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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Ivi poses with Mark Bresciano of the Australian National Team
Postcards From Brazil, Part 5: Ivi's World Cup Adventure
June 23, 2014 | Women's Soccer
One of the newest Bowling Green State University women's soccer alumnae, Ivi Casagrande, is enjoying the experience of a lifetime this summer. Casagrande, who recently finished her senior year at BG, is back in her native country, helping with the world's largest sporting event. Casagrande, a native of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, is working with the 2014 FIFA World Cup. In the paragraphs below, she talks about her experiences with the Australian National Team and their travel party...
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Ivi Casagrande at the World Cup" src="/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_id=15&image_path=/images/2014/6/23/IviWorldCup43.jpeg" />LINKS
PHOTO GALLERY: Ivi Casagrande at the World Cup
Ivi at the World Cup: First Update (Mon., June 16)
Ivi at the World Cup: Second Update (Tue., June 17)
Ivi at the World Cup: Third Update (Wed., June 18)
Ivi at the World Cup: Fourth Update (Sat., June 21)
Tim Cahill's goal vs. Netherlands (ESPNFC.com)
June 21
Today we took the families to the Training Venue where the National team practices every day in Vitoria. We had breakfast early in the morning and got two buses that would take us to the Stadium. I was really excited because we would meet the players, watch their practice and also take a tour of their facilities. When we got there, we could see the entire stadium personalized for the Australia National Team with pictures of the team playing on the past world cups, motivational quotes for the players and a completely reconstructed venue with perfect grass. They first took us to the field where we were able to step on the grass, touch the official World Cup balls and where we saw the Australian Mascot coming to entertain the kids. The families were so happy to be part of that and actually get to know where their relatives spend most of the time focused before match days. Then, someone from the staff took us to the locker room. It was such a great experience because we were wandering around the facility when all of the sudden, all the players came in the locker room by surprise. All the families were so happy to see their relatives and were able to hug them and talk to them. It is such an awesome feeling to see this atmosphere and how important being in contact with the families are for the players, especially 3 days before a big game against Spain. The head coach,Ange, gave a speech to the families thanking them for being there and reinforcing how important this is for the players. Afterwards, the players had some time to spend with the families inside the locker room and I got the opportunity to meet all the players and take a lot of pictures with them. Then, they were off to training and we went to the stands to watch their practice. It was a short practice since they were leaving that day to Curitiba to start preparing for the game against Spain on Monday. After training, we had more time to spend with the players, more pictures taken and a great atmosphere to be part of. Then, we got our buses back to the hotel. I had lunch with our staff and went to the gym in the afternoon to work out. We have been eating a lot of good food and a lot of desserts so I am trying to make sure I burn all those calories!Â
![<dfn><a href=]()
Ivi Casagrande at the World Cup" src="/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_id=15&image_path=/images/2014/6/23/IviWorldCup54.jpeg" />At night, we had our Boys Night out and Girls Night out which everyone was really excited about. After working out, I went with one of our local staff to take a look at some restaurants where I would choose to have our Girls NIght out Dinner. We chose a really nice restaurant that would offer the ladies with delicious appetizers, main courses, desserts and drinks. We left at 6:30 with the girls and we had an amazing dinner with all of them. Meanwhile, the guys were meeting at a bar for some beers and from there they would be going to a nightclub. In our group, 13 girls were up to also go to the nightclub after dinner to meet the guys in our group. We planned to meet at one of the best nightclubs in Vitoria. In that night, I was going to be responsible for those 13 ladies from the families. Getting in the nightclub, we had a group of 33 people. Everyone was so excited to dance, have some drinks and have a lot of fun. We arrived at 11 pm and we just left the nightclub around 5 am. We all had so much fun and it brought everyone together as one family. I had a lot of fun with them, and I was sad to think that our journey was ending. I cannot thank enough for the opportunity to work with this group of amazing people. I hope I can keep in touch with all of them and will be able to visit them in Australia soon. Tomorrow will be an easy day for the families since Monday we will be leaving early to Curitiba. Some of them will be going to a tour in a national park in Vitoria where the others will have some time to rest from a long night of fun.
Check back to BGSUFalcons.com in the near future for more updates from Ivi!
PHOTO GALLERY: Ivi Casagrande at the World Cup
Ivi at the World Cup: First Update (Mon., June 16)
Ivi at the World Cup: Second Update (Tue., June 17)
Ivi at the World Cup: Third Update (Wed., June 18)
Ivi at the World Cup: Fourth Update (Sat., June 21)
Tim Cahill's goal vs. Netherlands (ESPNFC.com)
June 21
Today we took the families to the Training Venue where the National team practices every day in Vitoria. We had breakfast early in the morning and got two buses that would take us to the Stadium. I was really excited because we would meet the players, watch their practice and also take a tour of their facilities. When we got there, we could see the entire stadium personalized for the Australia National Team with pictures of the team playing on the past world cups, motivational quotes for the players and a completely reconstructed venue with perfect grass. They first took us to the field where we were able to step on the grass, touch the official World Cup balls and where we saw the Australian Mascot coming to entertain the kids. The families were so happy to be part of that and actually get to know where their relatives spend most of the time focused before match days. Then, someone from the staff took us to the locker room. It was such a great experience because we were wandering around the facility when all of the sudden, all the players came in the locker room by surprise. All the families were so happy to see their relatives and were able to hug them and talk to them. It is such an awesome feeling to see this atmosphere and how important being in contact with the families are for the players, especially 3 days before a big game against Spain. The head coach,Ange, gave a speech to the families thanking them for being there and reinforcing how important this is for the players. Afterwards, the players had some time to spend with the families inside the locker room and I got the opportunity to meet all the players and take a lot of pictures with them. Then, they were off to training and we went to the stands to watch their practice. It was a short practice since they were leaving that day to Curitiba to start preparing for the game against Spain on Monday. After training, we had more time to spend with the players, more pictures taken and a great atmosphere to be part of. Then, we got our buses back to the hotel. I had lunch with our staff and went to the gym in the afternoon to work out. We have been eating a lot of good food and a lot of desserts so I am trying to make sure I burn all those calories!Â
Check back to BGSUFalcons.com in the near future for more updates from Ivi!
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