The year 2011 is already looking pivotal in the build-up to the FIFA World Cup Brazil™, with fans and observers to start seeing the first tangible signs of the festival of football scheduled for 2014.
Penned in for the end of July will be the Preliminary Draw in Rio de Janeiro, which will define the groups for the qualifying phase of the competition. And in the days prior to the event, at which Brazil intends to begin showing the world what it can expect over the coming three years, there will be a number of workshops and seminars taking place in the same venue as the Preliminary Draw itself.
Another significant landmark due to take place over the course of 2011 will be the unveiling of the official slogan for Brazil 2014, while in addition work on three of the 12 stadiums which will host matches at the showpiece competition should have begun by the end of June. What is more, the decision on which venues will welcome games at the FIFA Confederations Cup 2013 will be made this year, as will the match calendar for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the launch of its volunteer programme.
As far as security matters are concerned, the proposed course of action for the competition will continue to grow and evolve. This will occur via meetings with the country’s various public security forces (municipal guards, military police, civil police and traffic officers), a process that has already been carried out with Brazil’s fire department. (more…)
Arena Fonte Nova
A committee of representatives of the Brazilian city of Salvador officially delivered their bid to host the 2014 World Cup opening game on Monday.
The committee traveled to Rio de Janeiro to hand in their candidacy to the president of the Brazilian Confederation of Soccer (CBF), Ricardo Teixeira.
Members of the Secretariat of Extraordinary Events of the 2014 World Cup as well as the vice-president of the Bahia Federation of Soccer and the chief of the Mayor’s cabinet of Salvador optimistically handed in a report with blueprints of the plans to build the Arena Fonte Nova, the city’s newest stadium planned especially to receive the World Cup.
Salvador is up against tough competition with the city of Sao Paulo, Brasilia and Belo Horizonte to receive the festive opening ceremonies and games. The CBF recently demonstrated their preference to Palmeiras’ new stadium that is currently under construction. However, the Arena Palestra Italia is projected to hold a maximum of 45,000 seats, well below the number required by FIFA to carry an opening game.
The city of Salvador has the support of neighboring states Rio Grande do Norte and Amazonas whose respective capital cities of Natal and Manaus were previously selected as host cities for the 2014 World Cup.
Source: Xinhua
FIFA concluded a weeklong visit to Brazil to discuss preparations for the 2014 World Cup by praising the local organizing committee.
“I’m very happy to see that the committee has been working hard,” FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said Friday.
Valcke and other FIFA officials met with organizers and government officials to get updates on the country’s arrangements ahead of soccer’s showcase.
They were in Rio de Janeiro on Friday and visited several areas to choose a venue for the World Cup qualifying draw next July and to find a location for the tournament’s media and broadcast center. FIFA said it will analyze the proposals made by local officials.
Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes said FIFA is inclined to choose the historic Forte de Copacabana to host the draw, and that it picked a building near city hall to install offices ahead of the tournament. The mayor said the media center also is likely to be located in the same area.
Valcke said visits to the other 11 host cities are planned.
“We will dedicate the same attention to the other cities,” he said.
There was no word on whether Valcke reviewed Sao Paulo‘s latest stadium proposal. Corinthians has announced it will build a new venue for the tournament but the project has not been officially presented to FIFA. It is the only host city without a current venue.
By TALES AZZONI
Brazil coach Mano Menzes
New Brazil coach Mano brings back only four World Cup players for a Tuesday friendly against the United States, his debut in the job after taking over from Dunga.
Santos striker Robinho, AC Milan defender Thiago Silva, Barcelona defender Daniel Alves and Benfica midfielder Ramires will be joined by 10 new players as the South Americans look to the 2012 London Olympics and 2014 World Cup.
AC Milan forward Alexandre Pato, Santos playmaker Neymar, Liverpool midfielder Lucas and defenders Rafael da Silva of Manchester United and Marcelo of Real Madrid are among the newcomers being touted as the top of the next generation of superstar talent for the five-time World Cup champions.
The Netherlands ousted Brazil in last month’s World Cup quarter-finals, sparking Dunga’s exit and a call for more flair from the Brazilians. (more…)
Brazil 2014 is set to be the first alcohol-free World Cup after organisers confirmed sales will be banned at games under anti-hooligan laws.
None of the 12 stadia which will host matches will be allowed to sell drinks because of violence which cost 42 lives in 10 years to 2008.
The ban was imposed in April 2008 by the Public Ministry, which represents Brazil’s magistrates.
World Cup organising committee director Rodrigo Paiva said a law change, which magistrates have pledged to fight, would be needed if stadia asked to sell alcohol.
State governments in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Pernambuco, where games will be played, also have local rules stopping sales, and minimum jail terms for offences were added last week.
Budweiser has paid £32million to be an event partner, though their beer will still be advertised at stadia and sold at fan zones.
Despite the ban, trouble still occurs, and a fan died in February as 14 were shot when Sao Paulo and Palmeiras fans clashed.
A fan was reported to have had his hand blown off as he tried to detonate a home-made bomb at the game.
By Alistair Grant
