Canada vs Belize home game

[MikeD]

All you anti-FieldTurf naysayers can rest easy - I've just checked the regulations on the FIFA website and Canada will not be playing any home matches on FieldTurf.

Article 18, section 4 of the official 2006 World Cup regulations states that all matches are to be played on natural turf whenever possible. If a suitable natural turf stadium is not available, then matches can be played on artificial turf as long as the surface meets FIFA's technical standards and the host country receives FIFA's permission at least two months prior to the match.

Canada obviously has a few suitable natural turf venues, which means we would be ineligible to get FIFA's permission to play on FieldTurf even if the CSA wanted to.

I should point out that the Olympic Qualifying regulations allow any match to be played on FieldTurf with no restrictions other than that the surface must meet FIFA's technical standards. FIFA has obviously taken a step back from that for the World Cup but the door is still open a crack for FieldTurf (unlike the last World Cup, which completely banned artificial surfaces.) So the pro-FieldTurf faction can at least take comfort in the fact that FIFA is showing progress toward full acceptance of FieldTurf.

[Mimglow]

quote:Originally posted by beachesl

Great article Mimglow!!!! Did you get it from a time-travelling fly that overheard the converation between the CSA and Yallop in Vancouver that ended up in Cheetah's trashcan before blowing further east to the

OttawaMontreal sweat/snowbelt?

Speaking of the axis of evil, no way they are going to have an important cosmos-effecting event on turf, no matter what it's called, plays like or looks like, or how much anybody get's into Cheetah's stash. FIFA and CONCACAF may be insensitive louts, but they aint gonna risk such a debacle, even if it is much noise signifying nothing. Hmmm, good wine for Africa!

As it turns out, I wrote the article AFTER drinking too much African wine! [8D]

[Mimglow]

Just for kicks I've already updated the Voyageurs Men's International Pool. Hopefully we get a few matches before the ones I posted?

http://members.rogers.com/mimglow/Voyageurs%20Start%20Page.htm

[Andrew W]

quote:Originally posted by Mimglow

As it turns out, I wrote the article AFTER drinking too much African wine! [8D]

You can never drink too much African wine! [xx(]

[SABuffalo786]

Lucky bastards.

We have to invade, er........travel to Grenada, or less likely Guyana. I heard Georgetown is a dump.

[SABuffalo786]

Geez, talk about football in paradise.

[SABuffalo786]

You poor things. Look what hell you'll have to go through.

[SABuffalo786]

[SABuffalo786]

[Daniel]

I think CCR wouldn't be such a great idea.

It's a third-rate facility with the crowd being really far away from the pitch and it usually has long-ass grass. That and it wouldn't have the pull that a game at Molson Stadium would have. I mean, who wants to see Belize??? And it's not like there's a legion of Canada men's fans in these parts to drum up interest in such anordinary facility. Then again, how would we know? We haven't gotten a game in... 9 YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[domdick]

What about that stadium where they had the Heritage Hockey Classic, that stadium looked quite good. (As long as they don't play the game when it is -20 degrees that is), so the players don't have to wear Jose Theodore style woolly hats.

[Mimglow]

quote:Originally posted by Daniel

I think CCR wouldn't be such a great idea.

It's a third-rate facility with the crowd being really far away from the pitch and it usually has long-ass grass. That and it wouldn't have the pull that a game at Molson Stadium would have. I mean, who wants to see Belize??? And it's not like there's a legion of Canada men's fans in these parts to drum up interest in such anordinary facility. Then again, how would we know? We haven't gotten a game in... 9 YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then make it a double-header with the Impact!!! Is the 2004 schedule out yet? I'm sure something can be worked out. Like re-schedule one of the Lynx-Impact matches for the day of the Canada-Bélize match.

[Vancouver Fan]

quote:Originally posted by SABuffalo786

When I told my fiance that Canadas first qualifying game would be in Belize she got this big smile and said she'd go to this road trip.I told to her that it would be better to wait until the 2nd round to make a road trip when the games become tougher and more meaningful.I didin't get quite the same support when I told her the possible teams for the next round.

For those of us who have significant others that frown at the prospect of losing their husbands and boyfriends to the t.v. at World Cup time what better way to keep the relationships going strong than with a trip to Belize in June.

[Gordon]

quote:Originally posted by Vancouver Fan

For those of us who have significant others that frown at the prospect of losing their husbands and boyfriends to the t.v. at World Cup time what better way to keep the relationships going strong than with a trip to Belize in June.

BY some good fortune, the family had been planning a trip (Monkey watching) to Costa Rica. With any luck, we'll be able to work it around a game. Wanted to do it in February of 2005, so that may be a problem. Is the hex on then?

[Alex M]

The game will be played in the city with the highest population of Belizians(?) as to maximize ticket sales.

As for field turf, it's as natural to soccer as diving or fans dying. People used to say the same thing about baseball and football but it's been widely accepted since. This will be no different.

Alex

[Mimglow]

quote:Originally posted by Alex M

The game will be played in the city with the highest population of Belizians(?) as to maximize ticket sales.

As for field turf, it's as natural to soccer as diving or fans dying. People used to say the same thing about baseball and football but it's been widely accepted since. This will be no different.

Alex

Come on Alex, take the rose-tinted glasses off! [8D]

[matthew]

Without wanting to get too far ahead of ourselves. What do people think will be the semifinal round venue(s)?

I think Costa Rica and Hondruas will require big venues and I think Commonwealth is the only place that fits the bill. Does anyone think it's possible all three will wind up there? and if not who else is up for consideration? Victoria, Vancouver, Montreal and Winnipeg?

I think they'll put the Belize match out east just for the simple reason that I don't think we'll see this game in Winnipeg or in BC. Or in Saskatoon for that matter. I think somewhere in Atlantic Canada would offer a passionate pro-Canada crowd that would fill 7-10,000 seats.

As for a trip to Belize, well it's tempting, but it's going to be expensive enough to get to the home matches in 03 and since we get the first leg at home (I sincerely hope) there won't be much drama left in the Belize leg.

cheers,

matthew

[matthew]

I've been doing some reading on Belize. Their league, the Belize Premier Football League withdrew from the Football Federation of Belize. Which begs the question where are the best players playing? In the BPFL or in the FFB's 'A' Championship? There's an article about BOCA (Best of Central America) playing Costa Rican giants Alajuelense in the CONCACAF Champions Cup qualifiers and the article basically explains who the hell BOCA is, since no one had ever heard of them.

This might explain in part why Belize hasn't played recently and if all of the best Belizean players are playing in an outlaw league that is in conflict with their own federation that has to be a good thing. For once our opponents domestic scene is in way more of a shambles than ours is.

cheers,

matthew

[The Coach]

Belize

Former name : British Honduras

Gained independence : 1981

Population : 266,440

Official language : English

FIFA ranking : 174

Here's the biggest stadiums they have so no big crowd is expected.

City, Stadium, Capacity</u>

Orange Walk, People's Stadium, 3000

Belize City, M.C.C., 2500

Benque Viejo, Estadio, 2000

Cayo S. Ignacio, Norman Broaster, 2000

[Daniel]

Surprised. The only CA country that has English as the official language!

[Mimglow]

More info, from the CIA website:

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/bh.html

Introduction Belize

Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize (formerly British Honduras) until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. The country remains plagued by high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug trade, and increased urban crime.

Geography Belize

Location:

Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico

Area:

total: 22,966 sq km

water: 160 sq km

land: 22,806 sq km

Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km

territorial sea: 12 NM in the north, 3 NM in the south; note - from the mouth of the Sarstoon River to Ranguana Cay, Belize's territorial sea is 3 NM; according to Belize's Maritime Areas Act, 1992, the purpose of this limitation is to provide a framework for the negotiation of a definitive agreement on territorial differences with Guatemala

tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May)

Terrain: flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m

Natural resources: arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower

Natural hazards: frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south)

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal

Geography - note:

only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean

People Belize

Population: 266,440 (July 2003 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 41.1% (male 55,880; female 53,706)

15-64 years: 55.3% (male 74,612; female 72,813)

65 years and over: 3.5% (male 4,571; female 4,858) (2003 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.9 years

male: 18.8 years

female: 19 years (2002)

Population growth rate:

2.44% (2003 est.)

Birth rate:

30.46 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate:

6.05 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female

total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 27.07 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 23.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male: 30.56 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 67.36 years

male: 65.19 years

female: 69.63 years (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.86 children born/woman (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 2,500 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: 300 (2001 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Belizean(s)

adjective: Belizean

Ethnic groups: mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7%

Religions: Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27% (Anglican 5.3%, Methodist 3.5%, Mennonite 4.1%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Pentecostal 7.4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%), none 9.4%, other 14% (2000)

Languages:

English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 94.1%

male: 94.1%

female: 94.1% (2003 est.)

Government Belize

conventional short form: Belize

former: British Honduras

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Belmopan

Administrative divisions:

6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo

Independence:

21 September 1981 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 21 September (1981)

Constitution:

21 September 1981

Legal system:

English law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG, Sr. (since 17 November 1993)

head of government: Prime Minister Said Wilbert MUSA (since 28 August 1998); Deputy Prime Minister John BRICENO (since 1 September 1998)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister

elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister

Legislative branch:

bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (12 members appointed by the governor general - six on the advice of the prime minister, three on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and one each on the advice of the Belize Council of Churches and Evangelical Association of Churches, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Belize Better Business Bureau, and the National Trade Union Congress and the Civil Society Steering Committee; members are appointed for five-year terms) and the House of Representatives (29 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections: House of Representatives - last held 5 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2008)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PUP 21, UDP 8

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister)

Political parties and leaders:

People's United Party or PUP [said MUSA]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Dean BARROW, party leader; Douglas SINGH, party chairman]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [Adele CATZIM]

International organization participation:

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Flag description:

blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom edges; centered is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms; the coat of arms features a shield flanked by two workers in front of a mahogany tree with the related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in the Shade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green garland

Economy Belize

Economy - overview:

In this small, essentially private enterprise economy the tourism industry is the number one foreign exchange earner followed by cane sugar, citrus, marine products, bananas, and garments. The government's expansionary monetary and fiscal policies, initiated in September 1998, led to GDP growth of 6.5% in 1999, 10.8% in 2000, 4.6% in 2001, and 3.7% in 2002. Major concerns continue to be the sizable trade deficit and foreign debt. A key short-term objective remains the reduction of poverty with the help of international donors.

GDP:

purchasing power parity - $1.28 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.7% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $4,900 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 18%

industry: 24%

services: 58% (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:

33% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.9% (2002 est.)

Labor force:

90,000

note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 27%, industry 18%, services 55% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate:

9.1% (2002)

Budget:

revenues: $224 million

expenditures: $209 million, including capital expenditures of $70 million (2002 est.)

Industries:

garment production, food processing, tourism, construction

Industrial production growth rate:

4.6% (1999)

Electricity - production:

199.5 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 59.9%

hydro: 40.1%

other: 0% (2001)

nuclear: 0%

Agriculture - products:

bananas, coca, citrus, sugar; fish, cultured shrimp; lumber; garments

Exports:

$290 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:

sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood

Exports - partners:

US 53.8%, UK 23.0%, Caricom 6.4%, Mexico 1.0% (2001)

Imports:

$430 million c.i.f. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages, tobacco

Imports - partners:

US 47.2%, Mexico 11.2%, Central America 5.0%, UK 2.7% (2001)

Debt - external:

$475 million (2001 est.)

Currency: Belizean dollar (BZD)

Exchange rates: Belizean dollars per US dollar - 2 (2002), 2 (2001), 2 (2000), 2 (1999), 2 (1998)

Communications Belize

Telephones - main lines in use:

31,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

3,023 (1997)

Telephone system:

general assessment: above-average system

domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay

international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (1997)

Internet country code:

.bz

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

18,000 (2002)

Transportation Belize

Railways:

0 km

Highways:

total: 2,880 km

paved: 490 km

unpaved: 2,390 km (1998 est.)

Waterways:

825 km (river network used by shallow-draft craft; seasonally navigable)

Ports and harbors:

Belize City, Big Creek, Corozol, Punta Gorda

Merchant marine:

total: 292 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,030,141 GRT/1,499,777 DWT

ships by type: bulk 15, cargo 200, chemical tanker 7, combination ore/oil 1, container 12, petroleum tanker 31, refrigerated cargo 18, roll on/roll off 5, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 1

note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Albania 2, Belgium 3, British Virgin Islands 6, Cambodia 1, China 38, Cyprus 1, Ecuador 1, Egypt 1, Equatorial Guinea 1, Eritrea 1, Estonia 7, Germany 3, Greece 4, Grenada 1, Honduras 1, Hong Kong 20, Indonesia 6, Italy 2, Japan 4, Jordan 1, Lebanon 1, Liberia 5, Malaysia 3, Malta 2, Man, Isle of 1, Marshall Islands 13, Mexico 1, Netherlands 1, Nigeria 1, Panama 12, Philippines 4, Portugal 1, Romania 1, Russia 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Saudi Arabia 1, Singapore 22, South Korea 10, Spain 4, Switzerland 1, Taiwan 1, Thailand 6, Tunisia 1, Turkey 1, Ukraine 3, United Arab Emirates 9, United Kingdom 2, United States 4, Virgin Islands (UK) 6, Yemen 1 (2002 est.)

Airports:

42 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 4

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 2 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 38

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 10

under 914 m: 27 (2002)

Military Belize

Military branches:

Belize Defense Force (includes Army, Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and Volunteer Guard)

Military manpower - military age:

18 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - availability:

males age 15-49: 66,332 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:

males age 15-49: 39,337 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:

males: 3,046 (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$7.7 million (FY00/01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.87% (FY00/01)

Transnational Issues Belize

Disputes - international:

Guatemala has claimed half of southern Belize; Guatemalan squatters continue to settle along the border despite a 2000 agreement; OAS brokered a Differendum in 2002 that created a small adjustment to land boundary, a large Guatemalan maritime corridor in the Caribbean, a joint ecological park for disputed Sapodilla Cays, and a substantial US-UK financial package, but agreement was not brought to a popular referendum

Illicit drugs:

major transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; some money-laundering activity related to offshore sector

[Cheeta]

quote:Originally posted by Gordon

BY some good fortune, the family had been planning a trip (Monkey watching) to Costa Rica.

Oh come on!

Is this bait? Is that what this is?

Monkey spotting family trip to Costa Rica in 2005?

Do you realize the will power I'm exerting here by letting that one mostly go? You're killing me, man!

Ah, what the hell. Maybe just one;)

Monkey spotting on the family trip to Costa Rica in 2005, Monkey spanking on the business trip to Bangkok in 2003!

Buddy, you're more hung up on apes than the Bare Naked Ladies.

[mtlfan]

Ottawa will get the Belize game.

[JayWay]

Haha. What's the CIA say about Etobicoke?

quote:Originally posted by Mimglow

More info, from the CIA website:

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/bh.html

Introduction Belize

Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize (formerly British Honduras) until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. The country remains plagued by high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug trade, and increased urban crime.

...

scale illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; some money-laundering activity related to offshore sector

[Gordon]

quote:Originally posted by Cheeta

Oh come on!

Is this bait? Is that what this is?

Monkey spotting family trip to Costa Rica in 2005?

Do you realize the will power I'm exerting here by letting that one mostly go? You're killing me, man!

Ah, what the hell. Maybe just one;)

Monkey spotting on the family trip to Costa Rica in 2005, Monkey spanking on the business trip to Bangkok in 2003!

Buddy, you're more hung up on apes than the Bare Naked Ladies.

Bold words from a guy who calls himself Cheeta Johnny Weissmuller would be proud!

What can I say? I got a kid who is nuts about Monkeys. Never been to Bangkok, but I hear it make the tough guys crumble.