Ball
Until the final of the 2005–06 season, the Finale used standard hexagonal and pentagonal panels. From then on the panels are the same as the Adidas Teamgeist ball. From 2004–05 the ball was the same as the Adidas Roteiro balls, with thermally bonded panels. The only difference was the design of the pattern.
Each season in the Champions League, the colour of the stars on the ball is changed. The first ball, in 2000–1 was silver, followed by black in 2001–02, then dark blue in 2003–04, and red in 2004–05. This was followed by light blue in 2005–06. The design for next season's ball was used in this season's final. A light blue ball was used for most of the 2005–06 season, but in the final between Arsenal and FC Barcelona, held in the Stade de France, Paris it was replaced by a ball with the same paneling as the Adidas +Teamgeist but decorated with pink stars. For the 2006–07 season, the ball had grey stars trimmed in red and white and the Finale Athens ball is a chrome silver metallic with royal blue and white. For the 2007–08 season, the ball was decorated in tangerine orange and black stars with grey trim. For the final of the 2007–08 season in Moscow, the ball was gray and red stars with a gold trim. The match ball used for the 2008–09 season was black and white with a green trim. For 2009-10, the Jabulani paneling is being used, with the colors of red, gold and white.
Each match ball intended for use in the final is marked with the location at which the match is to be played. For example, the 2004–05 Champions League final was held in Istanbul, Turkey and as such, the blue/silver-starred Finale balls were marked with Istanbul.
These official match balls are well prized. The UEFA Champions League is thought to be the most prestigious club competition and the ball itself has a very unusual design which makes the ball unique and fairly cherishable.
These balls are also occasionally used in the Champions League's sister competition — the UEFA Europa League.
Read more about this topic: Adidas Finale
Famous quotes containing the word ball:
“Eating’s going to be a whole new ball game. I may even have to buy a new pair of trousers.”
—Lester Piggott (b. 1935)
“Life’s like a ball game. You gotta take a swing at whatever comes along before you wake up and find out it’s the ninth inning.”
—Martin Goldsmith, and Edgar G. Ulmer. Vera (Ann Savage)
“I never knew anyone yet who got up at six who did anything more useful between that time and breakfast than banging a tennis ball up against the side of the house, waiting for the more civilized members of the party to get up.”
—Robert Benchley (1889–1945)