Brazil venues struggle to meet World Cup deadline

[Zeppo]

Venues may not be ready for start of tournament

Infrastructure may not be "totally ready" for the start of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil because of building delays, admits Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke.

Two stadiums - in Porto Alegre and for the opening game in Sao Paulo on 12 June - are still not finished. But Valcke insisted there is "no way" that fixtures will be postponed.

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[Zeppo]

Brazilian Officials Say Safety Problems Ignored At São Paulo Stadium

Safety problems at the stadium hosting the World Cup opener in Brazil were being ignored so work could finish in time for the tournament, a top labor official said in an interview published on Thursday.

One of the main labor ministry officials in São Paulo told the Folha de S. Paulo newspaper that inspectors were "looking the other way" so the already-delayed stadium would be completed before the June 12 opener.

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[HL]

Same happened in South Africa.

The stadium will be finished on time.............

[Mosiah]

And in Greece for the Olympics.

I have been trying to tell 'im, HL!

[Zeppo]

South Africa was nowhere near this far behind just 2 months before the start of the tournament.

[Zeppo]

Work Resumes in Part of Brazil World Cup Stadium

Construction can resume in part of the stadium where a worker died while installing temporary seats for the World Cup opener, Brazilian labor officials said Monday.

Work had been partially stopped at the Itaquerao stadium because of safety concerns following the man's death on March 29.

Officials from the Labor Ministry inspected the venue on Monday and said most of the necessary safety measures had been implemented where the seats were being installed. Not all work at the stadium could resume, however, because construction crews had yet to install protective nets in another part of the site.

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[Zeppo]

Despite Delays, 'Brazil Will Be Well-Done Cup,' Says FIFA Chief

Although expectations are high for Brazil's football team at the World Cup, it's already clear the country didn't do a very good job preparing for the tournament.

With only two months before the opener, there are serious concerns about the country's readiness. Doubts remain about whether stadiums will be finished in time, and it's highly unlikely all promised infrastructure work will be completed.

Organizers will also have to worry about the widespread street protests that are expected during the tournament with demonstrators already unhappy about corruption, poor public services and the billions of dollars being spent to host the World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.

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[Zeppo]

Unfinished World Cup stadium worries FIFA

With 55 days to go before the kickoff of the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup, concerns is mounting over Brazil’s preparedness to host the Mundial after the Arena de Sao Paolo was handed over to its owners uncompleted.

The 68,000-seater stadium, which will host the World Cup’s opening match between Brazil and Croatia on 12 June, was returned back to its owners Corinthians in an unfinished state by construction firm, Odebrecht.

The stadium was supposed to have been completed in December, and while those in construction believe the venue will be ready on time for the world showpiece, various questions had been raised over the country’s readiness to host the event, with less than two month to kick-off.

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[Mosiah]

What am I going to do with these tickets I have for the opening match?

Kmt!

[Paul Marin]

What am I going to do with these tickets I have for the opening match?

Kmt!

Give them to me. Thanks.

[Mosiah]

Give them to me. Thanks.

But I wouldn't want to give you tickets to an event that may not happen. That would make...you walk alone! Sort of!

Zeppo, please continue to give us regular updates leading up to the greatest World Cup ever.

Thanks!

[Zeppo]

What am I going to do with these tickets I have for the opening match?

You can still go. Just don't forget your hard hat!

[Mosiah]

Nice colour too, Zeppo! Why didn't you show us the other side with the JFF logo, you undercover Reggae Boyz supporter!

[Zeppo]

Brazil stadium delays affect seat numbers

Football's international governing body FIFA does not know how many seats are available for this summer's World Cup tournament because of Brazil's failure to meet stadium construction deadlines.

The organisation's marketing director, Thierry Weil, said at a news conference in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday that seven per cent of tickets were being held back.

"We can't say exactly how many tickets there will be because we don't know the exact number of seats in the stadiums.We have held back 7 percent of the tickets until we really know how many tickets will be available."

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[Peter R]

The Olympics people are having some concerns too it appears.

However, WC (and Olympics) will happen... it's one of those things that are "too big to fail".