OLYMPICS 2008 – Great Wall Star
The Official soccer ball of the 2008 Olympic Games, dubbed “The Great Wall Star” has been unveiled. It is manufactured by adidas, an official partner of the Beijing Games. The gold Chinese characters on the mostly-red ball read ”Zhong Guo” which means “China.” The characters were painted by Nian Weisi, who is a former president of the Football Association of China.
OLYMPICS 2004
From Adidas:
A new football production concept has been developed to provide consistent quality and performance from one ball to the next for today’s faster and more technical game.
The above pictures are from Alberto Izaguirre Serrano, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Above picture provided by Jacques Barralon
New Pelias ball, featuring Power Balance Technology, has a seamless surface design and a revolutionary new carcass.
The Pelias carcass features a new lamination technique and a machine stitching process, providing the most uniform dynamic properties for optimal balance, maximum energy return, and consistent trajectory. This is Power Balance Technology.
A new thermal bonding technique replaces traditional stitching, for a smoother, seamless surface with more responsiveness and ball contact sensitivity. The result is predictable trajectory, substantially less water uptake and maximum abrasion resistance.
The Pelias ball is the Official Match Ball of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens as well as the Official Match Ball for all FIFA events in 2004.
FIFA Approved
Material: Synthetic PU
Size: 5
NEW
Adidas Gamarada
From Alberto Izaguirre Serrano, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico:
Just like the Questra Europa in 1996, the Adidas Gamarada was designed similar to the Adidas Terrestra Silverstream, Official Match ball in the Euro 2000. This was the fourth Equipment ball after Adidas Tricolore, Icon and Terrestra Silverstream. Adidas indicated the balls where softer, faster and more durable.
The Gamarada ball features synthetic foam, a special layer of highly compressible gas-filled-micro-balloons of equal size which returns energy in equal measures in all places. This gives the ball greater rebound characteristics, which means that it’s faster and more accurate and predictable ball flight. The millions of individual cells of air bedded in a polyurethane matrix also make it a much more durable ball.
The design of the Equipment Gamarada reflects the colors of the Australian outback. And the name is derived from the Language of the aborigines, and means “camaraderie” or “friend”.
Above picture provided by Jacques Barralon
Adidas Japanese J-League Version of the Gamarada
Used
in all the Japanese league matches in 2000
The following pictures are from Soccer Ball World visitor Sheridan Bird
OLYMPICS 1992
Adidas Etrusco
Women’s World Cup 2015 Match Ball
For FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada, 2015
Adidas unveils Match Ball for
2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup™
FIFA and Adidas celebrate women’s football 05-Dec-2014Adidas today unveiled the official match ball of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015, the Adidas conext15. The ball features a new green, red and blue ribbon design inspired by the elements of nature: earth, wind and fire.
The Adidas conext15 features the same ground-breaking technology that was used so successfully in Brazuca, the official match ball of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The ball has a new structural innovation with a unique symmetry of six identical panels alongside a different surface structure that provides improved grip, touch, stability and aerodynamics on the pitch
Thank you Jacques Barralon for the above picture.
Engineered to the same specifications as the Equipment Tricolore (the Official Match ball of World Cup France 98′), the Adidas Equipment Icon was FIFA’s Official Matchball for the Women’s World Cup in 1999. This ball was the first one designed specifically for the Women’s World Cup. Unlike traditional soccer balls, the Equipment Icon uses the same syntactic foam technology which debuted in the Equipment Tricolor at France 98′. According to Adidas, “syntactic foam’s tight, uniform matrix of gas-filled micro-balloons distributes energy more equally, enabling more rebound characteristics that make the ball faster and more accurate off the foot”. The Equipment Icon’s design features colorful “icons” from the eight venue cities of Women’s World Cup 99′ including: San Jose, San Francisco, Portland (OR.), Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Boston, and Washington D.C. These icons are integrated into the Adidas “Tango” pattern, with an overlay of stars in honor of the US flag. FIFA approved. The Equipment Icon is only the second ball to feature the Adidas Equipment logo.
Sizes: 5
Information and pictures supplied by Alexander Djolev from Sofia, Bulgaria
By 1998, FIFA World Cup France was played with a ball which sported the French red-white-blue tri-color. A complete departure from the old traditional black and white pattern. The first official World Cup soccer ball that was in color. The TRICOLORE used underglass print technology with a thin layer of syntactic foam.
The above picture was provided by Sebastiano Calì from Italy. Thanks!
The above Tricolore soccer ball (football) picture provided by Sheridan Bird. Visit www.sheridanbird.com.
Thank you Jacques Barralon for the above picture.
Featured a newly engineered hi-tech syntactic foam layer. This new foam material had better compression and more explosive rebound characteristics, making the ball softer and faster than its predecessor, Questra. The first World Cup ball in color was a revolutionary concept in ball surface design.
Graphics
Was the first ever multi-colored Match Ball. France’s flag and national colors (the Tricolore) and the “cockerel” the traditional symbol of the French nation and Football Federation, inspired the ball’s name and design.
Etrvsco Unico – Italy, 1990
The first ball with an internal layer of black polyurethane foam.
The above picture was provided by Sebastiano Calì from Italy. Thanks!
The above picture was provided by Jacques Barralon – The “R” indicates the official ball while “TM” was used for balls made after the 1990 World Cup.
This ball was a high-tech product which was manufactured entirely from quality synthetic fibers. The lowest covering consisted of textiles impregnated with latex for form stability and resistance to tearing, the neoprene layer made the ball water-tight and the outer skin made of polyurethane layers was used for abrasion resistance and good rebound properties. The name and intricate design took their inspiration from Italy’s magnificent, ancient history and the contributions and fine art of the Etruscans. Three Etruscan lion heads decorate each of the 20 Tango triads.
Azteca: México, 1986
The FIFA World Cup Mexico, saw the introduction of the first polyurethane coated ball which was rain-resistant. The first synthetic match ball, with good qualities on hard and wet surfaces.
The above picture was provided by Sebastiano Calì from Italy. Thanks!
The above “red letter” ball picture was provided by Jacques Barralon
The above “black letter” ball (made in France) picture was provided by Jacques Barralon
A completely new model was developed for the World Cup in Mexico. The Azteca Mexico was a hand-sewn ball, and for the first time, synthetic material, rather than leather was used to produce it. The ball consisted of an outer polyurethane wearing coat and three lower layers, which mutually complemented one another with their different “Adicron” structures. These were intended to ensure the ball’s resistance, ability to retain its shape and its waterproof properties. With its never-before-achieved performance on hard ground, at high altitude, and in wet conditions, Azteca represented a massive leap forward for the game. Its elaborately decorated design was inspired by the hosting nation’s native Aztec architecture and murals.