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SPORTS JUNE 4, 2014 | 67

Excitement

Builds as World

Cup Approaches

By COLIN SELLWOOD

It’s the biggest sporting event on the planet, and
the USA men’s team has a chance to win it all, although
Las Vegas is willing to bet 160-1 against that happen-

ing. The 2014 Soccer World Cup will begin June 12
with huge fanfare and the steady beat of samba drums,
and the tension will grow daily until it reaches the cre-
scendo on July 13. Life in America will likely continue
almost as usual, but that won’t be the case around the
rest of the world. Streets and shops from Australia to
Uruguay will be empty and productivity will plum-
met, while upwards of 3 billion people gather each day

around televisions, radios and giant public screens to
watch the drama of the World Cup as it unfolds.
Just like the Summer Olympics, the World Cup
takes place every fourth year, but any similarity stops Tess Johnstone, left, and Hannah Brengle compete for a ball during the Three Blind Refs soccer tournament at Kidsports Complex.
right there. The World Cup is watched by ive times as
many people as the Olympics, and with much greater GREG LINDSTROM | FLATHEAD BEACON
passion. Also, the 32 inalist nations, including Team SOCCER
“Whether they know it or not, they are playing

USA, irst had to win their way through a series of play- international friendlies. It’s really neat. This is real- Continued from back page
ofs to qualify for the inal stage. Those playofs began ly an opportunity to see what they play like in Can- S
back in June 2011 with 207 national teams split into six ada or other states. It’s good for them,” Bob Swan,
geographic groups around the world; three years and a longtime ref, said of the kids’ opportunity to play eventeen hours. That’s how long a team of
820 games later, those 207 nations are now down to 31. unfamiliar teams from Canada and elsewhere.
players and parents from Winnipeg in south-
Those 31, along with host nation Brazil, will play a total When the irst Three Blind Refs tournament was east Manitoba, Canada, drove to attend the
of 64 matches in 12 cities across four time zones until held more than 20 years ago, it took place at the four Three Blind Refs soccer tournament in Ka-
one earns the right to wear the crown of world champi- ields near the city airport, referred to as the “Sewer lispell last weekend. In perspective, the 968-mile

on for the next four years. Yes, it will take place in Bra- Fields” for their proximity to the sewage treatment trek would be the equivalent of a local team travel-
zil, that huge expanse of Amazon jungle, jaguars and plant. Two other ields at Evergreen Junior High ing to Las Vegas.
beaches up on the northeast shoulder of South Ameri- were also used.
All for two memorable days of youth soccer.
ca, and the home of jogo bonito, the “beautiful game.” There were 35 teams at the inaugural event; last In the past 21 years, the Three Blind Refs tour-
And, of course, it’s also home of one Edson Arantes do weekend had 65 teams just from Canada.
nament at the Kidsports Complex has grown from
Nascimento, also known as Pele and regarded by many In the late 1990s, the City of Kalispell began de- a small local gathering into an esteemed and mag-
experts as the greatest soccer player of all time.
veloping an expansive hub for youth recreation on netic event, attracting teams from across the west-
As a caution to the national teams from Europe, the empty school trust land north of town. Today ern U.S. and Canada.

Africa, Asia, North America and Oceana, it should be Kidsports Complex is truly a regional destination, This year’s two-day jamboree drew 165 teams
remembered that all four World Cup inals previously as last weekend’s event illustrated. The 138-acre and nearly 2,500 players, the most ever. That makes
held in South America were won by South American site frequently hosts football, baseball and soccer it one of the largest youth soccer tournaments — if
teams. This time around, Brazil is favored to add the events, among much more. In late July, the complex not the largest — in the U.S. (The annual Kohl’s US
trophy to their three previous titles, although their will host its most prominent event to date, the Cal Youth Soccer American Cup in Texas calls itself the
much-feared neighbor, Argentina, will also be there, Ripkin 12U Northwest Regional Tournament.
largest; it frequently features 1,200 players.)
along with current world champion, Spain, and peren- On any given day in the summer, an average of More than 300 games were played both Saturday

nially strong Germany. Also included in the mix are a 5,350 people use the ields during the week and an- and Sunday atop 23 ields, including seven ields in
couple of powerful African nations, and there is usual- other 5,000 on the weekend, according to a survey Whiteish and two at Glacier High School this year
ly a dark horse or two – that ones that peak at the right the organization conducted in late 2010.
to accommodate the record size.
time and come up along the rails to surprise everyone. “It’s a major economic boost at this time when “I’m totally amazed,” said Rob Riley, the tourna-
This time, American is sending our best team ever and nothing else is really going on and the tourists ment director the last 15 years who works with the
we just might turn into one of those dark horses. Un- haven’t starting coming through yet,” Riley said of Flathead Soccer Club, the organization that hosts
fortunately we’ve been placed in one of the “Groups of Kidsports.
the event.
Death” with Germany, Ghana and Portugal, and the He added, looking out at the green pasture of the The tournament featured recreational action for

latter includes the 2014 World Player of the year, Chris- complex, “These are the nicest ields in the state.
boys and girls of all ages and abilities, from begin-
tiano Ronaldo.
ners to skilled teenagers. Dozens of local volunteers They truly are.”
Yes, the 32 nations are separated into eight groups helped out and 120 referees went to work, sometimes [email protected]
of four, and each nation will play against the other overseeing ive separate matches each day.
three in their group, gaining three points for each win,
one point for a tie and zero for a loss. After the round-
robins have been completed, the bottom two nations in “WHETHER THEY KNOW IT OR NOT, THEY ARE PLAYING

each group will go home to varying degrees of sympa- INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES. IT’S REALLY NEAT. THIS IS
thy or acrimony, while the top two will move on to the
single elimination round of 16 and, if successful there,
then on to the quarter inals.
REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT THEY PLAY LIKE IN
Despite pessimism from Las Vegas, the young
American team just might surprise the rest of the CANADA OR OTHER STATES. IT’S GOOD FOR THEM.”
world.
Colin Sellwood of Whiteish will be writing periodic
Bob Swan, longtime referee
updates about the World Cup as the global sporting event
kicks of. Questions? Email [email protected]