Gearing up for World Cup, papier-mache panda-monium and prenatal yoga | June 9
Brazilians and others around the world gear up for FIFA World Cup 2014, beginning June 10, French artist installs 1,600 papier-mache pandas to raise awareness and pregnant women gather to break a Guinness World Record.
- A South Korean diver clads in soccer uniform swims with sardines for South Korean team’s success in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil at the Coex Aquarium on June 9, 2014 in Seoul, South Korea. The 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil begins on June 12, 2014. (Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
- Youngsters play football in front of a mural of Argentine football player Lionel Messi (L) and Brazil’s player Neymar da Silva Santos Junior at a field of Tavares Bastos shantytown (favela) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on June 8, 2014, just four days ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2014. (Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images)
- Chris Smalling of England (L) in action with Wayne Rooney of England during a training session at the Urca military base (Forte de Urca) training ground on June 9, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
- A boy jumps to save a goal while playing soccer on the beach in Benghazi June 1, 2014. The 2014 Brazil World Cup opens on June 12 and fans around the globe are gearing up for the big tournament. But soccer lovers are not only preparing to watch the world’s best professional players battle it out on the pitch; they are also out there kicking a ball about themselves. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the ‘beautiful game’. Picture taken June 1, 2014. (Esam Omran Al-Fetori/Reuters)
- Local Indian footballers carry cutout portraits of Brazilian soccer player Neymar (R) and Argentine soccer player Lionel Messi to a local football club in Kolkata on June 9, 2014. Football fans in the eastern Indian city are gearing up for the upcoming Brazil FIFA World Cup 2014 and decorating their clubs with football-related paraphernalia. (Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP/Getty Images)
- A boy jumps to save a goal while playing soccer at Shivaji Park in Mumbai June 3, 2014. The 2014 Brazil World Cup opens on June 12 and fans around the globe are gearing up for the big tournament. But soccer lovers are not only preparing to watch the world’s best professional players battle it out on the pitch; they are also out there kicking a ball about themselves. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the ‘beautiful game’. Picture taken June 3, 2014. (Danish Siddiqui/Reuters)
- A makeshift soccer goalpost stands near Molweni, west of Durban June 5, 2014. The 2014 Brazil World Cup opens on June 12 and fans around the globe are gearing up for the big tournament. But soccer lovers are not only preparing to watch the world’s best professional players battle it out on the pitch; they are also out there kicking a ball about themselves. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the ‘beautiful game’. Picture taken June 5, 2014. (Rogan Ward/Reuters)
- A fan poses during the inauguration of the FIFA Fan Fest in Fortaleza, June 8, 2014. Fortaleza will host six soccer matches of the 2014 World Cup. Picture taken June 8, 2014. (Davi Pinheiro/Reuters)
- Children play soccer on a playing field in Kirtipur, Kathmandu May 31, 2014. The 2014 Brazil World Cup opens on June 12 and fans around the globe are gearing up for the big tournament. But soccer lovers are not only preparing to watch the world’s best professional players battle it out on the pitch; they are also out there kicking a ball about themselves. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the ‘beautiful game’. Picture taken May 31, 2014. (Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)
- Riot police forces stand guard during a demonstration by striking subway workers and members of the MTST (Homeless Workers’ Movement), on June 9, 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Metro’s workers demand 12.2 percent salary raise. The five-day-old strike has already caused massive traffic jams in Brazil’s largest city as its new stadium prepares to welcome more than 60,000 fans for June 12 Brazil-Croatia game. (Nelson Almeida/AFP/Getty Images)
- French artist Paulo Grangeon poses with some of his 1,600 papier-mache pandas at Hong Kong’s international airport on June 9, 2014 as part of their first appearance in the city. The event, consisting of placing 1,600 papier-mache pandas in various cities around the world, was created by the French artist in collaboration with the WWF and is aimed at raising awareness of the endangered species. (Philippe Lopez/AFP/Getty Images)
- Some of the 1,600 papier-mache pandas are seen displayed at Hong Kong’s international airport on June 9, 2014 as part of their first appearance in the city. The event, consisting of placing 1,600 papier-mache pandas in various cities around the world, was created by French artist Paulo Grangeon in collaboration with the WWF and is aimed at raising awareness of the endangered species. (Philippe Lopez/AFP/Getty Images)
- French artist Paulo Grangeon throws one of his papier-mache pandas displayed at the arrival hall of the Hong Kong airport June 9, 2014. The installation arrived in the city on Monday, launching the month-long “1600 Pandas World Tour in Hong Kong: Creativity meets Conservation” organized by a local art organiser, according to the official press release. (Bobby Yip/Reuters)
- Some of the 1,600 papier-mache pandas are seen displayed at Hong Kong’s international airport on June 9, 2014 as part of their first appearance in the city. The event, consisting of placing 1,600 papier-mache pandas in various cities around the world, was created by French artist Paulo Grangeon in collaboration with the WWF and is aimed at raising awareness of the endangered species. (Philippe Lopez/AFP/Getty Images)
- Papier-mache pandas, created by French artist Paulo Grangeon, are seen displayed at the arrival hall of the Hong Kong airport June 9, 2014. The installation arrived in the city on Monday, launching the month-long “1600 Pandas World Tour in Hong Kong: Creativity meets Conservation” organized by a local art organiser, according to the official press release. (Bobby Yip/Reuters)
- Pregnant women practice yoga as they attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest prenatal yoga class, in Changsha, Hunan province June 8, 2014. A total of 505 pregnant women participated in a yoga class together for 37 minutes and 28 seconds on Sunday, exceeding the current Guinness World Record set in Shenzhen in 2013 with 423 women, local media reported. Picture taken June 8, 2014. (Reuters)
- This picture taken on June 8, 2014 shows pregnant women practicing yoga as they attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest prenatal yoga class, in Changsha, central Hunan province. 505 pregnant women participated in a yoga class that lasted for 37 minutes and 28 seconds, exceeding the current Guinness World Record set in Shenzhen in 2013 with 423 women, local media reported. (AFP/Getty Images)
- This picture taken on June 8, 2014 shows pregnant women practicing yoga as they attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest prenatal yoga class, in Changsha, central Hunan province. 505 pregnant women participated in a yoga class that lasted for 37 minutes and 28 seconds, exceeding the current Guinness World Record set in Shenzhen in 2013 with 423 women, local media reported. (AFP/Getty Images)