354 Arts and Entertainment
Competitions
Competitions define the highest level of achievement, and
exist in every major sport. American football has the
. SUPER BOWL; football has the. THE WORLD CUP.
The most prestigious competitions attract global media
coverage and huge. SPONSORSHIP deals.
THE WORLD CUP
First held in 1930, the FIFA (Fédération
Internationale de Football Associations)
World Cup is the most important tournament
for national football teams. It is held every
four years and has grown from just 11
teams in 1930 to 32 teams in 2010.WHY ARE SOME COMPETITIONS SO FAMOUS?
Competitions become famous when they have
continued for many years and have an exciting
history filled with sporting legends. Over time
they attract loyalty and respect from fans. Some
competitions have sponsorship deals and as a result
receive publicity from advertisers and broadcasters.WHICH TEAM HAS WON THE MOST WORLD CUPS?
Brazil has won five World Cups (1958, 1962, 1970,
1994, and 2002). Italy has won the title four times
(1934, 1938, 1982, 2006). Germany has won it
three times (1954, 1974, 1990) and Uruguay has
won it twice (1930, 1950). Spain won the title
for the first time in 2010.TOUR DE FRANCE 3
American cyclist Lance Armstrong leads the way in the Tour de
France in 2000. The yellow jersey is worn by the current leader of the
Tour during each of its many stages. The competition began in 1903.WHAT WERE THE FIRST GREAT COMPETITIONS?
Although the Oxford and Cambridge rowing race
in London, England, has been running since 1829,
organized sporting competitions began to develop
in the late 19th century. The English Football
Association Cup in soccer began in 1872. The first
American National Baseball League began in 1876.HOW MANY PEOPLE WATCH THE WORLD CUP?
There are seats for around one million people at a
modern World Cup. It now attracts about 500 million
television viewers around the world, although the
exact figure is unknown as different sources give
different figures. The 1950 final in Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil, saw the biggest attendance at any football
game in history – more than 200,000 people.WORLD CUP WINNERS 2010 3
Iker Casillas, the captain and goalkeeper of the Spanish football team,
lifts the trophy after Spain beat the Netherlands 1–0 in Johannesburg,
South Africa. This was Spain’s first victory at the FIFA World Cup.1 THE ASHES
This urn is given to the winner
of the Ashes Test Cricket Series
played biennially between England
and Australia. It is said to hold
the ashes of the bail used in the
first Test match in 1882.competitions