fbpx
Connect with us

Sports

Did You Know There’s A Balloon World Cup? The Champion Of The Event’s First Edition Won RM48k!

Published

ft balloon
Source: BBC

Follow us on Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest stories and updates daily.

More and more “unconventional” sports have started to gain traction in the mainstream with notable examples consisting of the inclusion of breakdancing for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as well as skateboarding in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

But did you know that a seemingly casual childhood game that we all used to play as kids, now has its own ‘world cup’? We’re talking about the times where you were at a party with balloons and you decided to take one of the balloons to start an impromptu game of “keepie uppie“.

The game often involving dramatic dives and saves can often get fiercely competitive as participants did their best to ensure that the balloon does not touch the floor. Ring a bell yet?

baloon keepy uppy

 

Well, that same game has just hosted its own World Cup, won by 18-year-old Francesco de la Cruz from Peru, after a thrilling final against Germany which was watched by a sellout crowd in Spain. What’s crazier is that there were also around eight million Twitch viewers online who tuned in to watch the competitors fiercely put their lives on the line to ensure that they do not drop the balloon.

According to the BBC, the Balloon World Cup was organised by Barcelona and former Spain centre-back Gerard Pique as well as Spanish internet celebrity Ibai Llanos. The inaugural tournament took place in Tarragona, Spain, on Thursday (21 October) on a 8m x 8m court, which had living room furniture and even a small car as obstacles. Teams from 32 countries took part.

The rules are simple: the balloon always has to be struck upwards and a point is won if it hits the floor. Matches last between two and five minutes and the player leading when the clock stops are the winner.

baloon

 

The tournament was allegedly inspired by a series of viral videos from the Arrendondo family from Oregon, United States, with siblings Antonio, Diego and Isabel playing the game during Covid-19 lockdown and posting their fun on TikTok.

According to the BBC, Antonio explained that “we played the game as kids, and then, during the start of quarantine for Covid, we wanted to play it again.”

Screenshot 431

 

“We started arguing with each other over if it hit the ground or not, so we started taking videos in slow-mo to see if it did, and then finally it got to the point of let’s post this video of us on TikTok,” he added.

“When I woke up the next morning it was completely viral, like a million likes, and then after that we just decided to keep playing and played more and more until one of our rounds got the attention of Ibai and Pique.”

Llanos then joked on Twitter back in August that the game should have it’s own World Cup, with Pique replying he would make it happen if Llanos’s tweet received more than 50k retweets. It got far more, and with a bit of marketing, Llanos’s throwaway remark became a reality.

pique

 

Having co-organised the event, Pique said, “It’s been amazing, it’s something totally different. Sometimes you have to get out of your comfort zone and try new things.”

De la Cruz, who beat German Jan Spiess 6-2 in the final, said: “I am very, very happy, I thank God that I have been able to achieve this”, as he lifted the golden balloon trophy and earned a cool US$11,636 (RM48,367).

His match was witnessed by over 300 fans who packed into the venue including superstar footballers and Pique’s fellow teammates, Sergio Agüero and Jordi Alba.

peru

 

It is unclear whether the event was a one-off or if it will be back again next year, but perhaps with more attention and traction, maybe we’ll be able to support and cheer for our Malaysian athletes to compete in the next Balloon World Cup. Maybe we could even see it as part of the Olympics in the distant future? Who knows.

To find out more and to watch the highlights, check out the Balloon World Cup’s Instagram and Twitter.

 

Would you pay to watch a balloon world cup match? Let us know in the comments.

 

Also read: Breakdancing Will Be An Official Olympic Sport For The 2024 Paris Games!

Olympics Ft

Source: The Guardian
Source: BBC
Source: BBC

Follow us on Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest stories and updates daily.



Just In

collage 2 5 collage 2 5
News1 hour ago

Survey: Anwar’s Approval Rating Now at 54%, Only 39% of M’sians Think Country is Heading in Right Direction

A Merdeka Centre survey shows that the Madani government is starting to see some light with a slight bump in...

feat image asb feat image asb
News1 hour ago

PNB Announces 5.75 Sen Per Unit Income & RM10.1 BILLION Payout for ASB for 2024, The Highest in 5 Years!

Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) today announced the income distribution for the Amanah Saham Bumiputera (ASB) in the financial year ending...

collage 112 collage 112
News2 hours ago

Horrific Accident Involving Tour Bus, Trailer & MPV in Alor Gajah Tragically Claims 7 Lives, Including a Baby Girl

Seven people tragically lost their lives in a horrific accident involving 3 vehicles on the northbound lane of the North-South...

collage 111 collage 111
News3 hours ago

PAS Allegedly Sets up Fundraiser to Help Its MP Pay RM825K to DAP Leaders After Losing Defamation Suit

PAS is reportedly organising a fundraiser for one of its members, Siti Mastura, who was recently sued for RM825,000 by...

collage 110 collage 110
News3 hours ago

6 M’sian Men Charged with Sexually Assaulting a 16yo Girl, 2 Suspects Scheduled to Get Engaged Soon

6 Malaysian men were charged at the Muar Sessions Court for sexually assaulting an underage girl. All suspects were in...

feat image ica feat image ica
News21 hours ago

A Record 553K People Crossed the S’pore-M’sia Border on 13 Dec, Very Heavy Traffic Expected Until New Year

Singapore’s Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has revealed that a record number of people crossed the Singapore-Malaysia land border checkpoints...

collage 8 3 collage 8 3
News24 hours ago

M’sians Try to Hide Ecstasy Powder in Envelopes Resembling Foreign Currency, Get Arrested by PDRM

After a raid on December 21, two local men were arrested in Johor after ecstasy powder was found packed in...

My Post 1 3 My Post 1 3
News1 day ago

15yo Cheras Girl Goes Missing After Lying to Mum About Attending Lion Dance Practice

A 15-year-old girl has been missing for over 3 days now after she left her family home in Cheras on...

Announcement

Latest Videos



TRENDING TODAY