UK gets 2018 bid help from octopus
Source: Agencies |
August 21, 2010, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE octopus that grabbed fame by predicting correctly the result of each of Germany's matches at this year's World Cup has switched allegiance to England.
Paul has been appointed as an ambassador to England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
Germany beat England 4-1 in the second round of the World Cup in the most recent installment of the nations' ongoing football rivalry, but the switch is a natural one for Paul.
Although he became famous by calling Germany's results and the Spain-Netherlands final from an aquarium in Oberhausen, Germany, Paul is English-born.
He hatched at Weymouth Sea Life Center on England's south coast in 2008.
"Paul has spent the last two years of his life in Germany but he is definitely a proud Englishman," Weymouth Sea Life Center manager Nicola Hamilton said. "... Paul was only ever going to choose his homeland."
With his eight tentacles, Paul is more adept at shaking hands than sweet-talking FIFA's 24-man executive committee which will vote in December on which nation gets to host the tournament.
But his role is simply to bring extra publicity to a country competing with the US, Russia and joint bids by Belgium-Netherlands and Spain-Portugal.
"Paul the Octopus is undoubtedly one of the biggest names in football," former England winger John Barnes said. "Huge numbers of people will follow Paul's lead and back the bid."
Paul has been appointed as an ambassador to England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
Germany beat England 4-1 in the second round of the World Cup in the most recent installment of the nations' ongoing football rivalry, but the switch is a natural one for Paul.
Although he became famous by calling Germany's results and the Spain-Netherlands final from an aquarium in Oberhausen, Germany, Paul is English-born.
He hatched at Weymouth Sea Life Center on England's south coast in 2008.
"Paul has spent the last two years of his life in Germany but he is definitely a proud Englishman," Weymouth Sea Life Center manager Nicola Hamilton said. "... Paul was only ever going to choose his homeland."
With his eight tentacles, Paul is more adept at shaking hands than sweet-talking FIFA's 24-man executive committee which will vote in December on which nation gets to host the tournament.
But his role is simply to bring extra publicity to a country competing with the US, Russia and joint bids by Belgium-Netherlands and Spain-Portugal.
"Paul the Octopus is undoubtedly one of the biggest names in football," former England winger John Barnes said. "Huge numbers of people will follow Paul's lead and back the bid."
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