BRAZIL: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Brazil says it will speed up 2014 World Cup preparations

Record ID: 346014

  • Title: BRAZIL: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Brazil says it will speed up 2014 World Cup preparations
  • Date: 8th June 2010
  • Summary: SILVA LEAVING BUILDING
  • Embargoed: 23rd June 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAE3FTCCJJT5KQTGNRP2HTTFC7J
  • Story Text: Brazil's Sports Minister Orlando Silva says the country will step up its preparations for the 2014 World Cup after the South African tournament.
    Brazil's Sports Minister Orlando Silva said on Monday (June 7) that the country would accelerate work on 2014 World Cup facilities after the South African tournament ends.
    Silva and the Brazilian Tourism Minister, Luiz Barreto, presented in Rio de Janeiro the government's campaign to advertise the country to foreign tourists and investors during the South Africa tournament.
    The project entitled "Brazil Sensational Experience" will promote Brazil's culture during the 2010 World Cup.
    Silva said that during the month-long event he will hand a report on Brazil's preparations for 2014 to FIFA's authorities, including President Sepp Blatter and General Secretary Jerome Valcke.
    After the presentation, Silva told reporters that work would start in earnest in July.
    "After July 2, we have to clearly show, not only to FIFA, that our goal, which is beginning to do what we have been planning, will become true. We have to start works, prepare professionals and improve services so Brazil can successfully host the 2014 World Cup," he said.
    Brazil has been criticized for missing deadlines on preparations for the event, which include building five stadiums from scratch and carrying out major overhauls of others.
    Of the 12 stadiums that need to be ready for the event across the huge South American country, only two have kept pace with the original schedule set out after Brazil was awarded the event in 2007.
    In May, Valcke sounded the alarm saying that Brazil "was not on the right path" for the 2014 tournament and that he had been worried by the latest progress report.
    Barreto told reporters that the government would use the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics, which would take place in Rio, to boost tourism in Brazil.
    "Our goal is to get close to 8 million foreign tourists in 2014, benefiting from the two international events -- that's our strategy," he said.
    The 2014 World Cup is forecast to inject 183 billion reais into Brazil's economy over 10 years from new infrastructure and tourism, according to a study commissioned by the ministry of sport.
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