Olympic and Paralympic Games Rio 2016

The mascots of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Rio 2016 were presented on Sunday and were chosen to represent the city's image in the two sporting events. They are inspired by the Brazilian fauna and flora, with varied influences pop culture, animation elements and video game characters. Are a kind of ambassadors of the Games and have the role of disseminating the messages of the event and the values of the Olympic movement and Paralympic for the various public, especially children and youth.

The origin of the mascots of the 2016 mixes fiction and reality. His story goes that on the day it was announced that Rio would host the Games in October 2, 2009, the joy of the Brazilians was felt throughout nature and this energy were born the mascots.

The Olympic mascot is the diversity of the country animals - has the agility of cats, the swagger of the monkeys and the lightness of birds. But the Paralympics is a unique blend of flora - is always growing and overcoming obstacles. Both are magical creatures and promise to delight everyone with their superpowers.

To reach the mascots, the Rio 2016 Committee opted to make a nationwide competition. A jury of 14 people was responsible for the choice of pets.

The public will choose the names of the mascots. All can vote between options which include three name pairs, one for the Olympic mascot and one for the Paralympic respectively.

The options are: OBA and EBA; TIBA TUQUE and ESQUINDIM; VINICIUS and TOM

The vote is held by the site: http://www.rio2016.com/mascotes/#!home

Atletico win the first game

Atletico has invoked the home field advantage in the first game of the final of the Brazil Cup. With only crowd at the stadium, the Roosters (Atletico`s nickname) took this advantage and defeated by Cruzeiro 2-0 on the evening of Wednesday (11/12/2014). Luan opened the scoring in the first half, while Dátolo expanded in the final stage, leaving the black team closer to the unprecedented title.

To be the champion of the cup in the deciding game on Oct. 26, Atletico only need a draw. Or even defeat, provided it is for 1 to 0. The Blue team will have to reverse the advantage of rival to win his fifth title of the Brazil Cup, the team will have to do three goals and take no one . Repeat the score of the first clash of the champions will be the definition in the shootout (penalty).

The Athletic extended their unbeaten record against Cruzeiro in 'new Independence'. In eight classics from the reopening of the stadium, were black team win five times and have three draws. Moreover, the Rooster kept the historic finals of the Brazil Cup. In the first game of the final, since 1989, the first year of dispute, the home team came out never defeated.

Before returning to face the second game of the final, Atletico and Cruzeiro will have commitments for the Brazilian Championship over the weekend. The Blue team leader isolated, face the Santos FC on Sunday (16/11/2014), 17h, in Santos City. Already Rooster returns to Independence (Atletico Stadium) on Figueirense, on the same date at 19:30. 

http://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/photos/galleries/gallery/247/409/6/#2474090 

Belo Horizonte: the capital of soccer in Brazil

Belo Horizonte is the capital of soccer in Brazil, Cruzeiro and Atletico qualify to the finals in Brazilian Cup. This will be the first time that the two teams will play against each other in the final of a national championship. The games will be the on 12/11/2014 and 11.26.2014, the first game will be in Atletico` Stadium (Independence Arena), and the second game will be in Cruzeiro`s Stadium.

Atletico`s Stadium

Both teams reached the final after amazing games. Cruzeiro bite the Santos FC in the first game (in Belo Horizonte) won 1 to 0. The second was on the road and finished tied for 3 to 3. Atletico lost the first game on the road for 2 to 0. In the second game in Belo Horizonte, Flamego scored first, so Atletico had to scored four times to eliminate the Flemengo and Atletico did it dramatically.

Cruzeiro is the first place in the national league and Atletico is the third. However this year Cruzeiro did not beat Atletico yet. In the Regional Championship the both team played against each other three times and the matches finished tied at 0-0. In the National League they played two times and Atletico won all the games. The first by 2-1 in the Aletico`s Stadium and the second on Cruzeiro`s Stadium by 3-2.

For me, it is very hard to say which team will be win this championship, the two equips are very good and they are in good times. But, let's Rooster! (Atletico nickname).

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2259283-cruzeiro-and-atletico-mineiro-to-meet-in-brazilian-cup-showdown

Cruzeiros`s Stadium

Reinhold Messner

 Reinhold Messner

Who is the greatest climber / mountaineer of all time? This is a difficult question to be answer and certainly causes controversy among climbers but a name will always be remembered: Reinhold Messner.

Messner in Himalayas (1970)

Reinhold Messner was born in northern Italy in the town of Brixen (Bressanone) in a region known as South Tyrol on 17 September 1944. Messner began climbing at 13 years along with his brother Gunther Messner. The first climbing mountains they were clibing in the region of Dolimitas, Italy. At age 20 he had already climbed the most hard climbing routes in the Dolomites and Alps, all these climbs were made with his brother or alone. Messner has created a unique style to climb, always with lightweight (Alpine Style).

In 1970, Reinhold Messner and Gunther went to the Himalayas to climb the highest mountains in the world. The first mountain they tried to climb was Nanga Parba (Pakistan) opened a new route for the harder side of the mountain (Rupal face). It was in this first trip to the Himalayas that his brother died after being hit by an avalanche while descending from the summit. 

Even after the death of his brother, Messner kept climbing. In 1974 he climbed the dreaded southern phase of Aconcagua (the highest mountain in the Americas). In 1978, was the first human to climb Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world, without supplemental oxygen in 1980 he climbed the Mount Everest alone (It was the first time who someone tried that). In 1986, he climbed Mount Lhotse, the first man to climb all fourteen mountains over 8.000 meters.

 

Because of that way to climb with a lot of bravery and unique style and because of its historic achievements, Messner is considered by many as the greatest climber / mountaineer of all time.

 

Reinhold Messner

 

Fernando de Noronha Island

Fernando Noronha Island

          Brazil is internationally recognized for being a country with beautiful beaches and beautiful natural landscapes. What is the most beautiful place in Brazil? This is very difficult to answer, so I'll give my personal opinion. I know some interesting and beautiful places, and in my opinion the island of Fernando Noronha is the most beautiful place in all of Brazil.
 
        Fernando Noronha is located in the state of Pernambuco, on the northeastern coast of Brazil. Actually the island is the closest to Rio Grande do Norte state, but belongs to Pernambuco for political reasons. Fernando Noronha is an archipelago of 21 islands, the largest being 53km long.
 
        My trip to Fernando Noronha was with the Department of Geology of University of Minas Gerais. As part of the discipline of Igneous Petrographic we went there to study a bit more about how the island was formed. This is an island of volcanic origin. For10 days we were on the island, this was enough time to visit all parts of the island and be charmed by the beauty of the island. According to a reputable Travel Guide of Brazil, this island is among the top ten most beautiful beaches in Brazil. The first, second and third most beautiful beaches are in Fernando Noronha (1: Sancho`s Beach, 2: Bay of Pigs, 3: Lion Beach.

Bay of Pigs

 

http://www.travelchannel.com/interests/beaches/articles/fernando-de-noronha-brazil 

Caves in Maquoketa Caves State Park

Caves!!!!!!

Friends in Maquoketa Caves State Park

In the last weekend I took a trip with the staff of Campus Rec, we visited the park Maquoketa Caves State Park, in the state of Iowa. We met at the Campus Rec on ​​Friday 09/26/2014 the day and 17 hours, we lead by Patt, headed toward the caves. We arrived at our campsite around 8pm, we set the bar and began to prepare dinner for tonight would be macaroni marinara sauce. After having dinner we talked a bit around the fire and went to sleep because the next day would be busy.
We woke up the other day 8am, take a breakfast and went to visit the caves. We arrived at the park at 10am. We visited three caves (Wide Mouth Cave, Cave Dug Out, Twin Arch Cave), all of them very interesting and not very large. Then we went to lunch and then more caves. In the afternoon we visited 5 more caves (Ice Cave, Rainy Day Cave, Wye Cave, Cave and Window Barbell Cave), one of them very interesting, and very tight, low and very beautiful passages. The name of this cave is Wye Cave and was the one I liked most of all visited caves. The park Maquoketa Caves State Park is very nice and much visited, I saw many families with their children having fun in the caves.
After this exhausting day, we returned to camp, made ​​dinner, burger and hot dog and then went to sleep since we were all very tired. On Sunday we woke early, packed up our things and headed back to Macomb, arriving around 2pm for lunch. It was an amazing trip !!!

If someone have more interest to now about  Maquoketa Caves State Park, access the web page http://www.iowadnr.gov/Destinations/StateParksRecAreas/IowasStateParks/ParkDetails.aspx?ParkID=610127

In this link is possible find important information about this nice park.

Other important information is about the Outdoor Activities in the REC Center, if someone wants to know more about that can go to the secretary of  REC Center or to the web page http://www.wiu.edu/student_services/campus_recreation/outdoor_pursuits/index.php  

1 month in USA!!!!

Macomb location.

Tomorrow will complete my first month here in Macomb, Illinois. I leave my home en Brazil on 08/18/2014 e arrived on Quad City International Airport in Moline on 09/18/2014. And this time went really fast, I think this is happen because I enjoying all the time here.

This first month here I had the opportunity to now a little about the life in Macomb, American culture and make some nice friends form Brazil and USA. I traveled to Chicago too.  I loved Chicago, it is a big city, with high buildings and many things to do. I really want return to there. 

 I'm really enjoying study in Western Illinois University, the Campus is beautiful with many tress, great place to pass the time and many things to do. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday I have class in the morning and afternoon, until 4:00pm. After that I returned to Corbin Hall (My house while I live here) and wait for the diner and after that I go to workout in the gym. Tuesday and Thursdays I just have class on the morning, so I have more time to dedicate to WELS homework and to study English. After the dinner I go to workout. On the weekends I finish the homework for the week and go out with me friends to have fun.

About the future, I am anxious about the winter. I just see snow one time in my life and I do not now how will be the winter. The American guys said to me the winter is terrible, especially in January, when the temperature are so low. I want to buy some clothes to support that. So probably in will to Peoria and Springfield to buy some jackets and pants for the winter.

I am liking live here and the things will be better. I hope so. Have to be

Western Illinois University