A capybara, also known as Carpincho, will be the official pet for the 46th edition of the oldest tournament in the world. Our followers can choose between two names: Capibi and Zizito, promoted in surveys on Facebook and Twitter.
He is nice, naughty, friendly and loves football. These are the characteristics of the capybara, the animal chosen as the official symbol of the CONMEBOL Copa América Brazil 2019. However, the 46th edition pet of the oldest tournament in the world has no name yet.
Hence, as of Friday, April 5, all football fans are invited to participate in the election of his name. Our followers will be able to choose between Capibi and Zizito in surveys that will be promoted in @copaamerica profiles on Facebook and Twitter until April 12.
• Capibi is a tribute to the indigenous population of South America, the people of the land. This name mixes the phonetics of the words in Tupi kapii'gwara- capybara - e yby - the ground that has stepped on.
• Zizito is a tribute to the Brazilian idol Zizinho, goal scorer of the CONMEBOL Copa America with 17 goals.
The capybara is present in South America and is known to relate very well with all the animals surround. It symbolizes the friendship, the kind manner in which the Brazilians will receive the football fans around the world in this great celebration of the South America football. "We invite the public to participate in the choice of our pet name, " explains Thiago Jannuzzi, general manager of competition of the CONMEBOL Copa América Brazil 2019 Local Organizing Committee.
The inspiration for the election of the Capybara as a pet of the CONMEBOL Copa América Brazil 2019 comes from the South American fauna. Of the most friendly and present animals on the continent, the capybara or capybara is known to be the most sociable and to coexist peacefully with other species around it. The major rodent in the world and inhabitant of the riverbanks, is an herbivorous mammal that weighs between 20 and 80 kg. They have dense and usually brown fur. Normally, they live in families of about seven to ten capybaras, being able to reach one hundred animals per group. The lifetime of the capybara goes from 6 to 12 years.
"The pets are the most important symbols of our main sporting events because the create an emotional connection with the fans, and so, they become in the true ambassadors of any the events," said Hugo Figueredo, director of National Teams competitions of the CONMEBOL.
CONMEBOL Copa América Mascots
In more than 100 years of the CONMEBOL Copa América, pets began to be part of the tournament history from 1987 when was presented in the edition in Argentina. Since then, twelve pets officially represented the hosts
1987 (Angertina): "Gardelito", was a children's version of the tango singer Carlos Gardel, great icon of the local culture.
1989 (Brazil): "Tico", a Sabiá, common bird in South America.
1991 (Chile): "Huaso", is a traditional knight of the Chilean rodeos stylized as a footballer.
1993 (Ecuador): "Choclito", the pet was made from a smiling ear of corn with the colors of the country´s flag. The corn is part of the patrimony of the Ecuatorian tradition, cultivated in almost all the national territory.
1995 (Uruguay): "Torito" is an orange bull, adorned with shirt and blue socks, besides of a pair of dark blue trousers and helmets painted as boots.
1997 (Bolivia): "Tatú", an Armadillo is a species found in most of South America.
1999 (Paraguay): "Taguá" a species of wild boar in danger of extinction at that time, which lives in the Paraguayan Chacos.
2001 (Colombia): "Ameriko" is a footballer alien with a name that means "America" in the Esperanto Language.
2004 (Perú): "Chasqui", a personal courier of the Inca Empire well prepared physically since they were youth to travel extensive roads carrying errands.
2007 (Venezuela): "Guaky", a Macaw, representative bird of Venezuela.
2011 (Argentina): "Tangolero" its a Rhea, similar bird to an ostrich. Found exclusively in South America. The name was a mixture of "Tango" and "golero" (goalkeeper).
2015 (Chile): "Zincha", a red-fox, the name has a meaning the link of the words "Zorro" (fox) and "Hincha", fan in Spanish.
CONMEBOL Copa América Brazil 2019
The 46th edition of the oldest tournament in the world, which returns to Brazil after 30 years, will be held in five host cities (Belo Horizonte, Porto Alegre, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and São Paulo) and with 12 national teams participating. In the championship, the winners of nine titles of the FIFA World Cup Will be reunited and some of the biggest stars in the world.
Besides the ten South American member countries of CONMEBOL (Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela), Japan and Qatar will be participants as guests.
After the draw held in January in Rio de Janeiro, Group A was composed of Brazil, Bolivia, Venezuela and Peru. Group B composed of Argentina, Colombia, Paraguay and Qatar, while Group stayed with Uruguay, Ecuador, Japan and Chile.
