The World Cup Syndrome
Some like to call it "The World Cup Fever" and some call it "The World Cup Mania". And whatever else you like to call it, it all boils down to the same thing.
It involves a wide range of symtpoms, varying from person to person, from time to time, from game to game and from country to country.
The major factor in play here is a soccer ball (pic below).
The ball is kicked around a field, the details of which are shown in the picture below.
The game is played every four years, and this year is currently being played in Germany, in the following cities - Berlin, Hamburg, Hannover, Gelsenkirchen, Dortmund, Leipzig, Koln (Cologne), Frankfurt, Kaiserslautern, Nuremberg, Stuttgart and Munich.
There are 32 countries taking part this year - Angola, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ivory Coast, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Iran, Italy, Japan, Korea, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Netherlands, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Serbia and Montenegro, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Ukraine and United States of America.
Each game is between two teams, each consisting of eleven players (thats 22 players and a referee on the field at a time. The aim of the game is to get the ball into the opponent's goal, and prevent it from going into your own. All this fuss and hassle to win the "Fifa World Cup".
The World Cup Syndrome however, does not affect the players but rather the audience, who watch the matches. The event lasts for a whole month, and the same for the syndrome. For some the syndrome may last for over a month, sorta like a hangover.
The symptoms, as I mentioned vary from person to person. The term 'fever' is usually a misnomer, because rarely does anyone actually experience a rise in temperature. The most common symtpom is tachycardia and palpitations (an increase in heart rate). Sweating is a common phenomenon. There are also a wide range of mental symptoms including euphoria, depression, frustration, anger and sudden mood swings. The mental symptoms may last even after the one month long games are over. That 'hangover' usually comprises of either euphoria and light-headedness, or depression and frustration. Insomnia is another commonly observed symptom, sometimes due to nightmares and sometimes of unknown cause. Some patients were known to complain of incoherent speech, inability to concentrate, and lack of performance at work place. Rarely, there are patients who complain of an exacerbation in their allergies.
Some patients have been found to have an increased tendency to lie, act and exaggerate. Most common lies being, back ache or pain in the back and the patient usually enters the clinic with an exaggerated stoop, and hand on his back, claiming that he is unable to stand up straight and perform well at work. There is always the 'fall' excuse. Falling from stairs, from table tops, from side-walks, from work places, construction sites, etc is very common. These patients usually enter the clinic limping or accompanied by two other partners in crime.
Studies show that this one month shows an increase in the number of patients at hospitals, a majority of whom approach the doctor for a sick leave from work for a few days. The same patients are seen visiting another doctor a few days later. Requests for leave at work shoots to a maximum. In some cases, the boss himself/herself is on leave as well. Governments suffer great losses during this one month period.
After the month period, there has been found to be an increase in the number of patients visiting the ophthalmologist. All complaining of increased tearing, pain in the eye, and/or decreased or blurred vision.
No treatment has yet been found for this syndrome. However, symptomatic treamnet can be provided. Treatement of each symptom, one by one.
I have recently discovered that I suffer from a mild form of this disease. Get yourself checked right away!
P.S. Live Fifa score updates --> http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/
Live updated commentry Blog --> http://www.worldcupblog.org
It involves a wide range of symtpoms, varying from person to person, from time to time, from game to game and from country to country.
The major factor in play here is a soccer ball (pic below).
The ball is kicked around a field, the details of which are shown in the picture below.
The game is played every four years, and this year is currently being played in Germany, in the following cities - Berlin, Hamburg, Hannover, Gelsenkirchen, Dortmund, Leipzig, Koln (Cologne), Frankfurt, Kaiserslautern, Nuremberg, Stuttgart and Munich.
There are 32 countries taking part this year - Angola, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ivory Coast, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Iran, Italy, Japan, Korea, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Netherlands, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Serbia and Montenegro, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Ukraine and United States of America.
Each game is between two teams, each consisting of eleven players (thats 22 players and a referee on the field at a time. The aim of the game is to get the ball into the opponent's goal, and prevent it from going into your own. All this fuss and hassle to win the "Fifa World Cup".
The World Cup Syndrome however, does not affect the players but rather the audience, who watch the matches. The event lasts for a whole month, and the same for the syndrome. For some the syndrome may last for over a month, sorta like a hangover.
The symptoms, as I mentioned vary from person to person. The term 'fever' is usually a misnomer, because rarely does anyone actually experience a rise in temperature. The most common symtpom is tachycardia and palpitations (an increase in heart rate). Sweating is a common phenomenon. There are also a wide range of mental symptoms including euphoria, depression, frustration, anger and sudden mood swings. The mental symptoms may last even after the one month long games are over. That 'hangover' usually comprises of either euphoria and light-headedness, or depression and frustration. Insomnia is another commonly observed symptom, sometimes due to nightmares and sometimes of unknown cause. Some patients were known to complain of incoherent speech, inability to concentrate, and lack of performance at work place. Rarely, there are patients who complain of an exacerbation in their allergies.
Some patients have been found to have an increased tendency to lie, act and exaggerate. Most common lies being, back ache or pain in the back and the patient usually enters the clinic with an exaggerated stoop, and hand on his back, claiming that he is unable to stand up straight and perform well at work. There is always the 'fall' excuse. Falling from stairs, from table tops, from side-walks, from work places, construction sites, etc is very common. These patients usually enter the clinic limping or accompanied by two other partners in crime.
Studies show that this one month shows an increase in the number of patients at hospitals, a majority of whom approach the doctor for a sick leave from work for a few days. The same patients are seen visiting another doctor a few days later. Requests for leave at work shoots to a maximum. In some cases, the boss himself/herself is on leave as well. Governments suffer great losses during this one month period.
After the month period, there has been found to be an increase in the number of patients visiting the ophthalmologist. All complaining of increased tearing, pain in the eye, and/or decreased or blurred vision.
No treatment has yet been found for this syndrome. However, symptomatic treamnet can be provided. Treatement of each symptom, one by one.
I have recently discovered that I suffer from a mild form of this disease. Get yourself checked right away!
P.S. Live Fifa score updates --> http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/
Live updated commentry Blog --> http://www.worldcupblog.org
posted by Blue Rose @ 3:11 PM
2 Comments:
At Thursday, June 15, 2006 8:43:00 PM,
DarkoV said…
Fine summary of the finest game. Little light on the sarcasm, which is a good thing since you want to recruit more to the football cause.
Thanks for the head's up link to the Ecuador Goal Mask. Wonder if I buy the Ecuador kit if the mask comes with it?
At Friday, June 16, 2006 10:21:00 PM,
Boogie Shoes said…
lol Great description of the malady my friends and I are suffering in varying degrees this month...
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