The event started in 1980, when local landlord Gordon Green overheard a discussion between two men in his pub, the Neuadd Arms. One man suggested that over a significant distance across country, man was equal to any horse. Green decided that the challenge should be tested in full public view, and organised the first event.As it turns out, the vast majority of the time, the horse is superior. Holginger is only the second man to beat all the horses in the 28-year history of the event. So congratulations to Florian Holginger and Chad Johnson for showing yesterday that man can beat horse even at horse's own game. Our whole species thanks you, gentlemen.
But not the correct answer
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Weaving around icy boulders and scrambling to avoid sliding down the snow-covered mountainside, President Evo Morales and his staff played a soccer match on Bolivia's highest peak on Tuesday, gleefully thumbing their noses at FIFA's ban on high-altitude games. "If you want to play sports, it's possible to play sports at any altitude in the world," said Morales, winded but smiling after scoring the winning goal against a team of local mountaineers. The match on the uneven field 6000 metres (19,700 feet) high in the Andes lasted only about 15 minutes, including the time spent recovering the ball after it skittered away down the slope. Citing concerns for players' health and an unfair home advantage for highland teams, FIFA decided last month to prohibit international tournaments and World Cup qualifying matches above 2,500 metres (8,200 feet). That rules out the capitals of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and the stadiums of leading teams in Peru, Chile and Mexico. The decision was seen as such an insult in Bolivia, it has temporarily united the public often bitterly divided over Morales's populist reforms. |
Geoff, you did it this time | GOAL! The president of Bolivia, Evo Morales, center, scores during a soccer match, 19,700 feet above sea level. His protest of a ban on international soccer games at altitudes above 8,200 feet has unified his country. |
I haven't even been that high, what to say about playing soccer
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Originally Posted by jojomataketa
You guys are right! I had no idea the president played TWO games.....at different heights!....Was the lower height one a warm up game for the higher up one!?....I bet the real players let him score some goals. When does he govern? It is amazing that people elect nutty leaders in so many countries!...the government of the nutty leaders, elected by the nutty followers, for the nutty followers!....
P.S: Geoff, you won fair and square!...You deserve the prize!....Don't donate it...Sorry, I pointed out what I perceived as an error.....but no, you were right! Cheers.........jojo |
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Altitude ban plays into hands of Morales LA PAZ (Reuters) - A controversial FIFA ban on playing international football games at high altitudes has handed Bolivian President Evo Morales a rallying cause that is proving popular in the Andean country. Since world football's governing body made the ruling last month, Morales has made getting it scrapped a personal crusade -- donning his soccer gear for mountain-top kickabouts, calling emergency cabinet meetings and sending ministers to doorstep FIFA headquarters in Switzerland. While critics say his approach smacks of populism, it is going down well with many ordinary Bolivians, who acknowledge their country's natural advantage in high-altitude matches with unabashed delight. "His position in defence of altitude is very admirable and it's meant he's won greater acceptance, even among the middle class," said Bolivian military retiree Robin Johns, 55, doing a crossword puzzle outside of La Paz's international soccer stadium, located some 3,600 metres (11,800 feet) above sea level. Leftist Morales, a former coca farmer raised in the Andean highlands, appears keen to keep the issue high on the agenda at a time when his plans for constitutional reform are drawing fierce opposition and sometimes violent protests. Although a constitutional assembly is struggling to find consensus on other issues, it voted unanimously for a resolution condemning the FIFA ruling, which also affects Ecuador, Colombia, Peru and Mexico. 'PERFECT OPPORTUNITY' In mountainous La Paz, banners have sprung up in parks and plazas, vowing to defend football at altitude, and local media have launched a campaign for readers to send a million letters of protest to FIFA President Sepp Blatter. |