Interesting Facts

In the first "official" world cup held in Uraguay, only 13 nations took part. (7 from South America, 4 from Europe and 2 from North America. Times have changed though. 200 teams entered the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds; 198 attempted to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, while a record 204 countries entered qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.)

Guinea pigs are not from Guinea and they are not members of the pig family. (The Latin name for guinea pig is cavia porcellus, which looks suspiciously like “cave pig, but they are actually a kind of rodent like a mouse, rat, beaver, porcupine or hamster. Many years ago guinea pigs only lived in South America. The local people used them for food. Traders visiting South America returned with them and they have since spread all over the world as pets.)