There has been much hand-wringing over the problems that World Cup players are facing due to the environmental extremes they are exposed to in Brazil. There has been little sympathy for the men in black, but the effects on them can look more severe.
The suggestion has been that the high temperatures pose a significant health risk, may affect the quality of play, and slow the tempo of games. FIFA has taken some steps to combat this, such as later kick-offs in the more northerly venues and outlining criteria in which cooling breaks will afford players time in each half to take on fluids.
However, England’s first match, against Italy in Manaus, saw temperatures hit 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) with humidity at 61%. Some players were seen suffering heat cramps, and others were affected in less obvious ways. Italy’s Claudio Marchisio said after the match: “At times it felt like having hallucinations due to the heat.” But it is not just the players who are exposed to high temperatures and still have to perform — the referees and their officiating team are in exactly the same conditions, yet the quality of their performance is still expected to be world-class. Read more...
More about Brazil, Entertainment, World, Fifa Soccer, and Sports Reported by Mashable 5 hours ago.
The suggestion has been that the high temperatures pose a significant health risk, may affect the quality of play, and slow the tempo of games. FIFA has taken some steps to combat this, such as later kick-offs in the more northerly venues and outlining criteria in which cooling breaks will afford players time in each half to take on fluids.
However, England’s first match, against Italy in Manaus, saw temperatures hit 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) with humidity at 61%. Some players were seen suffering heat cramps, and others were affected in less obvious ways. Italy’s Claudio Marchisio said after the match: “At times it felt like having hallucinations due to the heat.” But it is not just the players who are exposed to high temperatures and still have to perform — the referees and their officiating team are in exactly the same conditions, yet the quality of their performance is still expected to be world-class. Read more...
More about Brazil, Entertainment, World, Fifa Soccer, and Sports Reported by Mashable 5 hours ago.