FIFA launches official World Cup ball
08/12/2009
Football’s governing body FIFA has formally launched the official ball it will use at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
The name of the new ball is the Janulani, which means ‘to celebrate’ in the isiZulu language. It was developed by sports brand adidas, with research and development collaboration from the Sports Technology Institute at Loughborough University in the UK.
The new technology in the footbal includes a ‘grip-n-groove’ profile to stable flight and good grip in all conditions. The Jabulani is made up of eight thermally bonded panels, spherically moulded to make sure the ball retains its roundness for longer. The materials used in the panels are ethylene vinyl acetate and polyurethane.
The design also incorporates 11 different colours, representing the number of players in a football team, the 11 official languages of host nation, South Africa, and the 11 South African tribes that make the country one of the most diverse on the African continent.
Dr Andy Harland from the Sports Technology Institute said in the build-up to the launch: “I am delighted that Loughborough University has again been asked by adidas to assist in the development of such a high-profile product. It reflects the high esteem that sports technology at Loughborough is held in and allows our research to have real impact on the South Africa World Cup.”
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