hind legs of the crickets - agitating them, and making them more fight ready. Then the partition is removed and the crickets will focus their agitation on their opponent. The first cricket to stop chirping or start avoiding the fight loses. Male crickets use their mandibles and maxillae (mouthparts) in fights. A study has recently been done comparing the fighting success of male crickets with large mandibles and mouthparts in proportion to their body length and mass. The results showed that males with larger mandibles and mouthparts compared to their body length and mass were far more successful in fights. Because of this, there has been selective breeding occuring in China for decades in regards to fighting crickets - leading to some fighting crickets having massive mandibles and maxillae in comparison to normal ones.
ETHICS A cause for controversy around the sport of cricket fighting is its somewhat questionable moral foundations. The sport could be called cruel to insects due to the way in which they are pitted against each other in seemingly gladiatorial fights. However this is on a far smaller scale - involving insects not people, and the crickets are not killed in these fights, they lose once they start retreating. Some crickets are treated extremely well if they succeed, there is even a coffin on display in Macau, made for a much loved cricket. On balance, I would view the sport of cricket fighting as morally acceptable, and it is nowhere near as cruel as something like dog racing in the UK (the British government persists in maintaining its legality).
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Legacy of Olympic Games Luka Shanidze and Billy Backhouse assess the legacy of the Olympic Games
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n 1894, the IOC was founded by Baron Pierre de Counterbin, with the belief that “organised sport can create moral and social strength”. The first Olympic Games took place in 1896 in Athens and they proved to be a huge success, becoming the largest international sports event in the world. Ever since, the aims of the Olympic Games have been the same social and moral unification, and even though some of them have had negative effects on the hosts and did not achieve this aim (such as Athens, 2004), most manage to realise Counterbin’s vision, leaving behind great legacies (such as Munich, 1972).
Olympic Games in Munich, 1972
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he mood preceding the Munich Olympics in 1972 was very optimistic, hence the motto: ‘Heitere Spiele’ (cheerful Games). Unfortunately, this optimism was overshadowed by the Munich Massacre, but some positive infrastructural legacy remains. The city of Munich had been planning to build a large stadium since as far back as the end of WW1, mostly to accommodate the rising popularity of football. Following the Olympics, the iconic Olympiastadion became the home of FC Bayern München, and later also to their local rivals 1860 München. The Olympiastadion also hosted the 1997 Champions League final, won by Borussia Dortmund. Since the Munich Games, the stadium has also been used for other sports such as athletics and snowboarding events. However, after the opening of the Allianz arena in 2005, it has mainly been a popular destination for artists’ tours, hosting the Rolling Stones and Michael Jackson many times. Other Olympic infrastructures in Munich either serve alternative purposes today or enjoy continued use. The Olympiadorf (Olympic
village) is used today as a housing complex and student accommodation, and is one of the most popular housing areas in Munich. Other sports facilities, such as the ice sports or aquatic centre are open to the public and the Olympiapark itself engages in annually organized events, like triathlons. When people reflect on the Munich Olympics of 1972, the laments are mostly negative, because of the Munich massacre. But apart from that tragedy, it is clear that the Munich Olympics could easily have been some very memorable Games, and they certainly left behind a legacy that lives up to that.
"Positive legacy remains in the form of the iconic Olympiastadion"
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The Olympic Park in Munich
Olympic Games in Athens, 2004
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n 2004, Athens saw the completion of its £7billion olympic park investment. The park, state-of-the-art for its time, has fallen into severe disrepair in the last decade. Originally, the Greek Olympic committee had planned for the facilities to be used ad eternum by the residents of Athens to try and revive the long-forgotten sporting tradition of the city. The games were a huge success, drawing in millions of spectators from around the world to the ‘city of the violet crown’ where the games were first conceived. However, the 2008/9 global financial crisis hit the Greek economy hard. Subsequently, budgets were slashed for the upkeep of the park thus eradicating any chance of continued use. Now, only the ghost of past success haunts the derelict buildings, dry swimming-pools and empty stadia. A crumbling theatre, inscribed with the words ‘glory, wealth, wisdom, triomph, hero, labour’ serves
as a poignant echo of the prior prosperity of the Olympic park and Greece more broadly. The tragic decline of Greece is memorialised in this bleak image of such decrepitude; waste-filled venues litter the landscape, the skeletal limbs of trees left to wither and die and graffiti scrawled upon monuments which once stood as a celebration of Greek achievement. However, some infrastructure has withstood the crushing blow of the crash. The subway continues to bustle with the perpetual noise of commuters: a lugubrious glimpse of what could have been.
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Is WADA's Russia ban sufficient? Andreas Lo analyses whether the ban on Russia to compete in world sporting events was sufficient in improving the doping culture
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ou might have heard in the news that Russia was recently officially banned from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and 2022 World Cup after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) had imposed a four-year ban on Russia's sporting committee for an ‘extremely serious case of noncompliance with the requirement to provide an authentic copy of the Moscow data, with several aggravating features.’ It probably isn’t the first time that Russia has been in the headlines for having its athletes being excluded from world sporting events under its own flag, and so it does make us question whether simply banning Russia again is actually a good solution to prevent doping in the future. Only being reinstated in 2018, Russia has been at the centre of the doping scandal once again a year later. WADA president Craig Reedie said in a statement that ‘For too long, Russian doping has detracted from clean sport.’ He also argued that Russia has been given every chance to change and re-join the global anti-doping community, only to be found them continuing ‘in its stance of deception and denial’. The fact that Russia has again violated rules illustrates they just aren't ready to come clean yet, and this scandal has also led to criticism on why WADA reinstated Russia in the first place. WADA defended the act to reinstate Russia in 2018, saying its compliance review committee received assurances from the Russian sports minister, Pavel Kolobkov, who stated the country had ‘sufficiently acknowledged’ failures. Yet it all seemed very bizarre how WADA could easily be swayed by a single comment and softened their original criteria so that RUSADA (Russia's anti-doping agency) could be reinstituted, despite the anti-doping agency in Moscow not being able to meet two of them: an acknowledgement of the severity of its violations, and the release of data and samples from the Moscow Laboratory, the heart of the illicit operations. WADA’s feeble decision has
completely undermined its explicit purpose of the ban: to keep world sports clean, and this immediately sparked outrage across different countries in the world, saying Russia hasn’t sufficiently proved itself to be completely free from doping, and that such a large anti-doping agency could turn a blind eye to false test results. Travis Tygart, CEO of US’ Anti-Doping Agency has spoken out about his frustration, accusing the International Olympic Committee (IOC) of having ‘orchestrated a path for this decision to be appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)’, and thereby setting up CAS as the failsafe to enforce weaker consequences against those athletes. On the other hand, Linda Helleland, the most outgoing vice president and often, a lone voice in WADA in speaking against Russia, was visibly disappointed, saying she ‘wanted a complete ban’. Despite having a firm four-year ban this time round, after all it’s doubtful whether this is simply enough to prevent any more doping in the future. Arguably, the fact that neither RUSADA nor the Russian government wanted to take the blame is
"This is the biggest sports scandal the world has ever seen." -Linda Helleland, Vice President of WADA
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Russian Opening Ceremony for the 2010 Winter Olympics
symptomatic of their reluctance to admit to any wrongdoings or change their anti-doping culture, in which Russia has been running a state-funded doping program for years. This proves that Russia wasn’t ready to make the next step, and become a sporting power as President Vladmir Putin had hoped. Furthermore, there are grey areas in this ban, in that Russian athletes can still compete in world sporting competitions as long as they can prove themselves clean of drugs. However, Russia’s cynical data-tampering, has muddied the water over who was guilty of doping. In addition, Russia could still host, and compete in Europe’s quadrennial soccer championship this summer, as it is more of a continental competition, and the 2022 World Cup would still host the Russian team, as long as the team members are cleared of dop-
ing, but again, the results could be manipulated. This clearly illustrates the significant loopholes in the WADA ban on Russia, as the Russians are still allowed to compete, and the government could still get their way around and continue to fund these athletes with doping while obfuscating evidence. In reality, at least at this present moment, this reflects Russia’s mendacity in their efforts to rehabilitate their sporting program, and their refusal to cooperate with WADA to push for becoming a clean sporting nation. Frankly, more needs to be done to improve the doping culture in sports, and a ban is just the minimum. WADA ought to take a firmer stance, although, this doping culture cannot possibly be fully eliminated before the Russian government takes any step in abolishing its state-funded program and be more truthful to the world.
"Finally, fraud, lies and falsifications of unspeakable proportions have been punished in full swing" -Grigory Rodchenkov, Former Head of RUSADA
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Did you know... ..that Colombian singer Shakira does charity work involving football?
...that one third of the French national football team comes from the suburbs of Paris?
Desde 1997 la cantante Shakira ayuda las áreas menos desarrolladas en Colombia mediante su organización Pies Descalzos que construye escuelas y trabaja con clubes de fútbol, tales como el famoso FC Barcelona. Los jóvenes no solo hacen ejercicio físico sino también aprenden el respeto a las reglas, la disciplina, la tolerancia - valores vitales para conseguir la paz en este país. La organización espera que todos los jóvenes colombianos tengan las mismas oportunidades en educación.
Il est indéniable que les banlieues de Paris produisent une richesse de joueurs de foot talentueux. En fait, les joueurs Paul Pogba, Kylian Mbappé et N’golo Kanté, qui ont gagné la coupe de monde en 2018, tous viennent de la ville périphérique. Aussi des joueurs d’autres nationalités comme Riyad Mahrez, un joueur international Algérien, ont grandi à Paris.
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Studies showing that ex footballers are 3.5 times more likely to die with dementia have prompted the FA to ban children under 12 years of age from using their heads during football practice sessions. FA officials say that the decision was taken to ‘mitigate any potential risks’ hoping to reduce the number of future people affected by dementia.
...that headers have been banned in under 12 football practice in the UK?
Im Schlaf produziert der Körper das Hormon HGH, was Muskeln regeneriert und aufbaut. Pillen mit HGH aber bremsen die Produktion des Hormons im Körper. Schlafen vor Mitternacht und vier Stunden vor dem Schlafen nichts mehr essen ist am besten!
...that sleep makes your muscles grow better than hormone supplements?
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THE POLYGLOT
Flying for Football Charlie Masters discusses the spread of the European Championships 2020
F
or the first time in the competition's 60-year history, the European Football Championships are to take place in twelve separate host cities. "There is great pleasure in being able to bring EURO 2020 to so many countries and cities, to see football acting as a bridge between nations, and to carry the competition closer to the fans, who are the essential lifeblood of the game," proclaimed UEFA president Aleksander ÄŒeferin. But is this decision to spread the tournament suitable in the current global environment discussion? Or does it demean the livelihood of football if fewer fans are willing to support around the continent? Reactions were almost entirely negative, with talk about nightmare logistics, increased costs for fans, and the over-commercialisation and lost soul of football. The host cities span from Baku, to Copenhagen, and to London for the semi-finals and final. It can be said that multiple locations deters fans from all travelling to the same country; as numerous flights around Europe would be quite expensive and inconvenient. This type of dissuasion would definitely
be beneficial for the planet as with a lack of travel reduces pollution. This idea also ensures that fans from all countries get to attend the competition, with cheaper tickets to those fans that reside in the country where the match is to be played. This choice for the summer’s tournament has sparked the idea that we should start to rethink sporting traditions more broadly, and to engage in more cost and environmentally effective formats of the sport. Are these traditions as important as ecological factors when taking sporting championships into account?
"This idea ensures that fans from all countries get to attend the competition"
51% of Brits
Football around the world
are very interested in football. However, the country with the highest interest is Nigeria, at a huge 83%.
3.2 billion
people watched at least one minute of World Cup Coverage in 2014
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POLYGLOT Issue 15
