This & That, Ceci et Cela

The BBC reports that Last month Fifa decided to prohibit international tournaments and World Cup qualifying matches anywhere above 2,500m (8,200ft). The decision, which affects many South American nations, has been seen as an insult in Bolivia. … Bolivian President Evo Morales has snubbed Fifa’s ban on high-altitude football matches by playing his own at 6,000m (19,700 ft) above sea level.

Well, for every reaction, there is usually an equal and opposite reaction. So, in this day of paying mondo moolah to relish some toil & hardship (sometimes known as detox, adventure, or “eco” travel), I’m predicting that the latest addition will be extreme or high-altitude soccer holiday packages. Word. You heard it here first. Check it out: jet to beautiful places like South America, practice the fastest growing religion (aka soccer) at extreme altitudes, maybe even get a chance to hang out with peeps like El Presidente de Coca, Evo Morales? Sounds like a hot business plan to me! Shoot, I’d like to see all those “extreme athletes” out there put their money where their mouths are and kick us a goal or two at 20,000ft!

UPDATE:
BBC reports that Fifa has relaxed its ban on World Cup qualifiers being played at altitude, imposing a new limit of 3,000 metres. … The increase now allows Colombia to play in their capital Bogota (2,640m), and Ecuador to play in Quito (2,800m). Bolivia are still banned from playing in La Paz (3,650m), and Peru cannot stage internationals in Cuzco (3,400m). Fifa imposed the ban on medical grounds, and claimed high altitude provided an unfair home advantage. Fifa’s executive committee re-examined its controversial ban amid differing medical opinions on the effects of playing at altitude. Andean doctors on Conmebol’s medical panel insisted that it causes “no major problems” provided there has been a period of acclimatisation. Other medical experts claimed playing at elevation causes headaches, nausea, fatigue and insomnia.

Extreme soccer potential still holds.

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