Mexico unveils book about ball's origin, contribution to sport

"The ball, a Mexican legacy to the world" is the title of the book that Mexican soccer authorities presented on Wednesday evening which talks of the origins of the ball and its contribution to sport.

The literary work, edited by the La Joplin cooperative and the Mexican Football Federation (FMF), was presented at a hired events space in Mexico City.

Upon unveiling the book, the President of the FMF, Decio de Maria, said that this compendium is the result of over two years of work.

"This is a great effort from the Mexican Football Federation, and all those that participated in the work, in order to embody the meaning of the ball in one great book and discover its origin from over 2,000 years ago," said de Maria.

The book unveiling came about just a few days before Mexico City will host the International Federation of Association Football's (FIFA) Congress on May 12 and 13.

"Let all the world know that the first ball to be thrown was made in Mexico," said de Maria.

"Those who made a ball never imagined that when it rolled it would generate a series of emotions and that with every spin it gave it would become more robust because it would be accumulating the excitement of a game," added de Maria.

The leader of the soccer federation was accompanied by former FMF President, Justino Compean; the entity's secretary general, Guillermo Cantu, and the director of Mexico City government's Sports Institute, Horacio de la Vega. Endit