A Mexican wave is a descriptive word developed from the movements of viewers who take part in the activity of moving in near synchrony, similar to an ocean wave. Most sports historians agree that it first appeared in international sports during the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
The term “Mexican wave” has since then been used by journalists and fans to describe similar patterns of applause that have been seen at other events including the 2007 Pan American Games, the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.
These waves can be seen in many sports from baseball to soccer. The most famous example was probably the “Mexican wave” which swept across Brazil during the last minutes of the second half of the final match of the 2014 World Cup between Germany and Argentina. It was named after the typical wave pattern which began in the south end of the stadium before spreading to the north where it met in the center of the field. This led some to compare the wave to the legend of the Mexican warrior Cuauhtemoc who was said to have done the same thing when defeating the French at the Battle of Monte Albán in 1762.
There are several theories about how this phenomenon started. Some say it was a coincidence while others claim it was planned by the organizers.
The wave (known as a Mexican wave outside of North America and simply as a stadium wave everywhere else) is an example of the metachronal rhythm created in a crowded stadium when consecutive groups of fans briefly rise, shout, and raise their arms. The wave can be seen at many sporting events worldwide, especially at Latin American games.
It was first introduced at a baseball game between the Brooklyn Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies on April 13, 1950. After the game, several fans were injured when they fell from the stands due to excessive excitement. The next day, the Los Angeles Times reported that the fans had been “driven mad by the enthusiasm” for the game and introduced the concept of a “Mexican wave” to describe the rising and falling movement of people inside stadiums.
Since then, this phenomenon has been observed at other sports events including football (USA), rugby (New Zealand), and ice hockey (Sweden).
In addition, there have been reports of waves being formed at theater shows and music concerts too. A wave is also used by some dancers to show off their moves!
This viral video featuring the wave at Energa Arena, Moscow, Russia is just one of many online.
17 minutes and 14 seconds Tube and their Japanese supporters set the record for the longest Mexican wave (timed) on September 23, 2015, at Hanshin Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Japan. The concert was attended by 2,115 people.
The record was previously held by a Mexican musician called Luis Enrique who could produce a Mexican wave lasting 17 minutes and 4 seconds. He did so at Monterrey Institute of Technology and Science on August 5, 2014.
Luis Enrique had used a wireless microphone to communicate with his crew during the show, but after several hours of this activity he became sick and had to leave the stage. When he returned later, the microphone had disappeared so he could not tell his fans that he had to quit. They saw him offstage and assumed that he had gone home so they stopped waving their shirts in the air.
After about 10 more songs, Luis Enrique came back on stage and told the audience that he wanted them to know that he was very sorry but that he had to stop because he felt too weak to continue. With that, the Mexican wave died out forever.
The record was later broken by a Japanese fan named Yuji Sugimoto who could produce a wave lasting nearly 18 minutes. He did so at Tokyo Dome on July 12, 2016.
Sports in Mexico
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