Today, football (or soccer) is the most popular sport in the world. It is correct to say that people of all countries take part in this sport. Therefore, the FIFA Football World Cup, organized by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) is the largest international sports event after the Olympic Games. The 2014 FIFA World Cup will be held in June-July 2014 in Brazil.
There was no need for a separate football world cup before 1930, since the football tournament in the Olympic Games served as an effective football world cup. However, by late 1920s, there were differences arising between the International Olympic Committee and FIFA. The main differences came about concerning the amateur status of the players. With the popularity of football, professional players were emerging and due to the rules of the Olympics, they could not participate in the tournament. Then, it was announced that the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics will not have football at all. With this, FIFA decided to have a separate world cup.
1. The third president of FIFA, who held the title from 1921 to 1954, took the initiative in holding the first ever FIFA World Cup. Born in 1873 in Eastern France, he held the presidency of French Football Federation during 1919-1946 too. In 1904, he was involved in the founding of FIFA. He died in 1956, after seeing his initiative become a world scale event. Who was he?
2. The 1930 FIFA World cup was held in Uruguay. There were several other candidates who wanted to host the tournament. But, Uruguay was chosen for several reasons. It was the Centenary Year of the country, as Uruguay had passed its first Constitution in 1830. Uruguay was the current Olympic Champions in football. Furthermore, Uruguay agreed to pay the transport cost of all participating teams. This World Cup was the only one held in a single city, the capital of Uruguay. Even now, about one third of the inhabitants of Uruguay live in the capital city. What is the capital of Uruguay?
3. Thirteen countries took part in the 1930 Football World Cup, but only four were from Europe. This was mainly due to the traveling distance. Some people wondered why less fancied countries like Romania took part at all, given the distance involved. It is said that Romanian players were having problems getting leave from their jobs and almost could not take part. But then, the king of Romania, a passionate football fan, intervened and requested the employers of the players to grant them leave so that they could travel to Uruguay. Who was this king?
4. In the preliminary rounds, Guillermo Stabile of Argentina scored a hat-trick on his international debut in a 6-3 victory over Mexico. Eventually he was to score eight goals in the tournament, which was by far the best by a single player. Until 2006, he was recognized as the first player to score a hat-trick in a FIFA World Cup. But in 2006, FIFA finally recognized another player as the first to score a hat-trick. Playing for the USA, he had scored all three goals in a 3-0 victory over Paraguay. However, his second goal was attributed to another player until 2006 when FIFA awarded it to him. Who was this player?
5. The host nation, Uruguay, won the 1930 World Cup, defeating the traditional rivals Argentina in the final by 4-2, after being down 1-2 at half time. The last survivor of the final was an Argentine striker who was 20 at the time. He died in 2010, at the age of 100. Who was he?
Answers to Quiz 15: British Conquest of Kandy
1. Gallahawatta
2. Treaty of Amiens
3. John D’oyly
4. 11 Chieftains
5. Vellore
 |
| Estadio Centanario (Centenary Stadium) in Uruguay |
There was no need for a separate football world cup before 1930, since the football tournament in the Olympic Games served as an effective football world cup. However, by late 1920s, there were differences arising between the International Olympic Committee and FIFA. The main differences came about concerning the amateur status of the players. With the popularity of football, professional players were emerging and due to the rules of the Olympics, they could not participate in the tournament. Then, it was announced that the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics will not have football at all. With this, FIFA decided to have a separate world cup.
1. The third president of FIFA, who held the title from 1921 to 1954, took the initiative in holding the first ever FIFA World Cup. Born in 1873 in Eastern France, he held the presidency of French Football Federation during 1919-1946 too. In 1904, he was involved in the founding of FIFA. He died in 1956, after seeing his initiative become a world scale event. Who was he?
 |
| The FIFA President (1921-1954) who initiated the World Cup |
2. The 1930 FIFA World cup was held in Uruguay. There were several other candidates who wanted to host the tournament. But, Uruguay was chosen for several reasons. It was the Centenary Year of the country, as Uruguay had passed its first Constitution in 1830. Uruguay was the current Olympic Champions in football. Furthermore, Uruguay agreed to pay the transport cost of all participating teams. This World Cup was the only one held in a single city, the capital of Uruguay. Even now, about one third of the inhabitants of Uruguay live in the capital city. What is the capital of Uruguay?
3. Thirteen countries took part in the 1930 Football World Cup, but only four were from Europe. This was mainly due to the traveling distance. Some people wondered why less fancied countries like Romania took part at all, given the distance involved. It is said that Romanian players were having problems getting leave from their jobs and almost could not take part. But then, the king of Romania, a passionate football fan, intervened and requested the employers of the players to grant them leave so that they could travel to Uruguay. Who was this king?
4. In the preliminary rounds, Guillermo Stabile of Argentina scored a hat-trick on his international debut in a 6-3 victory over Mexico. Eventually he was to score eight goals in the tournament, which was by far the best by a single player. Until 2006, he was recognized as the first player to score a hat-trick in a FIFA World Cup. But in 2006, FIFA finally recognized another player as the first to score a hat-trick. Playing for the USA, he had scored all three goals in a 3-0 victory over Paraguay. However, his second goal was attributed to another player until 2006 when FIFA awarded it to him. Who was this player?
5. The host nation, Uruguay, won the 1930 World Cup, defeating the traditional rivals Argentina in the final by 4-2, after being down 1-2 at half time. The last survivor of the final was an Argentine striker who was 20 at the time. He died in 2010, at the age of 100. Who was he?
Answers to Quiz 15: British Conquest of Kandy
1. Gallahawatta
2. Treaty of Amiens
3. John D’oyly
4. 11 Chieftains
5. Vellore
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