Bandwidth boom and the beautiful game

Singapore

VERY little has changed on the pitch of the world's most popular sport since the first World Cup was played in 1930.

But a lot has changed in how the game is enjoyed. That 1930 final in Uruguay was witnessed by only the people lucky enough to have been there at the stadium.

Now contrast that with what will happen this time in Brazil. The final game next month will have 73,531 spectators in the stadium but - and hold your breath here - the live match will be watched by 3.2 billion people, 46 per cent of the …