FIFA World Cup 2010: Doubts Over Brazil’s organization And Mandela To Present Trophy
Sao Paulo is a city with deep roots in football history. A city which has had the likes of Kaka and Leonardo play within it for Sao Paulo F.C, and a legend such as Cafu born within it. This city might not get to host a single match for the 2014 World Cup which is scheduled to be held in Brazil.
This possibility came into being after the city failed to give FIFA financial guarantees. FIFA as a result have threatened to blacklist the city which will mean that Sao Paulo will not host any World Cup games during the 2014 World Cup. Major financial investment was required to renovate the Morumbi stadium which the city so far has failed to provide assurances about.
It is the first time in over 60 years that Brazil has been granted a right to host the football world cup; this is despite the fact that they are the most successful nation in football history. Brazil have produced numerous football legends such as Gerson, Pele, Jarzinho, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Rivaldo. The last time Brazil hosted the World Cup was in the year 1950.
Ricardo Teixeira, the chairman of the local organization committee told the media that if Sao Paulo wants to host football matches during the FIFA World Cup of 2014 then the deadline is getting close. He hinted that a new stadium can also be built by referring to the Cape Town stadium in South Africa, which was built by the city authorities in two and a half years.
Brazil’s progress with regard to improving stadiums and reinforcing their infrastructure has been very slow. FIFA’s secretary general Jerome Valcke said in the month of May that it is astonishing that no work has been done so far.
He remarked recently that the situation in Brazil had improved now and work was under way to build some of the new stadiums. He also added that a budget outline had been planned till the month of December for the year 2010.
Brazil is a huge country and its territorial size has got FIFA scratching its head. With the World Cup only four years away, FIFA have decided to tackle Brazil as a continent rather than a country. They have divided Brazil into four zones for the World Cup so that fans do not face a travelling time of more than two hours by plane from one venue to another.
FIFA have also expressed their concerns with regard to Curitiba, which is another city that has failed to provide sound financial certainties. As far as the FIFA World Cup which is currently taking place in South Africa is concerned, there has been a lot of speculation with regard to the trophy presentation ceremony that will be held at the soccer city on Sunday after the World Cup final.
Nelson Mandela who is a legendary political figure in South Africa is a favorite for many to present the trophy itself to the eventual champions. Sepp Blatter, FIFA’s president told the press that it will be a wonderful moment for Africa as a continent if Mandela is well enough to present the trophy at the soccer city stadium.
He also added that Mandela had the trophy in his hands when South Africa won the bid to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup in 2004. He informed the press that Mandela had already been given the invite to attend the match at the soccer city stadium but whether he stays for the whole match is unclear. Mandela is not only respected in South Africa but is also adored in all of Africa. Mandela did not attend the opening ceremony of the World Cup because of the death of his great grand-daughter.
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