IT Meets the World Cup

daria42 writes "Looks as if there are some mad soccer fans at ZDNet ... they have compiled a guide to some of the IT systems behind the soccer World Cup. 'What does it take to design, build and operate an advanced, fault-tolerant IP network while the whole world watches?' one of the articles asks. Another looks at how broadcasters have beefed up their infrastructure as they prepare for an influx of fans desperate for information, while another looks at one of the upcoming matches: FIFA vs. Hackers."

FIFA live cast

[jsse]

In China, most of them don't pay for watching FIFA.

Don't blame them for pirating your content. They should really taking their standard of living when charging them the royalty. What RMB150 per month for FIFA watching? Fuck, some of them just earn less than RMB500 per month.

Life finds its way. You charge them what majority can't afford, majority looks for something free [pplive.com]

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Damn US-centric website

[Roadmaster]

in most of the world, the World Cup is (dare I say it) more important than any other sporting event (yes, even the olympic games). It'd do good to US citizens to dig out of the hole and stop pretending; while you're at it you might as well start ditching the imperial measuring system. And yes, in most of the rest of the world, interesting matches are broadcast for free. lol!

Re:Don't mention the World Cup

[$RANDOMLUSER]

Why? It's more "World" than the "World Series".

laugh if you will...

[preppypoof]

soccer is still not a widely accepted sport in the US, so while you laugh at what a "stupid" sport soccer is, the rest of the world is laughing at us for not supporting what could be a World Cup Championship calibur team this quatrain. when a foreign country wins the World Cup, there is literally partying and dancing in the streets, but sadly, that would not be the case should the US take the cup.

Re:Soccer?

[StonePiano]

Actually, in English, it is called 'football'. That was the point of starting this 'Soccer?' thread.

Now, Americans have a game they play with their hands, which they call, 'football'. I really enjoy American football (or grid-iron as we sometimes call it). It is more of a turn-based strategic game with complex rules and all the physicality of a train-crash. I like it.

But football is a free-flowing game. It has a simplicity and a beauty that gives it unparalleled status as an international team sport.

I for one am pleased to see the American team in the World Cup. They are improving and genuinely competing on the international scene nowadays.

It probably does more for US/international relations than most diplomatic efforts.

Re:Why football (soccer) isn't more popular in N.A

[Carewolf]

So it's great when it happens a 100 times in a game?..

The excitement will take no end at the 101th time someone scores... yeaaaaayy

I'll tell you why...

[citizenklaw]

Advertising. Plain and simple.

Soccer does not stop for anything. There's no stopping for injuries, time-outs for strategies, etc. Soccer is the most dynamic sport on the planet, period. I really admire those guys spending 90 minutes running and doing stuff. I think that Soccer, as a TV spectator sport, has not catched on major networks because advertisers here in the US do not like it. There's no place for 30 second ads! Gasp! Egads! There's no place for gimmicky Super Bowl ads!

I really like Soccer, on TV and on the flesh. I really hope that the US team goes far this time, even though I'm rooting for other teams. That's the only way US spectators will notice and learn what the rest of the planet knows. Soccer RULES!

Re:Why football (soccer) isn't more popular in N.A

[tumbleweedsi]

I am probably going to get modded troll by every north american here but this needs to be said. Football, or "soccer" as you so quaintly call it does not lack the strategy of american games however it does lack the 30 second break every two or three seconds so the teams can take a breather and the TV pundits can explain what just happened. Hockey is, and always will be, much more interesting when it is played by 18 year old girls rather than burley frat boys in pads and american "football" is an enigma: as Giles from Buffy said once, I have never understood why a nation which prides itself on its virility has to put on 40lbs of protective clothing just to play rugby. Football (not the american sort) has been labelled "the beautiful game" throughout the world because of the grace and skill needed to play it at a high level. The game has a true World Cup in which countries come together and compete on a level field... you do not need to be an american college frat boy to get into the team and some of the best players in the world have come from the poorest parts of the world. If you have not developed a love for fast paced games then it is likely you have not taken the time to understand how they are played and never felt the rush of watching your team win from a losing position.

Re:Soccer is a boring sport that kids play...

[nicklott]

"A cumulative total of 30 billion viewers tuned into the FIFA World Cup 2002, of which one billion watched the Brazil-Germany final alone."

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=57 4061 [google.com]

Re:Damn US-centric website

[Spectra72]

Why is America the only country that has to defend having sports other than soccer take center stage?

Do people get their panties in a twist over Canada liking hockey more? Is it a deep rooted Canadian need to be unique and dominant? Does the fact that they also embrace a version of football that is not soccer piss the world off?

Australians and New Zealanders like Aussie Rules Football or Rugby more. Why is that?

India and Pakistan love their cricket. Any deep seeded psychological reasons the world would like to debate over that?

China? What's their problem?

The two most populous nations in the world and seven of the top 10 have no representation in Germany this World Cup and people say Americans have issues.

Re:Soccer?

[drsmithy]

Actually, in English, it is called 'football'. That was the point of starting this 'Soccer?' thread.

There are many places in the world that use "soccer", not "football". Here in Australia, for example, where there are several other established codes of "football", "soccer" is by far the most common (and more importantly, least confusing) name.

Saying "football" to a random Australian - depending upon which part of the country you're in and which part of the country (or world) the person you're talking to is from - could result in a conversation about any one of four quite different (well, only three of them qualify as "quite different) sports.

It is more of a turn-based strategic game with complex rules and all the physicality of a train-crash. I like it.

If you like American Football and Soccer, then Rugby Union is probably your dream sport. Most of the athleticism, dynamic and constant play of soccer, all of the body-crunching violence (plus interest) of American Football (only without the body armour)

But football is a free-flowing game. It has a simplicity and a beauty that gives it unparalleled status as an international team sport.

You cannot truly appreciate the fitness and incredible (and unmatched, IMHO) amount of whole-body co-ordination required to play soccer at a high level unless you've actually played the game competitively, IMHO.

The real beauty of soccer - and the main reason behind its popularity - is that it scales all the way from a couple of kids kicking a dead dog's head around all the way up to an epic spectacle like the World Cup. You can play it anywhere, even with people who have never touched a ball before - yet players at the top level regularly perform feats with a ball the typical - even the above average - person couldn't even dream of replicating. Soccer is incredibly easy to just pick up, but simultaneously incredibly difficult to play well.

Re:Damn US-centric website

[Roadmaster]

So what you're saying is that you prefer the game that's good for the tv company, the one where you get to enjoy the most advertisement... because, you know, you could switch channels...

Re:Damn US-centric website

[glesga_kiss]

I think it's the 2x45 minute playtimes. Makes it hard on TV companies to promote (less time for ads) and requires a lot of stamina for a casual player.

TV aside, you're wrong there. Ever heard of the phrase "jumpers for goalposts"? Perhaps not, it may be a UK-only thing. Anyhow, soccer is one of the most accessible sports out there. All you need is a ball and something to mark the goals, which is more than enough for kids to develop a lasting interest. Hell, a year or so ago some friends and I were on a country road in a minibus. The road was blocked a mile away due to an accident. We got the ball and had a kick-around in the field next to the road. Most of us were over 30 and many have kids.

On the other hand, some of us did play a little American Football when we were younger. I also played the Madden series a bit. Your football is way less accessible, there's far steeper learning curve. Watch soccer for five minutes and there isn't really much else to know. Of course, there's a lot more to it than that, tactics, formations, the "flow" of the game, but it's enjoyable even on a surface layer.