SAO PAULO Aug 13 (Reuters) – Adidas has announced the short
list of potential names for the 2014 World Cup ball and are
asking fans to vote for their preferred candidate of
quintessential Brazilian choices.
The three names are Portuguese words and all are feminine,
conforming to the Brazilian stereotype of the ball as a woman,
to be caressed and cared for.
One of the finalists is Carnavalesca, a word describing
someone who plans or participates in the country’s raucous
carnival celebrations.
Another is Bossa Nova, a reference to the famous samba-jazz
music genre popularised in Rio de Janeiro in the late 1950s and
1960s.
Finally Brazuca, which is a playful slang word for native
Brazilians that Adidas said summed up the country’s irreverence.
The sporting goods firm, a World Cup sponsor, is giving fans
the chance to vote for one of the options on its Brazilian Web
page at www.adidas.com.br/nome-da-bola-2014.
The concept of naming the World Cup ball began in Mexico in
1970 with the Telstar. Among the more memorable balls in the
years since were the Tango in Argentina in 1978, the Azteca in
Mexico in 1986 and the Jabulani in South Africa in 2010.
Romario, the 1994 World Cup winner turned Congressman who
has previously criticised Brazil’s preparations, expressed
surprise at the absence of Gorduchinha, a word that means little
chubby.
Adidas said voting closes on Sept. 2.
(Reporting by Andrew Downie; Editing by Todd Benson)
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