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		FOOTBALL FEVER
	Olympic Football Appropriately, the world's most popular sport will be the first sport played in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, starting even before the Opening Ceremony. Football (or "soccer" as it is known in some parts of the world) begins early and will be the only sport played outside Sydney, with matches scheduled for Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra and Melbourne as well as the Host City. With 1.6 million tickets for sale, it is also expected to attract more spectators than any other. While the modern game of football started with the foundation of the Football Association of England in 1863, its roots extend to opposite ends of the earth. The ancient Chinese, Greeks and Romans played a similar game, long before English kings in the 1300s and 1400s were trying to outlaw the violent sport. In 1900, football and water polo became the first team sports included in the Olympic Games. In Sydney, therefore, the sport will be celebrating 100 years of Olympic football. Women's football was introduced at the 1996 Olympic Games, where the final attracted a world record crowd for a women's sporting event of 76,000 people. The competition In Sydney, the men's tournament is contested by 16 teams, and the women's by eight. While professionals are allowed in the men's tournament, rules restrict teams to players under 23 years old with the exception of three overage players. Australia qualifies automatically as host nation with the remaining 15 teams determined through regional competitions. The teams are divided into four pools for a round-robin preliminary tournament, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the quarterfinals. From here it is an elimination format that leads ultimately to the gold medal final, to be played at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday, 30 September 2000. The women's tournament, open to players at least 16 years old, will involve host Australia and the seven top-ranked finishers at the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup. The format resembles the men's, with a preliminary round-robin competition deciding which four teams advance to the semifinals. The final for the gold medal will be played at the Sydney Football Stadium on Thursday, 28 September 2000. The athletes Eastern bloc teams dominated Olympic football after World War II as professional football leagues drew away many players in Western countries. Since 1984, the competition has gradually opened up to professionals and the balance is shifting, with World Youth champions Spain, 1996 gold medallist Nigeria and perennial favourites Brazil, Argentina and Germany leading contenders for Sydney. The United States, as reigning Olympic champion, is favoured in the women's competition, ahead of China and 1995 World Cup winner Norway WE ARE ADDING MORE RESOURCES FOR YOU. YOU CAN ALSO CONTRIBUTE. PARTICIPATE AND WIN APPRECIATION WORLDWIDE. EMAIL US NOW. Editor

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