Last update 29 November, 2013 por Alberto Llopis
Olympic Stadium Peace, or Hernando Siles. It does not matter, that it does not matter, to refer to the football field highest altitude worldwide. Located in the Miraflores neighborhood of the Bolivian capital, their 3605 meters above sea level is a challenge especially for rival teams play in it. En él, lack oxygen, engarrotan legs and defeat is a faithful companion of anyone who does not suit your conditions.
The danger is so latent that only its long history prevented him from receiving a pardon by FIFA, when it imposed the rule prohibiting play from the 2.500 meters to preserve the health of players, yes previous campaign of President, Evo Morales and Diego Armando Maradona, scandalized because his team could not play their matches in their usual scenario.
And the Bolivian national team has always been the great hostess Stadium. It is true that on your lawn also compete three teams of the city such as The Strongest, Club Bolívar and formerly the La Paz CF, but the national team has always been the watchword of Hernando Siles since in 1978 the first international match was played in a play-off Europe / South America for a place in the World Cup Argentina 78 between Bolivia and Hungary, with victory of the European selection 3 a 2.
All of this, although Bolivia has never been a footballing power. FIFA World Cup just two behind ( Brasil 1950 and use 1994), the combined Xavier Azkargorta, sin embargo, has made stage World Cup qualifiers its authentic conquests. Aquí, Brazil fell 1993 for the first time in a preliminary stage towards World, here was thrashing Argentina's Messi on the bench led by Maradona 6-1, and here a priori as many selections as above were dissolved as a role that is undertaken by a storm.
Of course outside these World Cup qualifiers, There were other moments of glory, specially in 1997, when the America's Cup that Brazil was organized Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Edmundo and company would rise against fighter always local selection, what 34 years had left champion in the same competition in the same enclosure.
Of course not only football has lived the enclosure. His old running track and gave him to organize the South American Games, and its pitch to shelter some of the most famous bands in history.
and old, since its construction dates from 1930 despite a last complete remodeling 1977, it is still capable of harboring 42.000 spectators, all of them already seated from the 2007. All of this, under incredible atmosphere in their stands that contrasts with the Andean mountains that can be seen from within and shine it look great. And is that in La Paz, nature is always present.