497 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

I think it’s just because there are a lot more countries in the world than there were in say, 1960. Like Czechia, only recently invented. And Puerto Rico, it’s a country now. Like Vatican City. And Greenland, that has a strong team.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 16 June 2022 - 04:39 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

This will also be the first year that Holland, Netherlands plus the Dutch will all be there. So that’s several extra teams right there. All wearing orange.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 16 June 2022 - 04:49 PM.

[AllseeingEye]

Even FIFA officials quietly admit one of the drivers for the expanded format in 2026 was - any guesses? - $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

 

FIFA admitted at the time that it expects ¬ $1 billion increase in television, sponsorship and ticketing revenue in the first cycle alone. The other main reason was politics, as an expanded tournament is sure to be popular in the vote-rich footie confederations of Africa and Asia that serve as any FIFA president’s power base. Haven't looked at BMO's capacity but I'm sure the city of Tronna is going to have to expand it as FIFA 'suggests' (requires) stadiums seat no fewer than 40,000 spectators and I know BMO as currently configured does not.....

[Victoria Watcher]

Yes, I think it was expanded to include some countries with poor teams but large audiences.

[Victoria Watcher]

The Island’s chances of ­hosting pre-World Cup soccer training camps and exhibition games in 2026 were boosted immensely by both B.C. Place in Vancouver and Lumen Field in Seattle being named Thursday among the 16 venues that will host games.

“We will absolutely and vigorously be pursuing the opportunity to have teams come here,” said Keith Wells, executive director of the Greater Victoria Sport Tourism Commission.

“There is going to be a real push to have teams set up here. We have a good relationship with Canada Soccer.”


https://www.timescol...or-role-5489179

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 17 June 2022 - 04:05 AM.

[Sparky]

The problem with having a bunch of people coming here to participate and enjoy the soccer experience is that some of them won’t go home.

[lanforod]

^ being so anti-immigration is very un-Canadian. I know its a relatively new stance for you but we aren't Japan. Better that we adjust to immigration rather than the other way around IMO. Part of what makes this such a great country is the diversity.

[Victoria Watcher]

What about the diversity makes it great?

[Sparky]

I’m ok with diversity, but we need to increase our infrastructure to accommodate the increase in population.

Housing and medical needs are at the top of the list.

[lanforod]

I call these 1st world problems. Sometimes folks need perspective and should go do some significant travel in the poorer parts of the world to see where our immigrants are coming from and the problems they deal with. then realize the housing and medical needs we have here are... weaksauce by comparison. 

 

Not saying we don't need to deal with those issues, but slamming the door is not the solution.

[Victoria Watcher]

How is giving entry to a very select few from lesser countries helping the vast numbers of people they leave behind in their respective countries?

Africa alone is going to go from 1.4 billion now to about 2.5 billion by 2050. So their population INCREASE will be about 30x Canada’s current population. Or 3X the US population.

How does letting Africans into our country help their issues?

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 17 June 2022 - 02:46 PM.

[LJ]

If we take the brightest and best immigrants, we are doing a disservice to the countries they leave.

 

Better show them how to make things better in their own countries, for all their people.

[Mike K.]

Nobody has the time or resources to deal with the problems in those countries in a meaningful way, without a complete overhaul that will be bloody and ruinous, and even then perhaps not successful.

It’s better, perhaps, if we accommodate those able to leave their homelands, in our society.

[Victoria Watcher]

Nobody has the time or resources to deal with the problems in those countries in a meaningful way, without a complete overhaul that will be bloody and ruinous, and even then perhaps not successful.

It’s better, perhaps, if we accommodate those able to leave their homelands, in our society.

 

What would prevent our society becoming more like theirs then?  See: California.

 

As per my notes above, the West cannot accommodate Africa.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 18 June 2022 - 07:24 AM.

[Mike K.]

What would prevent our society becoming more like theirs then? See: California.

As per my notes above, the West cannot accommodate Africa.

Our society, the product of every nation on earth?

British law, Chinese labour, Eastern European farming, American popular culture, a French language, Indo labour, Arabic numbers…

[Victoria Watcher]

Here is the democracy pap.   There are of course much older nations that are not exactly democracies now.  Including the most ancient of civilizations (Fertile Crescent, Far East, South America).  No guarantees we stay the way we are, especially if you want to expand Canada by 30x to take in half of Africa.

 

 

 

 

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 18 June 2022 - 07:53 AM.

[Mike K.]

Homemade ego looks to me like a bigger threat to democracy than immigration.

All we need in this region are just a few more teenagers on council.

[Victoria Watcher]

^ those are eastern times.

[Victoria Watcher]

The men’s national soccer team, which doesn’t have a contract agreement just two months before the World Cup begins in Qatar, is waiting for Canada Soccer to respond to an offer made nearly a month ago, two sources familiar with the matter told TSN.

 

Representatives for the players proposed on Aug. 25 that the men’s and women’s national teams share equally in an 80 per cent stake of the $10 million (U.S.) prize money Canada Soccer is to receive for the men’s team qualifying for this year’s World Cup, the sources said.

 

 

 

https://www.tsn.ca/r...s-say-1.1851271

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 21 September 2022 - 06:40 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

British Columbians who plan to stay up late — or wake up early — to watch the 2022 FIFA World Cup will be able to cheer on Team Canada from their local bar, pub or restaurant.

The B.C. government announced it would temporarily permit venues to extend their operating hours so people can watch the men’s national soccer team compete live in Qatar.

_________

“In recognition of this, liquor primary establishments can extend their hours so soccer fans can support their team in a positive way with other fans, while also supporting the economic recovery of the hospitality sector coming out of the pandemic.”

Patrons won’t be able to drink liquor outside of regular service hours, but bars can remain open to serve non-alcohol beverages.


https://www.cheknews...ld-cup-1110848/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 31 October 2022 - 03:44 PM.