A Greener 2014 World Cup:Copa Verde

CopaVerde is a movement that is trying to catapult Brazil into the forefront of sustainable economics. CV was created, by Brazilians Ian McKee and Vicente de Castro Mello, with the goal of bringing innovative and efficient architecture and development to Brazil. To do this, they are utilizing large sporting events like the upcoming 2014 World Cup to spur growth in many diverse areas. CopaVerde as many goals ranging from developing a Brazilian Electric Car to discovering a cleaner alternative to jet fuel.

One of their current projects, that especially interests us, is their EcoArenas. These are LEED certified stadiums and buildings related to the World Cup that will make the games much greener and benefit Brazil in the future. CopaVerde as completely remodeled the Estádio Nacional de Brasília. The transformation is stunning, the almost 40 year-old stadium is now a glittering symbol of what CopaVerde hopes to continue throughout Brazil. Castro Mello was the lead architect on the project and the stadium features many eco-friendly elements. The most visible innovation is the solar panels lining the roof. They will create 2.5 million megawatts of energy. The new design also allows lots of natural light to fill the arena. Castro Mello also incorporated a rainwater collection and irrigation system as well as on-site construction of concrete parts, which reduces fuel consumption and carbon emissions. The Estádio Nacional de Brasília is one of many innovative buildings in Brasília, which is a UNESCO heritage site recognized for its environmentally-friendly and forward thinking architecture.

Before:

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During Construction:

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After:

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CopaVerde 

is also working to create local eco-friendly projects in the host cities in Brazil. Internationally CV has partnered with the Portland Timbers to host an annual “Green Cup”. The Timbers will play a first-division Mexican team, Monarcas Morelia, to promote their program “Somos Timbers," which promotes Hispanic youth development in the Portland area.

C4BF is always excited to learn about projects like CopaVerde that are using new and creative ways to help the soccer community. If you know of any others, please let us know. 

Connect with CopaVerde at:

Visit Their Website

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CopaVerde

Blog: http://blog.copaverde.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CopaVerde

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Baltimore's Soccer Without Borders...hooked up!

Imagine if you had to uproot and move to a new country. You don’t know anyone, you don’t speak the language very well, and, as if that's not enough, you have to go to a new high school. Coming to the United States as a refugee child poses many challenges. In Baltimore, as well as other places both nationally and internationally, Soccer Without Borders is using the soccer as a medium to “encourage healthy living while developing English-language abilities, teamwork, academic success, and cross-cultural skills”.

Soccer is an incredible sport: in every corner of the world the sport carries a passionate following. You can travel anywhere in the world and regardless of language or cultural barriers, as soon as a soccer ball is brought out, you instantly have a way to interact with the people around you. The students that are members of Soccer Without Borders in Baltimore originate from a multitude of countries. Baltimore's chapter includes students from Palestine, Eritrea, Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nepal, Palestine, Cameroon, South Sudan, Nigeria, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Guinea, among others. Although they shared the same challenges coming to America, most of students could not understand each other and many of them did not initially like each other either. However what they all shared was an incredible love for the sport of soccer- or “football” to them.

This is what soccer means in their lives:

C4BF recently stopped by SWB to size up and share cleats with members of the Baltimore team who needed a a pair for the start of the new season. It was great to see the just how universal and upbringing the sport of soccer can be. 



In other news, we are looking to continue to build our SWB connection by having a friendly little match. A C4BF vs. SWB soccer game is being scheduled for later this spring (Andres Camacho from C4BF is an Arsenal fan and has a couple things to settle with SWB's players who are Chelsea and Manchester United fans). "I guess Andres doesn't like winning" said Warshan, a sixteen year old from Iraq. Members of the greeNEWit office will also be joining in to help out the 5 person C4BF team. Should be quite a match! We'll let you know more as we do.

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The Jersey Swap Tradition

Anyone who enjoys watching soccer has seen the jersey exchange that takes place between opposing players at the end of a game. There is nothing like this in any other sport. But, how did this tradition begin?

Well, it goes back nearly eighty years. The day was May 14, 1931. There was a match held between France and England commemorating the friendship between them. The match was held at the Stade Olympique in Colombes, France. The French team scored five goals to win the game against England, who was considered the soccer powerhouse at the time. As a way of showing the goodwill between the teams, and to make this event as memorable as it could be, France requested the English team members exchange Jerseys at the end of the game.

And since that day, jersey trading at the end of the game has become much more than a simple gesture.

One famous swap took place in 1970 between soccer legends, Bobby Moore of England and Brazil’s Pele after a world cup match. The jersey exchange marked the near end of both their fantastic soccer careers and is regarded as a historic moment in soccer history.

In 1966, England defeated Argentina in the quarterfinals. Alf Ramsey, England’s manager, stopped the jersey exchange between one of his players and an Argentinean player because he believed the Argentinean team had played like “animals.” 

Exchange rituals are freighted with cultural functions, such as reinforcing social solidarity, affirming friendships and perpetuating economic partnerships.” Ellis Cashmore, a professor of sociology, media and sport at England’s Staffordshire University says.

The exchange of jerseys has evolved from a simple sign of good sportsmanship between players to a representation of the friendship between entire countries.

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