São Paulo Uses Conmebol Warning to Fight Altitude in Bolivia
Listen to the story
São Paulo, a Brazilian football club, played an away match against BolÃvar in Bolivia, a country known for its very high altitude. High altitude can make it harder for players to breathe and can cause them to get tired more quickly during a game.
To deal with this challenge, São Paulo decided to use a special advisory allowed by Conmebol, the organization that controls South American football. This advisory is meant to help teams reduce the negative effects that altitude can have on player performance.
By using this rule, São Paulo hoped its players would feel less tired and play better despite the difficult conditions in Bolivia. Playing at high altitude is a common challenge for teams that travel to countries like Bolivia for international competitions.
For this important match, three players made their debut for São Paulo: Domingos, Iago, and Newton. A debut is a player's very first official match for a new team, and it is often an exciting moment for both the player and the fans.
The match between BolÃvar and São Paulo attracted attention from football fans who wanted to know the kickoff time, where to watch the game, and the lineup of both teams. The lineup shows which players the coach chose to start the match.
Matches played in high-altitude cities are often seen as a difficult test for visiting teams, since the body needs time to adjust to less oxygen in the air. Because of this, teams sometimes prepare with special training or strategies before playing there.
Vocabulary10 words
- altitude
- how high a place is above sea level
- advisory
- an official notice giving special permission or advice
- Conmebol
- the group that manages football in South America
- debut
- a player's first match for a team
- kickoff
- the moment a football match starts
- lineup
- the players chosen to start a match
- oxygen
- the gas in air that people need to breathe
- performance
- how well someone plays or does something
- away match
- a game played in the other team's city
- strategy
- a plan used to try to win
Quiz
Answer key
1. It makes breathing harder and causes tiredness 2. To reduce the negative effects of altitude 3. Domingos, Iago, and Newton
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
São Paulo, a Brazilian football club, played an away match against BolÃvar in Bolivia, a country known for its very high _____.
To deal with this challenge, São Paulo decided to use a special _____ allowed by Conmebol, the organization that controls South American football.
By using this rule, São Paulo hoped its players would feel less _____ and play better despite the difficult conditions in Bolivia.
For this important match, three players made their _____ for São Paulo: Domingos, Iago, and Newton.
The match between BolÃvar and São Paulo attracted attention from football fans who wanted to know the _____ time, where to watch the game, and the lineup of both teams.
Matches played in high-altitude cities are often seen as a difficult test for visiting teams, since the body needs time to adjust to less _____ in the air.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think high altitude affects football players so much?
- Do you think special rules like Conmebol's advisory are fair for all teams?
- How would you feel if you were making your debut for a big club?
- What other sports do you think are affected by altitude, and why?