FIFA sets up beach soccer World Cup
ZURICH (AFP) - FIFA is launching its first ever beach soccer world cup this year, world football's governing body said.
Twelve countries are expected to compete in the first FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, which is likely to take place in Brazil later in 2005.
The barefoot five-a-side game on a compact sand pitch has attracted flamboyant stars from the past such as Eric Cantona and Romario to the championship organised by the Beach Soccer World Wide federation since 1994.
The emphasis on one-touch skill and accompanying seaside glamour has also drawn younger crowds. FIFA is convinced that beach soccer "is and will increasingly become an important part of the sport of football."
"Beach soccer is an immensely attractive and exciting variation of association football," said FIFA president Sepp Blatter.
"Since being introduced just over a decade ago, the sport has grown steadily in terms of popularity and sophistication."
A new FIFA subsidiary is being set up in Barcelona, Spain, to work alongside the existing beach soccer federation.
Luis Felipe Tavares, the BSWW president, said he was delighted by the announcement.
"By joining forces to create the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, we are pushing the sport to the next level in terms of quality, recognition and prominence," he said.
After becoming professional in the 1990s, the first big televised beach soccer event was held on Rio de Janeiro's legendary Copacabana beach and the game now draws top line corporate sponsorship.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050201/sp_soccer_afp/fblfifabeachbra
ZURICH (AFP) - FIFA is launching its first ever beach soccer world cup this year, world football's governing body said.
Twelve countries are expected to compete in the first FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, which is likely to take place in Brazil later in 2005.
The barefoot five-a-side game on a compact sand pitch has attracted flamboyant stars from the past such as Eric Cantona and Romario to the championship organised by the Beach Soccer World Wide federation since 1994.
The emphasis on one-touch skill and accompanying seaside glamour has also drawn younger crowds. FIFA is convinced that beach soccer "is and will increasingly become an important part of the sport of football."
"Beach soccer is an immensely attractive and exciting variation of association football," said FIFA president Sepp Blatter.
"Since being introduced just over a decade ago, the sport has grown steadily in terms of popularity and sophistication."
A new FIFA subsidiary is being set up in Barcelona, Spain, to work alongside the existing beach soccer federation.
Luis Felipe Tavares, the BSWW president, said he was delighted by the announcement.
"By joining forces to create the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, we are pushing the sport to the next level in terms of quality, recognition and prominence," he said.
After becoming professional in the 1990s, the first big televised beach soccer event was held on Rio de Janeiro's legendary Copacabana beach and the game now draws top line corporate sponsorship.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050201/sp_soccer_afp/fblfifabeachbra
