Football (Soccer)
Football was introduced as an exhibition sport in the 1900 and 1904 Olympics, and featured as the first team sport to be included in the Olympic Games. The sport has been part of every Olympic Games program since 1908, except in the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Football in Olympics was clearly dominated by the Europeans till 1992, when Spain became the last European team to win a gold medal. Women's football was introduced in the Olympics in 1996, with the USA winning the gold medal in both 1996 and 2004, but was beaten in the final by Norway in 2000.
The time for the Football competitions in 2008 Beijing Sumer Olympics Games has been slated as August 6-23, 2008. The venues will spread over five cities, namely Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Shenyang and Qinhuangdao. The football finals for men and women are scheduled to be held at Beijing where three venues located include the Workers' Stadium, the Olympic Sports Center Stadium and the National Stadium. The venues outside Beijing include Shanghai Stadium, Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium, Shenyang Olympic Sport Center Stadium, and Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium.
Some of the equipments for a football match are as follows:
- Ball -- made of leather or other suitable material
- Goalkeeper gloves - Help the goalkeeper in handling the ball
- Goal - Two upright posts at the center of each goal line, joined at the top by a horizontal crossbar (2.44m by 7.32m - 8yds by 8ft)
- Shin guards - protection guards
- Soccer boots - boots having studs or cleats across the sole
Football Matches can be played either on natural or artificial surfaces, according to the rules of the competition. The field of play must be rectangular, with the length of the touch line being greater than the length of the goal line.
The program of football in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics will feature Men's and Women's competitions. Flightshotelstours.com gives detailed information on Football and other 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics Sports.
