Sunday 2 October 2011

WEEK 2 - PART II

Week 2 of the FIFA Master program rounded off with a field visit to 'Rugby School'. Fascinating to learn the origins of the game and various 'myths and legends' that keep historians happy. To have the very school at which he attended state that there is no real evidence William Webb Ellis ever 'picked up the ball and ran with it' was very interesting. The school itself was an exact replica of Harry Potter's 'Hogwarts' with similar architecture/decor etc. Watched a couple of pupils play 'racquetball' (another form of squash) where they hit a tiny wooden ball against a wall.  With the accuracy and power they hit it with, you wouldn't want to cop one in the eye (at which point our tour guide explained he had been hit in the stomach and hasn't been the same since).

This week, 5 classmates and I also took the opportunity to visit Emirates Stadium to watch Arsenal vs Olympiakos in the Champions League group stage.  Would have to be one of the best stadiums I've ever visited (every single seat is padded!) and even though we were quite high up, we still felt almost on the sideline as the angle of seats is such that it's nearly a sheer drop! Arsenal won 2-1 in a very entertaining game.

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