World Cup Fever Reaches Mexico
The Mexicans might have not achieved much in their World Cup history yet just like the majority of the nations competing in the tournament the anticipation for the biggest sporting event in the world is reaching the zenith, the threshold and the fans are caught up in the fever.
The passion for their respective teams and star players is also in full flow for the millions in various countries making up the 32 participants in the first ever World Cup to be staged in South Africa.
Similarly the Mexicans are totally caught in the frenzy, as their team prepares to embark upon “Mission World Cup”.
In a bid to provide support and stand-by their players some of the artists in the country have joined hands in their support for the team
Touched by the World Cup fever; a group of artists are busy designing Lucha Libre or wrestling masks representing 10 national soccer teams taking part in the FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa.
Special masks decorated with distinctive symbols from each country were created for Spain, Germany, England, Italy, France, the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and South Africa.
Edgar Patino and Monica Tinoco, who live in Madrid, came up with the idea in December 2009 and the business was launched in April after seeing fans wearing wrestling masks in Mexican football stadiums to support their local teams.
Renowned Lucha Libre mask manufacturers helped in designing the masks that have been an instant hit.
The masks are sold in two versions, a premium quality one costing $475.00 pesos (approx. $36.00 dollars) and the standard version costing $300.00 pesos (approx. $23.00 dollars).
Each mask is carefully hand made by the best Lucha Libre mask artisans in the business in different workshops around the country.
In Mexico, they are sold on the internet by visiting a website; www.lamascaradelmundial.com, while sales are being carried out in Spain trough the selling of the masks in a handicraft shop.
Monica Tinoco who initiated the idea thinks that football fans around the world use flags, scarves and jerseys to support their team, so there is nothing better than providing them something that is set to captivate their interest instantly, hence they use the flashy masks to make a statement.
"When one, for example, goes to the World Cup, they take their country's flag, they take the jersey or anything that represents it to support their team or in this case their country. What better to decorate one's face with a mask? There are people who paint their faces so in this case it'll be a mask which is also a Mexican art and craft product which will also allow us to take Mexico to other countries."
Tinoco thought the masks would sell well during the World Cup tournament.
Foreigners in Europe, most of all, appreciate handicrafts especially from Mexico, everything that has to do with colours, folklore with exotic things for them. The mask for them is very exotic because it's a novelty, attractive and that's an advantage because the probability of purchasing it is higher," Tinoco added who said the Aztec warrior mask, followed by the masks from Argentina and Spain was the most popular among clients in Mexico.
The manufacturers will travel to the venue of the World cup South Africa in the days ahead in a bid to attract more sales and promote the masks outside stadiums where the matches will take place.
The tournament is set to run for one month and attract thousands of fans to each venue where the best in the football world will make their appearance; it is a sure shot formula of success as the masks make their magical presence.
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