Armadillo chosen as 2014 World Cup football mascotMarch 13, 2012 - 09:12 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The mascot for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil will be an armadillo, according to a report on Sunday, March 11 in the Brazilian weekly Veja. The Brazilian three-banded armadillo, native to the country's north-east, is capable of rolling itself into the shape of a ball when it feels threatened. Veja added that tournament organizers will only make an official announcement regarding their choice of mascot in October via FIFA. The decision to make the armadillo mascot was backed by the Caatinga Association, a NGO whose mission is to protect the biodiversity of north-eastern Brazil. The three-banded armadillo, known as a 'tatu-bola' in Brazil, is an endangered species. It has been chosen ahead of the puma as well as the 'Saci', a character in Brazilian folklore that was the preferred choice of Brazilian sports minister Aldo Rebelo, AFP reported. Top stories Armenian gymnast, Olympic bronze medalist Artur Davtyan has reached the finals of the World Cup. Gor Manvelyan has denied reports alleging that he has expressed a desire to one day play for the French national team. Roma midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is not considering FC Spartak Moscow as his next haven, according to fresh reports. 10 Armenian lifters will compete in the 2021 World Championships scheduled to be held from 7 to 17 December in Tashkent. Partner news | Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Azerbaijan must respect human rights, Scholz tells Aliyev German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for greater respect for human rights in Azerbaijan. Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. |