tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92045187624388455222024-02-06T19:32:05.334-08:00O Brasil e a Copa de 2014Esse é um espaço para divulgar e armazenar todo material a respeito da Copa de 2014 que encontro na internet. Quem tiver interesse pode participar mandando matérias, artigos e fotos.
Esse blog tem como objetivo principal acumular material para debates nas aulas de Educação Física.eutestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14161427650636426971noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204518762438845522.post-57056230548479299522009-07-30T05:01:00.000-07:002009-07-30T05:02:07.196-07:00China Development Plans Brazil, Russia, Egypt OfficesJuly 29 (Bloomberg) -- China Development Bank Corp., the state-run bank for public works projects, opened its first branch outside the mainland in Hong Kong today and plans offices in Russia, Egypt and Brazil as part of a global expansion push.<br /><br />The offices will start operating in Moscow and Cairo this year and the Rio de Janeiro area next year, Vice President Li Jiping told a press conference. The Beijing-based bank agreed in May to lend $10 billion to Brazil’s state-controlled oil company, helped finance a fund in Africa and extended loans in June to Russia’s development bank.<br /><br />“Our strategic goal is to become an internationalized bank,” Li told reporters, adding that the Hong Kong branch will cover Asia. “Mainland organizations can effectively go out to the international market through this Hong Kong platform.” <span id="fullpost"><br />Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said on July 20 that the nation’s more than $2 trillion of foreign-exchange reserves should be used to help companies invest abroad. China’s “going out” strategy is also designed to help ensure the nation has access to the resources needed to sustain the fastest economic expansion among the world’s 20 largest economies.<br /><br />The bank agreed to lend $1.3 billion to Vnesheconombank, Russia’s state development bank, the Moscow-based lender said June 14. The China-Africa Development Fund, which has helped finance a cotton facility in Malawi and power station in Ghana, was set up in June 2007 with an initial $1 billion from China Development Bank.<br /><br />Brazil Plan<br /><br />The branch in Brazil will invest in ports, steel mills and energy, Rio de Janeiro state Governor Sergio Cabral said on June 30. The bank also has expressed interest in investing in projects related to the 2014 World Cup soccer tournament and Rio’s bid for the 2016 Olympics, Cabral said in a statement. The city is home to Petroleo Brasileiro SA, which is considering buying Chinese equipment in return for further loans, and Vale SA, the world’s largest iron-ore producer.<br /><br />China, the world’s third-biggest economy, became Brazil’s leading trade partner this year after the global recession choked sales to the U.S. The two countries’ central banks are studying a proposal to use their own currencies -- the real and the yuan -- in bilateral trade instead of the U.S. dollar.<br /><br />Leaders of Brazil, Russia, India and China -- the so-called BRIC nations -- called for a “more diversified” monetary system to reduce dependency on the U.S. dollar at a June 16 meeting in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg.<br /><br />China Development Bank’s profit tumbled 28 percent last year on higher loan losses as the nation’s economic growth slowed. The bank, which had 3.8 trillion yuan ($556.3 billion) of assets at the end of 2008, received a $20 billion capital injection from the government in December 2007 and is seeking to become a commercial lender. The Ministry of Finance owns 51.3 percent of the bank and Central Huijing Investment Co., a unit of China’s $200 billion sovereign wealth fund, holds the rest. <br /><br />Fonte: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601116&sid=aFpu.S6OqI2c</span>eutestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14161427650636426971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204518762438845522.post-85758514062010936742009-07-30T04:59:00.000-07:002009-07-30T05:00:16.239-07:00Top soccer official to invite Obama to World CupNEW YORK — FIFA president Sepp Blatter has specific ideas on upgrading the popularity of soccer in the United States. He hopes he has an eager listener in President Barack Obama.<br /><br />Blatter plans to extend a personal invitation to Obama to attend the 2010 World Cup in South Africa when the two meet at the White House on Monday.<br /><br />In an interview with The Associated Press on Sunday, Blatter said the invitation has been extended and that he will "confirm it" at the meeting.<br /><br />"I know there are people around the president who are football fans, and that they will make everything possible in his agenda that the president be at the opening of the World Cup or the final," Blatter said.<br /><br />Blatter also plans to discuss the state of U.S. Soccer with the president, including Major League Soccer's spring-through-fall schedule, and the United States' bids to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.<span id="fullpost"><br />"I spoke with (MLS commissioner) Don Garber and (U.S. Soccer president) Sunil Gulati yesterday again," Blatter said. "We want also to have in this country a very strong professional league. The problem is, when they play out of the international season, they never attract the great players from the European market.<br /><br />"They have to look at it and whether they can change the schedule and enter into the international (fall-to-spring) calendar. We can only suggest."<br /><br />Blatter, who attended the Gold Cup final between the U.S. team and Mexico at a sold-out Giants Stadium on Sunday, is concerned that MLS can never become entrenched in this country if the best American players aren't playing in it. He noted that 18 of the 23 players on the U.S. squad that finished a stunning second in the Confederations Cup earlier this summer are on European club rosters.<br /><br />"If they want to be called a major league ... and have this impact of other major leagues like American football, baseball and the NBA, I think they are far away in quality," he said. "I think with the number of participants on the youth level, they should try to do it.<br /><br />"For the national team, they are not the only one with players mostly not playing inside the country. It's the same as Brazil and Argentina, who have most of their players in Europe. It can't help football in the U.S. if the heroes and stars are not playing here. How can the youth identify with the game?"<br /><br />The entire soccer movement in the United States could receive a tremendous boost if the 2018 or 2022 World Cup is awarded to the Americans. FIFA will decide in December 2010, with England considered the front-runner for '18 — Blatter has expressed a preference for bringing the tournament back to Europe after stints in Africa and then South America, where Brazil will host the 2014 World Cup.<br /><br />Blatter, as always, was noncommittal on the bids. The United States is one of 11 countries that has formally declared its desire to host either event, while Netherlands-Belgium and Portugal-Spain have submitted joint bids.<br /><br />But he is firm in his support of awarding both tournaments at the same time.<br /><br />"One big reason is it gives the local organizing committee more time for the preparation of the tournament," he said. "Also, looking at who would be interested in 2018, there were 10 (bidders) indicating they would like to have it. We can not go 10 for one, so we said, `Let's go for two World Cups.'<br /><br />"It's also very important for our partners — economic and television — and for FIFA to know where we will go. The interest is so huge in having the World Cup."<br /><br />Fonte:http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hicieQgYvI5xr7e-u7BWqhFicTBAD99MB2AO2 </span>eutestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14161427650636426971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204518762438845522.post-45249865776315578002009-07-30T04:57:00.000-07:002009-07-30T04:58:32.399-07:00Britain now hot host for top sports eventsLONDON — Not so long ago, the world's top sports events bypassed Britain because of a combination of poor finances and arrogance. Now they can't wait to get a taste of Wembley, Lord's, Old Trafford and Twickenham.<br /><br />A decade ago, England's bid to stage soccer's 2006 World Cup was a flop and, when Britain was effectively handed the athletics world track and field in 2005, it had to pull out as plans to build a new stadium in North London were scrapped because of insufficient finances and poor transportation links.<br /><br />What a difference a few years make.<br /><br />London has the 2012 Olympics, Glasgow will stage the 2014 Commonwealth Games and now England will host the 2015 Rugby World Cup and the 2019 cricket World Cup.<span id="fullpost"><br />England is also one of the favourites to stage the 2018 World Cup of soccer. Although it faces strong opposition from around the globe, if it gets that too when FIFA votes in December 2010, the next decade will become Britain's greatest ever in terms of hosting international sports events.<br /><br />Keith Mills, who is on the board of the 2018 World Cup bid and helped to secure the 2012 Olympics for London, said the country was hampered by a perceived arrogance.<br /><br />"The general impression was that we were an arrogant country who thought we knew it all," he said. "We now go into bids with a very different attitude.<br /><br />"Rather than telling everyone how great we are, we ask them what sort of competition they want. Listening is the best form of selling."<br /><br />The 2015 Rugby World Cup and 2013 Rugby League equivalent were the latest captures on Tuesday and, with grounds already in existence to stage them, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the nation was ideally equipped to handle all these events.<br /><br />"The Rugby World Cup is yet another tremendous event to add to the country's decade of sport and another chance to show our nation's passion for sport and what world-class facilities we have to offer," he said.<br /><br />The rebuilt 90,000 capacity Wembley Stadium is one of 11 grounds being used for the rugby championship and will also host the 2011 Champions League final, European soccer's premier club competition.<br /><br />The home of English rugby, Twickenham now has a capacity of 82,000 while the Rugby Football Union will also use soccer grounds such as the 76,000-capacity Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United, Arsenal's 60,000 Emirates Stadium, Newcastle's St. James' Park (52,000) and Liverpool's Anfield (45,000).<br /><br />Although it is in Wales, Cardiff's 74,000-capacity Millennium Stadium is another option.<br /><br />The soccer grounds also play a major part in England's bid to stage the World Cup in 2018 for the first time since England won the title in 1966. England successfully staged the European Championship in 1996 and it was on that basis that it decided to bid for the 2006 World Cup despite having reportedly pledged to support Germany.<br /><br />The Football Association's bid ended after the first two rounds of voting when FIFA's executive committee gave it to the Germans, just ahead of South Africa. FIFA did not go along with England's campaign that the World Cup should go to the game's inventors.<br /><br />Ten years on, the tourism industry is looking forward to seeing millions of sports fans heading to the UK to watch the big events staged here.<br /><br />"Britain will be the sports fans' dream destination in coming years as a golden decade of major sporting occasions draws millions of people from around the world," said Sandie Dawe, chief executive of national tourism agency VisitBritain.<br /><br />"A third of potential visitors to Britain would be very likely to watch sporting events here. We have a real opportunity to raise awareness of destinations with unique links to different sports, of our cathedrals of sport like Lord's, Wimbledon, the Millennium Stadium and (Glasgow's) Hampden Park, and our remarkably varied sporting calendar."<br /><br />Fonte: http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5hj5lFNm4K3mmeFX4xhKpwT-yFnPA </span>eutestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14161427650636426971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204518762438845522.post-13261566038932872482009-07-29T05:24:00.000-07:002009-07-29T05:25:40.501-07:00Normal Rotation Could Put World Cup in United States in 2018By Liz Clarke<br />Washington Post Staff Writer<br />Tuesday, July 28, 2009<br /><br />The United States has a good chance of hosting the 2018 World Cup if soccer's governing body adheres to its principle of rotating the massive sporting event continent to continent, FIFA President Sepp Blatter said Monday.<br /><br />But, Blatter added, many Europeans in the organization feel that Europe (which hosted in 2006) should be awarded every third World Cup, which would favor England, Spain or perhaps another country on the continent.<br /><br />The conflicting views will be reconciled in December 2010, when FIFA is expected to award hosting rights to the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. <span id="fullpost"><br />Between now and then, the United States and its 10 rivals will submit detailed proposals and engage in deft political maneuvering to curry FIFA's favor.<br /><br />On Monday, President Obama got the U.S. campaign off to a start that Blatter conceded "merits a compliment" -- demonstrating his own appreciation for "the beautiful game" by dribbling a soccer ball that Blatter had presented him in the Oval Office.<br /><br />Blatter said afterward that Obama, whose basketball prowess is well-known, isn't ready for a spot on the U.S. national team. But, he joked, Obama probably could have made the second-tier U.S. squad that was trounced by Mexico, 5-0, in the CONCACAF Gold Cup match he attended Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J., as part of his four-day visit to the United States.<br /><br />The key item on Blatter's U.S. tour was the meeting with Obama, in which they discussed ways of strengthening soccer in the United States. Blatter called it "a great encounter."<br /><br />In addition, Blatter presented a formal invitation to the president and his family to attend the 2010 World Cup, which will be hosted by South Africa. According to Blatter, Obama directed his aides to consult his agenda.<br /><br />FIFA's policy of rotating the World Cup was adopted in 2000 and largely responsible for the decision to award the 2010 event to South Africa. Brazil will host the 2014 World Cup.<br />ad_icon<br /><br />But in 2007, FIFA voted to drop the rotation in 2018.<br /><br />"[If] we go again in a rotation, after South America, there should be North America coming in," Blatter said. "That would be the normal way to go."<br /><br />The United States hosted the 1994 World Cup, and MLS, the country's professional league, was launched in 1996 as a result. But neither has catapulted soccer's popularity to the level FIFA officials had hoped.<br /><br />Blatter said he understood that the United States' crowded sports landscape represented a challenge for extending soccer's foothold. He praised the strides the women's game has made, noting: "You have the best women footballers here in this country." And he accentuated the positives when asked if the country's inability to capitalize on the 1994 World Cup should count against it in the next round of voting.<br /><br />"Yes, it has not had the impact we expected," Blatter conceded. "But it was the first World Cup organization, and so far the only one, where all tickets were sold, and all seats were occupied. So this is a good legacy of the organizational skill of the United States."<br /><br />Sunil Gulati, president of the U.S. Soccer Federation, who accompanied Blatter, called it a positive meeting.<br /><br />"The president knows the game," Gulati said. "His daughters play. And he was very receptive, asking what else he could do to help with both the bid and the development of the game." <br /><br />Fonte: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/27/AR2009072702503.html</span>eutestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14161427650636426971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204518762438845522.post-42365050573568683862009-07-27T13:19:00.000-07:002009-07-27T13:21:31.405-07:00Obama Lobbying for U.S. to Play Host for Soccer World Cup<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-nZrjaeNugguce-BEZ_RySMCPXz7gLOvG0hj2ejymZzp9VT71JYuZvBG-qNeeCzuwgUv1m-Ilnp44h0saY_gQcSkxBf_gn5ss0qqwdHKw1H2UhMpXX6mOnvt3kh0H73I68ZSPmIKboTPs/s1600-h/obama.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 104px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-nZrjaeNugguce-BEZ_RySMCPXz7gLOvG0hj2ejymZzp9VT71JYuZvBG-qNeeCzuwgUv1m-Ilnp44h0saY_gQcSkxBf_gn5ss0qqwdHKw1H2UhMpXX6mOnvt3kh0H73I68ZSPmIKboTPs/s320/obama.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363237693504742738" /></a><br />By Hans Nichols<br /><br />July 27 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama will be lobbying the head of soccer’s international governing body today to bring the World Cup to the U.S.<br /><br />The president also will get a personal invitation from Sepp Blatter, head of world governing body FIFA, to attend next year’s tournament in South Africa, a trip in which Obama has expressed interest.<br /><br />“We’ll use the opportunity of the meeting to advocate for the United States to host the World Cup in either 2018, or 2022,” Josh Earnest, deputy White House press secretary, said of this afternoon’s discussion between Obama and Blatter.<br /><br />The international tournament is held every four years. The host for the 2014 World Cup will be Brazil. Blatter said in an interview yesterday that he expects a “big fight” over the chance to host the championship.<br /><br />At last month’s G-8 summit in L’Aquila, Italy, Obama said it was his “goal” to travel to South Africa next June to attend the World Cup.<br /><br />White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said that no final decision has been made. He suggested that many of the president’s senior staff want him to make the trip.<br /><br />“Scheduling has warned me against accepting unilaterally invitations to visit South Africa,” Gibbs said. “I don’t know if we’ll have any announcements out of that meeting.” <br /><br />Fonte: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601079&sid=amSIiXAydsOMeutestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14161427650636426971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204518762438845522.post-42500697361674192242009-07-27T07:12:00.000-07:002009-07-27T07:13:56.269-07:00SACA's $350m super oval revealedRICHARD EARLE, CRICKET WRITER<br /><br />July 24, 2009 09:25pm<br /><br />THE South Australian Cricket Association has revealed a $350 million plan to upgrade Adelaide Oval.<br /><br />The move is designed to secure AFL matches from 2014 and World Cup soccer fixtures.<br /><br />The SACA, the South Australian National Football League and the Australian Football League will pursue talks next month aimed at consolidating Adelaide Oval as a mutually beneficial, multipurpose venue. SACA chief executive Mike Deare told The Advertiser a redeveloped Bradman Stand with 16,000 seats was the key to increasing capacity to the 45,000-seat figure required to host AFL and international sporting events. <span id="fullpost"><br />"There has been a meeting of minds between the SANFL, AFL and SACA that we should jointly explore what might be in the best interests of us all by future development of Adelaide Oval," Mr Deare said.<br /><br />AFL chief executive and "brilliant facilitator" Andrew Demetriou had kick-started the process 12 months ago, he said. "The preliminary estimates say that we are probably talking in the vicinity of $350 million to $400 million to take the stadium up to 45,000 capacity."<br /><br />"The SACA, SANFL and AFL have the capacity, I believe, to deliver that sort of venue for the benefit of SA."<br /><br />There is distinct desire emanating from influential quarters to fast-track the establishment of a world class, city-based stadium.<br /><br />Mr Demetriou and Football Federation Australia counterpart Ben Buckley will be in Adelaide this week for talks with the State Government.<br /><br />FFA must decide on host cities and venues by October and wants to cement "a truly national bid" for the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup.<br /><br />FFA spokeswoman Bonita Mersiades said: "SACA has briefed senior FFA representatives on their plans for Adelaide Oval, and we have provided preliminary feedback on the technical requirements to ensure a venue is FIFA World Cup-compliant. FFA is hoping to meet with the SA Government again next week."<br /><br />Crucially needed government support would be about $700 million less than that needed to build a new, $1 billion stadium proposed by the Liberal Opposition.<br /><br />Treasurer Kevin Foley has already raised the possibility of switching $100 million for a proposed refurbishment of unpopular AAMI Stadium to Adelaide Oval with Federal Sports Minister Kate Ellis responsible for securing extra investment in Canberra.<br /><br />Mr Deare said: "From our perspective we would like to see it (Bradman Stand redevelopment) finished by 2014. The World Cup cricket is in 2015 and if World Cup soccer is in 2018, FIFA will want to see really solid evidence of this venue being developed.<br /><br />"It is no secret the State (Government) has a preference for Adelaide Oval as a major venue and the FFA said this is the venue it wants World Cup soccer played at in Adelaide."<br /><br />If Adelaide Oval becomes a FIFA World Cup venue, the focus will intensify on staging Crows and Power games at the ground.<br /><br />The SANFL would be able to make a lucrative full or partial sale of AAMI Stadium, with the proceeds securing its future and likely senior partner status at Adelaide Oval. On May 11, SACA president Ian McLachlan revealed in The Advertiser that SACA would cede control of Adelaide Oval and share the venue with the SANFL – a move scuttled by Sir Don Bradman 40 years ago.<br /><br />Mr Deare acknowledged there were hurdles to jump before the SANFL and the SACA again cohabit, along with Crows and Power games played at Adelaide Oval.<br /><br />The SANFL's public stance is to maintain football's headquarters at AAMI Stadium.<br /><br />Yet the risk of no reconciliation could have dire repercussions.<br /><br />"Working with two venues for a city of Adelaide's size doesn't work," said Mr Deare, whose organisation received $50 million in state and federal funding to upgrade the stadium's western grandstand. "The Commonwealth and the State have indicated they are ready to help, provided we come back to them with the right sort of business plan."<br /><br />It was a model, insisted Mr Deare, where the "whole of SA wins". "The SANFL gets this monkey off its back about the problem of the venue being too far away and attendance issues," he said, glossing over Port Adelaide's desperation to jag a bonanza stadium deal in town. "The city gets a venue which could host major World Cup cricket and soccer and the Commonwealth Games."<br /><br />Ultimately, SACA and SANFL constituents must approve any union at Adelaide Oval.<br /><br />"We need to have a complete business plan, agreed between the SACA and SANFL – with the AFL's input and support – and then we can go to our members," Mr Deare said.<br /><br />Because Adelaide Oval is situated in the parklands, it cannot attract major project status. This means any development must first be considered by Adelaide City Council.<br /><br />Fonte: http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,27574,25831480-2682,00.html</span>eutestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14161427650636426971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204518762438845522.post-2266262414828874352009-07-27T07:11:00.001-07:002009-07-27T07:11:46.131-07:00Brazil 'can afford' World Cup, Olympics - LulaSAO PAULO, Brazil — Brazil is financially well-equipped to stage the 2014 football World Cup as well as the 2016 Olympic Games, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Friday.<br /><br />"We meet all the requirements for the World Cup but we want more - we also want the 2016 Olympic Games, Lula said in an interview with Sao Paolo's Radio Globo.<br /><br />The president promised 80 billion Reales (29.7 billion euros) would be available to fund the 2014 World Cup which world football body FIFA awarded to Brazil two years ago.<br /><br />The radio station has carried out a survey of 12 Brazilian cities which would be involved in the soccer tournament, estimating stadium infrastructure and other essential facilities would add up to at least 80 billion.<br /><br />"Obviously we would not want to organize the World Cup if we did not have the money," added the President.<br /><br />The International Olympic Committee is to make a final decision on October 2 about the location of the 2016 Olympics, with Rio de Janeiro, Madrid, Tokyo and Chicago in the running.<br /><br />Fonte: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i9EpKRIRAC60lldwAfbeA3NgIX_Qeutestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14161427650636426971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204518762438845522.post-23849989429884772962009-07-27T07:09:00.000-07:002009-07-27T07:10:31.069-07:00Head of US World Cup bid says he is not ruling 2018 outCHICAGO — The United States isn't conceding the 2018 World Cup to Europe.<br /><br />Despite the likelihood that FIFA will favour going back to Europe for that tournament, the head of the U.S. bid committee said Thursday it hasn't given up hope of hosting in 2018.<br /><br />The United States is one of 11 countries that has formally declared its desire to host the World Cup in either 2018 or 2022; Netherlands-Belgium and Portugal-Spain have submitted joint bids.<br /><br />The World Cup will be in South Africa in 2010 and Brazil in 2014, the first time it has left Europe for consecutive tournaments.<span id="fullpost"><br />FIFA president Sepp Blatter has already said there is a "general understanding" that Europe will play host in 2018, making 2022 a more realistic option for the United States.<br /><br />"It may turn out to be that way," said David Downs, executive director of USA Bid Committee Inc. "If that would be the case, it would not bother us. But we're not giving up on 2018 by any stretch."<br /><br />FIFA's executive committee will decide on both bids in December 2010. Eight of the 23 executive committee members are from Europe.<br /><br />The United States has only hosted one World Cup, and the 1994 event drew a record 3.59 million fans. The 2018 or 2022 World Cup would be an even bigger success, Downs predicted, estimating ticket sales could easily reach five million.<br /><br />Though soccer is far more popular in the United States than it was in 1994, there is still plenty of room for growth, Downs said.<br /><br />"If hosting the World Cup would enfranchise more generations, that would impact the entire sport for years to come," Downs said.<br /><br />Though the quality of play has improved in Major League Soccer, which started play in 1996, it still has a long way to go to rival top European leagues.<br /><br />Blatter maintains the league needs to switch to a traditional soccer schedule that starts in August and ends in the spring, rather than its current format of starting in the spring and ending in the fall.<br /><br />While Downs said he's "very proud" of the strides MLS has made, he knows the bid committee will have to find a way to let FIFA members know MLS is only a small portion of U.S. soccer culture.<br /><br />There are people who don't have interest in going to an MLS game, but play on the weekends, follow the English Premier League or come out for a U.S. national team game.<br /><br />"People care here, in enormous numbers," he said.<br /><br />Downs has been visiting possible sites for a U.S. World Cup during the CONCACAF Gold Cup. The three-week tournament used 13 sites throughout the country, including the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium.<br /><br />The U.S. bid will include 18 stadiums, and Downs expects there would be 12 to 14 sites for an American World Cup.<br /><br />Though the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas have some of the older stadiums under consideration, Downs said he can't imagine a U.S. bid without games in California.<br /><br />There has been talk of new arenas in both cities, and Downs said the bid committee will make clear to FIFA that changes could be made as stadiums are built or updated.<br /><br />While some have questioned why FIFA is picking the 2018 and 2022 cities at the same time, Downs said he has no problem with it.<br /><br />In fact, he's glad the United States is getting two shots.<br /><br />"Given the amount of effort we have to put in for this bid, to know if we didn't get 2018 that we have a fighting chance for 2022 is extremely comforting," Downs said.<br /><br />"It would be heartbreaking to not get 2018 and be told, 'Go away, don't come back for 20 years."' </span>eutestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14161427650636426971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204518762438845522.post-6804327885895135102009-07-27T07:08:00.001-07:002009-07-27T07:08:53.262-07:00SOCCERSAO PAULO -- Cities in Brazil could spend more than $40 billion on infrastructure alone for the 2014 World Cup, according to a report Wednesday.<br /><br />The 12 cities hosting matches have projected spending a total of $41.7 billion, Globo's G1 Web site said.<br /><br />The total includes costs for new stadiums and improvements in transportation, public safety, health systems and several other areas, G1 said after analyzing the projects of each city. The money for the projects is expected to come from both the public and private sectors.<br /><br />Nearly half of the total investments are expected to take place in Sao Paulo, South America's biggest city, which plans to spend $19.1 billion.<br /><br />Brasilia, the capital city, said it plans to spend only $315 million, mostly on the renovation of Mane Garrincha Stadium.<br /><br />Other cities hosting matches are Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Porto Alegre, Curitiba, Salvador, Recife, Natal, Fortaleza, Manaus and Cuiaba. <br /><br />Fonte: http://www.theeagle.com/sports/Third--amp-amp--Short2009-07-22T22-22-16eutestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14161427650636426971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204518762438845522.post-46796815739970805562009-07-27T07:06:00.000-07:002009-07-27T07:07:14.962-07:00Brazil's $40 billion price tag[WORLD CUP 2014] The price tag for Brazil's 2014 World Cup could top $40 billion. That's the estimate of a report released Wednesday on stadium and infrastructure spending projects planned by the 12 cities that will host the competition.<br /><br />Globo's G1 Web site projected spending to reach $41.7 billion. The money will come from a combination of public and private forces.<br /><br />Sao Paulo will be the big spender with plans to spend more than $19 billion.<br /><br />Other cities hosting matches are the capital Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Porto Alegre, Curitiba, Salvador, Recife, Natal, Fortaleza, Manaus and Cuiaba.<br /><br />One of the projects Brazil hopes to finish for the World Cup is its first high-speed rail project from Rio to Sao Paulo at a cost of $18 billion, 50 percent more than the government's previously estimated price.<br /><br /> Fonte: http://www.socceramerica.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.showArticleHomePage&art_aid=33312eutestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14161427650636426971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204518762438845522.post-27217960085833745152009-07-27T07:03:00.000-07:002009-07-27T07:04:11.269-07:00Brazilian Cities Hosting 2014 World Cup to Get US$ 1.5 Billion from GovernmentWritten by Luciana Lima <br />Thursday, 23 July 2009<br /><br />Salvador, one of the cities to host the World Cup in Brazil Brazil has earmarked 3 billion Brazilian reais (US$ 1.5 billion) for investment in works turned to the Soccer World Cup 2014, and intends to release a package of works, entitled the World Cup PAC (Portuguese acronym for Growth Acceleration Program).<br /><br />According to the Brazilian minister of Cities, Márcio Fortes, the bulk of funds should go to works pertaining to the world soccer championship, but the total figure will only be defined after a meeting with representatives of the municipalities that will host the matches. <span id="fullpost"><br />The cities hosting the soccer extravaganza will be Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Brasília, Belo Horizonte, Cuiabá, Curitiba, Fortaleza, Manaus, Natal, Porto Alegre, Recife e Salvador.<br /><br />"This is only an initial figure. We have not set a figure yet. These 3 billion reais will allow us to take the first step. The total value of projects is not known yet. We are going to hold talks with mayors to learn which projects are priorities," said the minister.<br /><br />The funds will be supplied by Pró-Transporte, a financing program funded by the Severance Pay Indemnity Fund (FGTS) whose regulation was passed last year by the fund's Board of Curators.<br /><br />According to Fortes, several city halls have already contacted the ministry and showed interest in partnership for carrying out infrastructure work turned exclusively to the Cup that will be held in Brazil.<br /><br />"For some time now, the city halls that will host the matches have been contacting us. The city halls have had meetings with the Fifa [International Football Federation] and several projects were outlined. Our approach consists of dealing only with projects exclusively turned to the Cup. Our goal right now is not to solve transport-related issues in the city. We are going to help solve the issues pertaining to the events," he stated.<br /><br />According to the minister, another factor to be analyzed by the Ministry of Cities is usefulness and sustainability of the investment after the competition is over. "We are not going to deal with huge projects. The cheapest and most efficient means of transport will be used. Of course, each case will be analyzed separately," he explained.<br /><br />Fortes stated that the PAC of the Cup is going to include partnerships with city halls and state governments, as well as some partnerships with the private sector.<br /><br />"The keyword is partnership. The federal government will not undertake anything by itself. It will be similar to the infrastructure PAC, in which we already have partnerships with city halls and state governments, as well as public-private partnerships. We are going to review the type of investment proposed, analyze their size, and the need for private sector participation, which may take place in different ways. The private sector may build and then lease the assets, or perhaps operate them. All of that will be discussed," he stated.<br /><br />The minister also informed that preparations for the World Cup already include the creation of a line of financing, with funds from the FGTS, for renewing the bus fleet across the country, a decision made approximately two months ago. The line will be made available by the Brazilian Federal Savings Bank with total funds of 1 billion reais (US$ 525 million). <br /><br />Fonte:http://www.brazzilmag.com/content/view/10994/1/ </span>eutestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14161427650636426971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204518762438845522.post-39368458805134579682009-07-27T07:01:00.000-07:002009-07-27T07:02:08.173-07:00Prosecutors to oppose alcohol sale in 2014 World Cup in BrazilSAO PAULO — Brazilian prosecutors are promising to fight FIFA if alcohol is allowed to be sold in stadiums during the 2014 World Cup of soccer in Brazil.<br /><br />One of FIFA's main sponsors is beermaker Anheuser-Busch.<br /><br />"We will do everything we can to stop this from happening," prosecutor Paulo Castilho told the official government news service Agencia Brasil. "In defence of society, we will use every weapon we have against this."<br /><br />The prosecutor said economic issues should not interfere with the well-being of fans and society in general.<br /><br />The Brazilian Football Confederation prohibits alcohol sales in Brazilian stadiums, but it is not a law passed by congress and it could be easily reversed during the World Cup.<br /><br />"A powerful (brewer) coming here should not take control of things," Castilho said.<br /><br />Fonte: http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jkx0_ipn9zSs3hK8U-jCSIrHi_wQeutestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14161427650636426971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204518762438845522.post-52259340226892370052009-07-27T06:59:00.000-07:002009-07-27T07:01:13.667-07:00Bidding For The World Cup: Blatter Approves Joint Belgium-Netherlands Bid...Blatter reassures Dutch-Belgium bid<br /><br />FIFA President Sepp Blatter has moved to reassure Belgium and the Netherlands of the validity of their joint World Cup bid, describing the neighbors as part of the same “political entity.”<br /><br />Japan and South Korea jointly hosted the 2002 World Cup Finals, but Blatter has made clear that he does not want to repeat the co-hosting experience. There was a sense that Japan-South Korea was, in effect, two World Cups rolled into one, with two local organizing committees effectively competing against each other, rather than cooperating.<span id="fullpost"><br />Speaking after a visit to the Belgium-Netherlands organizing committee in Brussels on Monday, Blatter insisted the Belgian-Dutch bid was “totally different.” <br /><br />"A candidature of the Netherlands and Belgium should be accepted as we have evidence that there is one organizing committee... If they talk of Luxembourg too, it is Benelux which is a political entity," he said.<br /><br />Blatter, who also visited Belgian King Albert and his Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy, said that the bid was “appealing.” The two countries jointly hosted the 2000 European Championships.<br /><br />However, when pressed by journalists the FIFA President refused to endorse the joint Spain/Portugal bid.<br />Although the Spanish FA have insisted it plans on going ahead with the joint bid, persistent media speculation within Spain suggests they are seriously considering going it alone.<br /><br />London Olympic Stadium may yet host World Cup – Jowell<br /><br />British Olympics minister Tessa Jowell has hinted at a softening of her position on the use of London’s Olympic Stadium as a possible venue for the 2018 World Cup, saying if England’s bid was successful there would be a case for “re-examination” of current plans to turn it into an athletics stadium.<br /><br />London’s host city bid team have included the 80,000 stadium in their bid to the Football Association, and Olympics organizers have indicated a willingness to explore plans to keep it at its full capacity, rather than reduce it to a 25,000 capacity athletics stadium after the games.<br /><br />But Jowell has been a persistent opponent of plans to use the Olympics Stadium as a large-scale football stadium post-2012.<br /><br />In the House of Commons on Monday she was asked by shadow sports minister, Hugh Robertson, to “re-examine” her opposition to the proposal.<br /><br />The minister replied: "I have discussed this with [Olympic legacy company chairwoman] Baroness Ford. We have not yet won the right to hold the World Cup in 2018. Clearly, if our excellent bid is successful, of course there is a case for re-examination.”<br /><br />But Jowell added a cautionary note, saying that maintenance of an enlarged Olympic Stadium was “not cost free.”<br /><br />“The House should understand that plans will proceed in order to make sure that we honor our commitment to the IOC and to athletes across the country in the (Olympic) bid book that we will have, as a legacy for the Games, a 20,000 grand prix-capable athletics stadium," she added.<br /><br />Football Association technical teams have continued their first round of host city applications this week, with visits to Milton Keynes, Derby and Portsmouth.<br /><br />Officials in Derby claimed inspectors were “impressed” by their plans, while local media in Milton Keynes described its inspection day “one of the most important days in the city's [sic] history.<br /><br />In a separate development Sheffield City Council has approved a planning application to extend Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane. Under the plans 3000 seats will be added to the Kop, bringing total capacity up to 36,000. <br /><br />Bramall Lane is one of two stadiums Sheffield has put forward in its host city bid. United say they will increase capacity further – to 44,000 – if their bid to host World Cup football is successful.<br /><br />Putin calls on Russians to unite behind World Cup bid<br /><br />Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has described the support of his people “the most important component” as Russia prepares to bid for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup finals.<br /><br />Russia is one of eleven countries to make a preliminary bid for the finals, but its bid team has so far kept a low profile.<br /><br />“This task of advancing Russia’s bid for the right to host World Cup 2018 is a national one. This decision has been made in principle, and we are now deciding on practical aspects of advancing our bid,” Putin was quoted by the state-run Itar-Tass press agency.<br /><br />Putin also moved to allay concerns over construction for the 2014 Winter Olympics, to be staged in the Black Sea city of Sochi, saying they were “totally and completely on schedule.”<br /><br />Socceroos talk up Australia’s World Cup bid<br /><br />Football Federation Australia CEO Ben Buckley talks to Harry Kewell prior to the Australian Socceroos Business In The Gulf Luncheon at the Grand Millenium Hotel Dubai on June 11, 2008 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Getty Images)<br />After successfully qualifying for next year’s World Cup Finals, leading figures in the Australian football establishment have been talking up the country’s bid for the 2018 or 2022 finals.<br /><br />Australian Football Federation (FFA) chief Ben Buckley says that qualification for South Africa gives the country “credibility factor within FIFA and the broader football community.”<br /><br />“We have a strong track record of hosting major sporting events and are respected worldwide,” Buckley told Sydney’s Daily Telegraph. “We have a very good sports infrastructure here. We are now domiciled in Asia. It's a confederation close to two-thirds of the world's population. It's the fastest growing football region in the world and potentially the growth engine of the world economy.<br /><br />West Ham’s Australian international defender Lucas Neill says that the World Cup is “about advertising Australia to the World.”<br /><br />“It's about bringing people together to support a common cause – football,” he told the August issue of FourFourTwo magazine. “We want to host the biggest event in the world in our own back yard. It's a privilege and an honor that not many countries have.”<br /><br />Latino TV Chief joins US bid committee<br /><br />Joe Uva, CEO of Univision Communications, the US’s largest Spanish broadcaster, will join the Board of Directors for the USA Bid Committee. He joins such figures as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Henry Kissinger and Robert Kraft.<br /><br />“For our bid to be successful, we will need the support of key allies in the media to help us communicate the fundamental mission behind our bid,” Sunil Gulati, Chairman of the USA Bid Committee and President of U.S. Soccer, said in a statement. “Univision answers that call with a significant and growing base of viewers that has proven over the years to be passionate about soccer.”<br /><br />Shorts<br /><br />…US World Cup bid chief, David Downs, has spoken favorably about Philadelphia’s prospects of serving as a host city for his country’s World Cup bid. Speaking after the United States’ penalties victory over Panama at the city’s Lincoln Financial Field, Downs said: “Philadelphia is a nice city and a worthy candidate to be a World Cup venue. The crowd made a great impression. The building holds the noise and it was a fun atmosphere. It's a first-class facility with first-class amenities.”<br /><br />…British swimming star Rebecca Adlington has backed Nottingham’s campaign to be a host city in England’s 2018 World Cup bid. Adlington, who grew up in nearby Mansfield, said: "I'm definitely backing the 2018 bid - an international sporting event in Nottingham has got to be good for the city. Any event that will help get kids active and bring investment to the region gets my support."<br /><br />…Harry Been, who is leading the Dutch side of the Netherlands-Belgium bid for the 2018/2022 World Cup, has called for cooperation with leaders of the Netherlands 2028 Olympics bid. “We could help them along. The one lobby strengthens the other,” Been told Rotterdam’s NRC Handelsblad newspaper. Deputy sports minister Jet Bussemaker added: “Each step must mean something, must help improve the top sport and recreational sport climate in the Netherlands, even if we do not win both bids.”<br /><br />…At a groundbreaking ceremony for the 57,500 Birmingham-Jefferson Stadium the sports promoter Gene Hallman said the expanded stadium will enable Alabama’s largest city to pursue events with an international audience. "It positions us to put Birmingham in as part of a World Cup Soccer bid for 2018 or 2022," said Hallman. The stadium, which will cost $500 million, can be extended to seat 70,000 and will include 160,000 square feet of exhibition space. <br /><br />Written by James Corbett<br /><br />Fonte: http://www.worldfootballinsider.com/Story.aspx?id=32493<br /></span>eutestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14161427650636426971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204518762438845522.post-38810535879517857232009-07-27T06:57:00.001-07:002009-07-27T06:58:30.067-07:00Univision's Uva Wants To Bring The World Cup To U.S.Univision Communications CEO Joe Uva has joined the board of the group looking to bring soccer's World Cup to the U.S. in 2018 or 2022. Univision has carried the cup in Spanish domestically since 1978, while offering a slew of other soccer programming, including games by the U.S. national team.<br /><br />Uva took over Univision in 2007, a company that includes the flagship Univision network, radio stations and multiple Web sites. All will play a role in its coverage of next summer's cup from South Africa. Univision also carries Major League Soccer games and multiple international leagues. <span id="fullpost"><br />The U.S.A. Bid Committee, where Uva joins the board of directors, is seeking to return the cup to America after it had a successful showing in 1994, culminating with a thrilling final game in Los Angeles. After South Africa, the event will be in Brazil in 2014.<br /><br />Tea leaves may show the cup will likely return to Europe in 2018 -- soccer's governing body, FIFA, keeps the Continent as sort of a maypole, then moves elsewhere four years later, giving the U.S. its best shot at getting it in 2022. A decision will come in December 2010.<br /><br />In 2005, Univision reached an agreement to carry the 2010 and 2014 cups as part of a larger $325 million deal -- much higher than the $100 million that ESPN paid for English-language rights. With Univision likely to pay handsomely to carry future cups, Uva's presence on the bid committee could play a persuasive role toward FIFA's executive committee.<br /><br />"In the U.S., Univision is 'futbol' for millions of viewers ...," Uva said. "Because of the growing influence and impact of the Hispanic population in this country, we know we will have a critical voice in helping the United States secure the opportunity to host the ... World Cup in 2018 or 2022."<br /><br />"For our bid to be successful, we will need the support of key allies in the media to help us communicate the fundamental mission behind our bid," said Sunil Gulati, chairman of the USA Bid Committee and president of U.S. Soccer.<br /><br />Uva joins University of Miami president Donna Shalala and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and other members of the board. <br /><br /><br /><br />Fonte:http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=110148</span>eutestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14161427650636426971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204518762438845522.post-41721237819492910272009-07-27T06:54:00.000-07:002009-07-27T06:55:10.103-07:00Study: 42 deaths linked to soccer in BrazilRIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Soccer violence is killing about four people a year in Brazil, according to a sociologist's study.<br /><br />Mauricio Murad says deaths related to soccer games are also on the rise in the nation hosting the 2014 World Cup.<br /><br />His data show 42 people were killed in connection to Brazilian soccer games in the last 10 years, behind only Argentina (49) and Italy (45).<br /><br />But Murad says that in 2007-2008, Brazil had the most deaths -- seven -- while five were killed in Italy and four in Argentina.<br /><br />Murad called Monday for Brazil to pass laws specifically targeting soccer violence.<br /><br />Fonte: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2009-07-20-3176466041_x.htmeutestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14161427650636426971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204518762438845522.post-16371103040838198082009-07-27T06:50:00.000-07:002009-07-27T06:52:00.561-07:00Blatter backs joint World Cup bidFIFA president Sepp Blatter reassured Belgium and the Netherlands on Monday that their joint World Cup bid was valid despite his preference for single-nation bids, but declined to give such backing to Spain and Portugal.<br /><br />Japan and South Korea jointly hosted the 2002 World Cup but Blatter said FIFA did not want to repeat what he said had effectively resulted — two World Cups, with two organising committees, two languages, two currencies and double the cost.<br /><br />“This is totally different,” Blatter said of the Belgian-Dutch bid during a visit to meet the organising committee in Brussels.<span id="fullpost"><br />“A candidature of the Netherlands and Belgium should be accepted as we have evidence that there is one organising committee... If they talk of Luxembourg too, it is Benelux which is a political entity,” he continued.<br /><br />Blatter, who also visited Belgian King Albert and received a chocolate soccer ball from the prime minister, described the bid from the two “important” countries as “appealing”.<br /><br />The pair have already jointly hosted the European soccer championship in 2000.<br /><br />The FIFA president was less forthcoming on the joint Spain/Portugal bid.<br /><br />“I don’t have the details,” he replied when asked whether that bid would also be considered an exception.<br /><br />Spain’s soccer federation has insisted it will proceed with a joint bid despite media speculation that it plans to go solo.<br /><br />Australia, England, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Russia and the United States have bid to host the tournament in 2018 or 2022, along with the two joint Belgium/Netherlands and Spain/Portugal proposals.<br /><br />Qatar and South Korea have sent in bid registration forms for the 2022 World Cup only.<br /><br />All submitted initial bids in March. Full bids are due by March 2010, a decision on the hosts for both tournaments being made in December.<br /><br />With Brazil hosting the 2014 finals, FIFA had already said that South American nations could not bid for 2018 or 2022.<br /><br />Countries from the same continental confederation will not be able to host both tournaments.<br /><br />Blatter said the procedure would involve a vote first on 2018 and then 2022, for which some countries could then be excluded.<br /><br />Franz Beckenbauer, the former World Cup-winning captain and coach with West Germany who is also one of 24 member of FIFA’s Executive Committee, said earlier this month he believed it should be Europe’s turn in 2018, with Australia a strong candidate for 2022.<br /><br />Fonte: http://www.thetimes.co.za/Sport/Article.aspx?id=1037059 </span>eutestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14161427650636426971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204518762438845522.post-25829712465815723532009-07-27T06:47:00.000-07:002009-07-27T06:50:40.211-07:00ESPN, Univision Kick Off Multiscreen Strategy Aimed At World’s Largest AudienceAs kids kick soccer balls across freshly cut fields throughout America this summer, a different set of players is preparing for the biggest soccer tournament in the world.<br /><br />When the 2010 World Cup starts in South Africa next year, it will be the most-watched television event on the planet, dwarfing the audiences for the Super Bowl (98.7 million) and the record-breaking 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics (214 million).<br />The U.S. rights-holders to the quadrennial event, ESPN and Univision, are preparing a blowout of shows, documentaries and specials leading up to the global tournament on a variety of screens. And soccer-centric services such as Fox Soccer Channel and sister service Fox Sports en Español, as well as Spanish/English hybrid network Gol TV, are also firming up their game plans.<br /><br />All are banking on the action from South Africa to draw more eyeballs than in 2006, when Italy’s 5-3 penalty-kick triumph against France in the final -- think the Zinedine Zidane head butt-- drew an estimated 715 million viewers worldwide, capping a tournament that FIFA, the sport’s international governing body, estimated drew a global cume audience of 26.3 billion. In April, FIFA said the worldwide TV rights sold for more than $3 billion.<span id="fullpost"><br />In the States, though, soccer has served up a mixed performance. While the sport has amassed an impressively large following among school-age kids and young adults — it’s third in team sports, behind baseball and basketball — it has failed to ignite with TV audiences in the U.S. the way American football does, in part due to the level of play and lack of advertising revenue and investment by team owners. Indeed, domestic professional circuit Major League Soccer has averaged 255,000 viewers on ESPN2 this season, down 12% from its 2008 average.<br /><br />But while soccer may not spark the fervor it does in most places on Earth, ESPN and Univision are starting now to spark interest across many platforms in the U.S. “Is there a bigger viewing base for soccer? Yes. But the U.S. is still a bit of a fair-weather nation. I think a lot of people say, 'Show us you’re good and we’ll watch,’ ” said Lee Berke, principal in sports consultancy LHB Sports and Entertainment. “Then, you’ll see the ratings go along for the ride.”<br /><br />Fan interest seems to be building. This year, the U.S. national team gained respect among more fans with its strong performance in the Confederations Cup warm-up in South Africa, where the Yanks upset world No. 1 Spain and led Brazil 2-0 at halftime of the final before folding to that soccer powerhouse. The June 28 final garnered almost 3.95 million viewers for ESPN, making it the most-watched non-World Cup match showcasing the U.S. men’s national team in tournament history. ESPN executive vice president of content John Skipper has said he would be surprised if next year’s tournament isn’t the highest-rated World Cup in the U.S.<br /><br />Said Berke: “The national team does increasingly well on TV when it advances in tournaments. We’ve seen that with the Confederations Cup, the Gold Cup and the World Cup in 2002, when the team made its run to the quarterfinals.”<br /><br />Univision and ESPN reportedly paid FIFA some $425 million for World Cup events from 2007-2014, with the Spanish-language media company and the sports programmer spending $325 million and $100 million, respectively, for the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, as well as the women’s tournaments in 2007 and 2011, plus 11 other competitions and events.<br /><br />For ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC, the big change going into South Africa centers around studio coverage, which for the first time will originate completely from the host nation (see page 12). Coverage in the days leading up to the June 11 to July 11 matches will involve SportsCenter segments, nightly World Cup Live, pre-game, halftime and post-match shows, as well as additional studio programming and World Cup-branded segments. That totals more than 65 hours of coverage, from a pair of sets in and around Johannesburg.<br /><br />Chris Fowler, Bob Ley and Mike Tirico will serve as the on-site World Cup studio hosts, with ESPN’s “game around the game” approach to South Africa 2010 encompassing live and taped segments that will air on ESPN International’s 14 localized versions of SportsCenter in eight different languages across the world.<br /><br />ESPN is in the process of lining up interviews with all 46 of the living players that have scored in the World Cup final for a documentary, said vice president of programming and acquisitions Scott Guglielmino, who is heading up the programmer’s World Cup strategies. The footage will also be edited into vignettes to be sprinkled throughout the programmer’s linear and digital platforms.<br /><br />Overall, Guglielmino said South Africa will provide “a rich backdrop for our coverage and stories of the people, their culture, as well as fans coming to a nation that is just 15 years removed from apartheid.”<br /><br />As for the games themselves, ESPN and its sister services will provide all 64 matches in HD, while broadband service ESPN360.com will feature the contests in multiple languages. Given the six-hour time differential between the East Coast and South Africa, game windows are scheduled from 7 a.m. to 9: 30 a.m. (ET), 9:30 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., including a 20- to 30-minute pre-match show.<br /><br />Guglielmino said ESPN is assembling “world-class talent on air and for our coverage from the field.”<br /><br />ESPN will cover the World Cup draw live on Dec. 4 and then things will shift into gear in the new year from a promotional perspective. “Our marketing will kick off and there will be tune-in initiatives,” he said. “There will be friendlies, involving both the U.S. national team and non-U.S. games.”<br /><br />ESPN Inc. will also televise the World Cup in Brazil (ESPN Brazil) and in the ESPN Star Sports (ESS) territories of India, Pakistan, The Maldives, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and the Middle East.<br /><br />Univision, which was the first U.S. network to air the World Cup live back in 1970, is also taking a multimedia approach. For the first time, game telecasts on Univision (all 64 matches) and TeleFutura, (eight simulcasts), as well as encore coverage on Galavisión, will be available in the high-definition format. Moreover, Univision.com and Univision Movil will stream all of the matches live, while video-on-demand renditions of the matches will also be available via on-demand platforms.<br /><br />“We’re still determining the windowing for our VOD,” said Univision Network executive vice president and operating manager Alina Falcon, who said World Cup content was a key component in the various retransmission-consent deals the company reached with distributors in 2009. “This will give fans a chance to watch the games at their leisure, or relive all the excitement.”<br /><br />To that end, Univision executive vice president of network sales and marketing Peter Lazarus said the company has already closed sponsorship packages with FIFA sponsors Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, Anheuser-Busch, McDonalds and Coca-Cola. With those and other deals in place, Univision has about 65% of its World Cup inventory accounted for.<br /><br />Both Falcon and Lazarus said sponsors will have the opportunity to be involved with the Hispanic media leader’s morning, news and entertainment programming which will incorporate World Cup features and elements during the tournament, or host special editions.<br /><br />”Our viewers want to feel the excitement, the passion and celebrate the World Cup. That’s what we look to do throughout out schedule,” said Falcon.<br /><br />Though they don’t hold any game rights, Fox Soccer Channel and sister service Fox Sports en Español want to serve as “hubs of information before and after the actual matches,” said Fox Sports International executive vice president and general manager David Sternberg. FSC will air a daily show titled Ticket to South Africa, plus in-depth coverage on Sky Sports News and Fox Soccer Report. Its Spanish-language sibling will offer new programming and call-in shows. “We will provide the interviews, analysis, and the debates to enable viewers to immerse themselves fully in the tournament,” said Sternberg.<br /><br />In addition to more World Cup qualifiers — FSC will air 50 Asian and European matches in all this year, while FSE is home to 20 — the English-language service will whet futbol fans’ appetite with an eight-part series this fall chronicling great club rivalries, as well as International Football Rivalries such as Argentina-Brazil, England-Germany and Greece-Turkey. Both networks will present a History of the World Cup series, kicking off during the first quarter.<br /><br />Similarly, there will be English- and Spanish-language versions of Passport to South Africa/Pasaporte a Sudafrica that will examine and preview the eight, four-team groups, determined during the Dec. 4 draw. The series, set to kick off in the first quarter, will conclude with a ninth installment, affording a complete tourney overview.<br /><br />Gol’s effort, headed by a crew on the ground in the host nation, will be highlighted by its 2010 Report: 40 Days in South Africa. The network plans to provide news coverage, replete with team and player profiles and interviews, game analysis and previews, while also providing a sense of the nation and fans, several times daily during the days leading up to and during the Cup.<br /><br />In addition to a host of World Cup qualifiers, Gol TV, which makes its feed available in both English and Spanish for positioning on either sports or Hispanic tiers, will continue to present FIFA Futbol Mondial on Friday nights at 8 p.m. (ET) with updates on the World Cup.<br /><br />“We’re also developing our interactive strategies. We want our experts to connect with fans through a variety of social networks,” said vice president of marketing Didi Montiel.<br /><br />The U.S. and Mexico will meet in qualifying matches beginning Aug. 12 at 4 p.m. (ET) in Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The U.S. has never won a World Cup qualifier there (0-12-1). Their Feb. 11 CONCACAF qualifier, won 2-0 by the U.S. in Columbus, Ohio, netted 1.2 million viewers on ESPN2, its most-watched World Cup qualifier to date. On Univision, the same match drew some 5.9 million, according to Nielsen data.<br /><br />“At Univision, we don’t speak those words,” Falcon joked, when queried about how the programmer would fare if Mexico didn’t make it. “Obviously, we’d love to see them make it. We’re optimistic they will.”<br /><br />Asked if its coverage might be impacted if the Yanks weren’t playing, Guglielmino said, “we’d miss out on U.S. stories. But our overall coverage would be the same. This is the world’s single premier sporting event. We plan to show the tournament through a global prism.”<br /><br />Still, having the U.S. involved would certainly be a boost. “As a U.S.-centric event, the Confederations Cup was a positive from the team’s perspective. [U.S. captain] Landon Donovan said we’re not playing for respect. We’re playing to win. I embrace that attitude,” said Guglielmino.<br /><br />Fonte: http://www.multichannel.com/article/315711-Cover_Story_Global_Goal.php</span>eutestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14161427650636426971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204518762438845522.post-15437980669888493452009-07-27T06:41:00.000-07:002009-07-27T06:50:55.033-07:00Orlando vying for return of World Cup soccer gamesOrlando wants to bring World Cup soccer back to the Citrus Bowl.<br /><br />Boosters say the five soccer matches held here in 1994 showed the world that Orlando could host "the beautiful game" on a global stage. They hope to build on that success to secure more matches if the United States wins its bid to host the Cup events in 2018 or 2022.<br /><br />Thirteen countries want the next available World Cup — South Africa hosts next year, while Brazil gets it in 2014 — and the U.S. organizers plan to pick its proposed sites by the end of the year. By the end of next year, the sport's governing body, FIFA, will select the 2018 host country for the tournament held every four years.<span id="fullpost"><br />"They want to go where they would be well-received," said Joanie Schirm, a local businesswoman who helped lead the 1994 effort and is part of the latest campaign. "If we get our act together internally, we should have a good story to tell."<br /><br />Schirm said she's seeing a more receptive and aggressive effort, especially by businesses that two decades ago were slow to see the potential of bringing tens of thousands of international visitors here.<br /><br />Orlando has already made the first cut as a possible host site. In June, the USA Bid Committee Inc. -- a non-profit arm of the United States Soccer Federation – picked the Citrus Bowl to make the round of 45 candidates, which are mostly large, American-style football venues.<br /><br />"Our track record would speak for itself," said Sam Stark, president of the Central Florida Sports Commission. "We just want to be one of the cities."<br /><br />At 65,616 seats, the Citrus Bowl is among the smaller venues, and it is easily also one of the oldest and most dilapidated. The slumping economy has put a $175-million Citrus Bowl renovation on hold, likely for years.<br /><br />Still, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said he's been told the stadium's condition won't keep Orlando out of the action.<br /><br />"With or without a renovation, the Citrus Bowl is a suitable location," Dyer said. "I can only think that if we do accomplish the renovation prior to the selection, it would enhance our chances."<br /><br />Stark said Orlando would finalize its bid by the end of the month. In 1994, the bill for hosting the World Cup, mostly due to the costs of police protection, was around $600,000. But profits from concession sales reduced the cost to taxpayers to about $158,000.<br /><br />Each city must meet a variety of FIFA demands, from climate and transportation to security and tourist accommodations. California leads with five contending stadiums; Texas and Florida have four each. Tampa, Miami and Jacksonville are also vying for matches.<br /><br />In 1994, nine U.S. cities hosted games, with the final match held in Pasadena, Calif.<br /><br />That the United States was even picked to host the 1994 event surprised many soccer aficionados. In America, football is still played with a helmet, while soccer is much more popular in Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa.<br /><br />But attendance in 1994 told a different story. The tournament was the single-largest sporting event in U.S. history and still holds the record for best-attended World Cup ever, at 3.5 million fans.<br /><br />Orlando was generally regarded as one of the better success stories, with its five games – four first-round contests and one in the second round -- drawing over 306,000 fans.<br /><br />Hordes of international fans descended on the city. The dome atop City Hall was draped to look like a soccer ball, and a bronze statue of a soccer player still adorns the courtyard in front of the building.<br /><br />"It's a big, exciting event," Dyer said. "It brings extraordinary viewership, patriotism and nationalism," Dyer said. "With our 120,000 hotel rooms and attractions of all sorts, we would be a very logical pick for one of the host cities. We would enhance any bid with our international brand."<br /><br />Fonte: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/orl-worldcup-bid-orlando-071609,0,4577334.story</span>eutestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14161427650636426971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204518762438845522.post-44956362503473119702009-07-27T06:39:00.000-07:002009-07-27T06:40:36.257-07:00A Few Tips to Make Brazil's 2014 World Cup More than Just a Foreign ShowThe 2014 FIFA Soccer World Cup will not be our Cup. It will be the Cup of the tourists and some rich Brazilians. It will generate temporary jobs and leave behind some foreign currency. For the Brazilians, what will remain will be the pride of having been the site, especially if we win the championship and thus break with the unforgettable 1950 defeat. <span id="fullpost"><br />For the people who live in Brasília, what will remain will be the pride of having been the youngest city-venue of the tournament.<br /><br />We can make the FIFA Cup our Cup, however. All we need do is take measures to obtain permanent results for everyone.<br /><br />Every weekend thousands of Brasília residents play soccer in vacant lots. The majority of these lots are dusty public fields where spectators remain on their feet under the sun and rain. The FIFA Cup will leave nothing for those thousands of Brasília residents who certainly will not even attend the games.<br /><br />This can change if part of the resources anticipated for the Cup infrastructure preparations are utilized to improve the local vacant-lot fields. With a small percentage of the hundreds of millions that will be invested in the FIFA Cup, it will be possible to equip all the vacant-lot fields, leaving them without dust, with dressing rooms, lighting, bleachers.<br /><br />The Federal Senate Education, Culture and Sports Commission approved a project of law two weeks ago aimed at reserving part of the FIFA Cup spending for Brazilian amateur soccer. Now the proposal will go to other commissions. Its weaknesses can still be corrected.<br /><br />Independently of that project, nonetheless, the Government of the Federal District can reserve part of its investments to make the FIFA Cup our Cup also. The Cup can leave results for the residents of Brasília who, being neither national team players nor wealthy fans, will still be able to enjoy the benefits.<br /><br />During the weeks of the 2014 World Cup, thousands of tourists will be using our transportation services. It would be good if, besides the Light Rail Vehicle (VLT), which will be built between the airport and the Mané Garrincha Stadium - and we cannot let this name be changed, as is being proposed - the Brasília public transportation system would receive resources so that, after the FIFA cup, our population might also benefit.<br /><br />The tourists will be using our taxis. It will be good, for both them and us, if by 2014 the Brasília cab drivers (and the VLT and bus drivers) could learn foreign languages. This would convey a positive image of Brasília and leave a good result for the city. Once the FIFA Cup is over, that system would be an incentive for maintaining a tourist climate in Brasília, no longer as the Cup seat, but as the modern capital of Brazil.<br /><br />It will be a shame if Brasília hosts the Cup while suffering from a disgraceful problem, like dengue fever threatening tourists. The end of dengue fever and other contagious diseases can be a goal for receiving tourists, but one that will also leave permanent results.<br /><br />This would also assure that Brasília would be an alternative for cities incapable of taking care of their sanitary conditions before 2014. Investing in our poor public health network can guarantee good care for the tourists as well as for those who live here and would construct a permanent system that will improve our current conditions.<br /><br />Rio de Janeiro is now promoting the idea that the 2016 Olympics would be the world's first green games by synchronizing the installations, services and landscape itself with the concept of ecological balance and sustainability. There is still time for Brasília to make this sort of effort by promoting lighting and transportation with solar and bio-diesel energy. There is also time for Brasília to enlarge our forest reserves to the maximum, especially those of the trees of the Cerrado. Beside the FIFA Cup, Brasília would show our ecological Cup.<br /><br />Even more than the aspects of sports, healthcare, infrastructure and ecology, Brasília needs to take care of its social conditions. We should be a territory free of illiteracy, without children who are working or out of school, all children studying in full-day sessions, students who know the geography and history of the World Cup competitor countries.<br /><br />Brasília will present a sad spectacle if, during the FIFA Cup, the world's televisions should show children as street vendors at the entrances of the stadiums or in any of the other locations visited by tourists and journalists. Should they notice that the children were hidden away in disguised prisons, distant from the game venues and tourist destinations, it would be even worse.<br /><br />Our Cup must be not only the cup of the soccer fields, but also that of a people happy in the streets. Without that, our Cup will be merely the FIFA Cup, foreign and short-lived.<br /><br />Cristovam Buarque is a professor at the University of Brasília and a PDT senator for the Federal District. You can visit his website - www.cristovam.org.br - and write to him at cristovam@senado.gov.br This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .<br /><br />Fonte:http://www.brazzil.com/component/content/article/206-july-2009/10214-a-few-tips-to-make-brazils-2014-world-cup-more-than-just-a-foreign-show.html<br /></span>eutestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14161427650636426971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204518762438845522.post-52587891658967766942009-07-15T17:09:00.000-07:002009-07-15T17:11:38.165-07:00US trims 27 stadiums from World Cup listNEW YORK (AP) — Twenty-seven stadiums have been dropped from consideration for the U.S. bid to host soccer's World Cup in 2018 and 2022, while Las Vegas and Salt Lake City have been added.<br /><br />Nearly all the stadiums that were dropped are college football venues. Also eliminated were Green Bay's Lambeau Field and Ralph Wilson Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills.<br /><br />Forty-five stadiums in 37 areas currently are in contention, ranging from New York to college towns such as Fayetteville, Ark., or Knoxville, Tenn.<span id="fullpost"><br />Salt Lake City and planners of Las Vegas' Sports City USA venue approached the bid committee to be added after the initial list of 70 stadiums was released in April, U.S. Soccer Federation Neil Buethe said Tuesday.<br /><br />Other planned venues, such as a stadium for the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., could be added if they are built, Buethe said.<br /><br />The committee is looking for information on an array of subjects ranging from tourism to climate to security.<br /><br />The U.S. must submit its application to FIFA next May, and FIFA's executive committee plans to select the 2018 and 2022 hosts in December 2010.<br /><br />Australia, England, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands-Belgium, Russia, Spain-Portugal have filed to hosting both World Cups, and Qatar and South Korea bid for 2022 only.<br /><br />England and Spain are seen as the leading contenders to host in 2018, while the United States is viewed as a top candidate for 2022.<br /><br />When the U.S. hosted in 1994, nine venues were used: Chicago; Dallas; East Rutherford, N.J.; Foxborough, Mass; Orlando, Fla.; Pasadena, Calif.; Pontiac, Mich.; Stanford, Calif.; and Washington, D.C.<br /><br />Since then, the World Cup has expanded from 24 to 32 teams and FIFA asks bidders to submit 12-18 stadiums with a capacity of 40,000 or more. Only venues of 80,000 or more can host the opener and the final.<br /><br />Next year's World Cup will be in South Africa, and the 2014 host is Brazil. <br /><br /><br />Fonte: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j5V0l5RR8gYQO0uMQRcRCcVN5QgAD98S4UB00</span>eutestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14161427650636426971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204518762438845522.post-84051024233984173162009-07-11T18:16:00.000-07:002009-07-11T18:20:59.868-07:00O enorme risco da arena para o GrêmioO Rio Grande do Sul alcançou um destaque ímpar no cenário esportivo mundial. Afinal que outra cidade do porte de nossa Capital tem dois campeões mundiais, três títulos da Libertadores, cinco Copas do Brasil, cinco campeonatos brasileiros etc.<br /><br />A pujança de nosso futebol está alicerçada na disputa e na igualdade de Grêmio e Internacional. É curioso observar a extrema similitude do currículo dos dois clubes: (1) ambos têm pouco mais de um século de existência, sempre dedicada ao futebol; (2) o número de vitórias em confrontos diretos é muito parecido, apesar dos 100 anos de disputas; (3) o número de campeonatos regionais também é muito semelhante; (4) o Grêmio tem mais "Copas do Brasil", enquanto o Inter tem mais "Brasileiros"; (5) o Grêmio tem duas "Libertadores" e o Inter uma; (6) ambos foram campeões mundiais.<br /><span id="fullpost"><br />Esse equilíbrio é exatamente reconhecido como o fator motivador de nosso sucesso no mundo do futebol.<br /><br />Pois esta paridade poderá ser rompida, se o Grêmio insistir na absurda idéia de construir a Arena nos moldes anunciados.<br /><br />Se forem concluídos os dois projetos hoje prometidos, em 2014 o Internacional terá um imenso patrimônio e contará com um complexo esportivo incomum entre clubes de futebol. O Grêmio, ao contrário, será um time de futebol com um estádio que somente será seu 20 anos depois, sendo que durante todo esse período pagará um aluguel que absurdamente até hoje não foi calculado.<br /><br />O Grêmio no seu aspecto institucional é quase um ente público. Assim sendo, a sua administração exige transparência absoluta, que não está sendo aplicada no presente caso. Por quê?<br /><br />Ser um clube moderno não é correr riscos excessivos. Moderno hoje, sem dúvida, é ter cautela, especialmente se lembrarmos da recente crise econômica que assolou o mundo.<br /><br />Há um ano modernidade poderia ser sinônimo de riscos elevados. Hoje, moderno é ter cautela e riscos minimizados. Que bom para o mundo que houve essa mudança e que pena que o Grêmio ainda seja antigo neste tópico de muitíssima e vital importância, preferindo correr um risco exacerbado, desnecessário e totalmente desproporcional ao tamanho do Clube!<br /><br />Apesar da propalada e aparente complexidade do negócio Arena, tudo pode ser resumido à simples aquisição de um estádio pronto, através de uma parcial dação em pagamento da área da Azenha e pela participação da construtora durante 20 anos na exploração econômica do novo estádio.<br /><br />O Grêmio sabe quanto custará a construção da Arena (R$ 307.000.000,00), segundo foi divulgado.<br /><br />Mas o absurdo é que o Grêmio não sabe quanto pagará pelo novo estádio. Quem fez essa afirmação peremptória perante uma platéia de 50 gremistas no Restaurante Copacabana (alguns dias atrás) foi um dos dirigentes da Grêmio Empreendimentos.<br /><br />Mas o show de horrores e absurdos não para por aí, pois o Grêmio não tem uma avaliação atualizada da Azenha e assim também não sabe quanto vale a área que está sendo entregue em dação em pagamento. A avaliação que existe é anterior à elevação do índice de construção, o que a torna imprestável.<br /><br />Quem de nós, na administração de nossos negócios pessoais, faria um negócio sem saber o seu valor final? Quem de nós, na administração de nossos negócios pessoais, daria como parte do pagamento de um negócio uma área não avaliada corretamente?<br /><br />Se nós não faríamos pessoalmente um negócio similar, por que o Grêmio deve fazer?<br /><br />Um clube com uma dívida imensa, cuja atividade fim são resultados em campo, não deve comprometer 100 anos de história, lutas, glórias e conquistas em uma aventura totalmente despropositada, cujos benefícios principais serão auferidos por terceiros.<br /><br />E não se diga que a construção do novo estádio não sangrará recursos do futebol. Pelo acordo assinado com a OAS, o Clube deverá desonerar as penhoras incidentes sobre a Azenha no período de três anos. De onde sairá este dinheiro? Obviamente que do futebol, tanto que a garantia exigida pela OAS, admitida pelo Grêmio, é exatamente a verba da televisão.<br /><br />Ou seja, nos próximos 3 anos o Grêmio deverá "desviar" R$ 21.000.000,00 de sua atividade fim, para liberar a área que será entregue para a OAS.<br /><br />É quase impossível de imaginar que os atuais dirigentes do Grêmio saibam das condições do contrato assinado ainda na gestão passada, pois o eventual descumprimento da destinação de R$ 7.000.000,00 anuais da verba da televisão, poderá implicar na prisão dos dirigentes que não forem adimplentes com a obrigação, eis que são considerados "depositários" daqueles valores.<br /><br />Fica assim evidente que o valor acima referido será honrado, em prejuízo das demais atividades do Clube, em especial o futebol.<br /><br />Muitas das dificuldades que o Grêmio enfrentou e enfrenta dentro de campo decorrem de péssimas administrações e da consequente insuficiência de recursos para manter ou trazer atletas.<br /><br />É inadmissível que um clube com a grandeza do Grêmio tenha enfrentado imensas dificuldades para pagar um milhão de dólares ou euros por um jogador considerado necessário (Souza).<br /><br />É inadmissível que o Grêmio tenha precisado vender jovens promessas para poder manter um jogador reconhecidamente bom, mas certamente já muito mais perto do final da carreira.<br /><br />É inadmissível que o Grêmio sistematicamente precise vender craques e promessas de craques e pense simultaneamente em construir um luxuoso estádio.<br /><br />O objetivo do Grêmio são vitórias, títulos e o estádio deve ser uma conseqüência da grandeza esportiva do Clube. O Grêmio não é uma empresa imobiliária, mas um clube de futebol.<br /><br />Todos nós sabemos, e a história está aí para confirmar, que sonhos e projetos faraônicos são o caminho mais curto para a ruína.<br /><br />Clubes endividados namoram o rebaixamento, enquanto clubes equilibrados financeiramente disputam títulos. Não é por outro motivo que TODOS os grandes clubes brasileiros que foram rebaixados para a segunda divisão enfrentavam — exatamente no momento dos rebaixamentos — graves crises financeiras, posteriores a administrações desastrosas e pródigas em gastar desmesuradamente, além de outros problemas.<br /><br />A construção da Arena não aponta para qualquer indicativo de solução para os graves problemas que o Grêmio hoje enfrenta, muito pelo contrário, denotam condições e riscos não ponderados adequadamente pelos dirigentes, capazes de comprometer um passado de glórias, um presente de muitas lutas e um futuro que não nos pertence, mas que deverá — desejamos nós — ser saboreado por nossos filhos.<br /><br />O que mais precisará mais para que o Grêmio para não queira essa Arena?<br /><br />Por que não recuperamos o Olímpico? Basta explorar as áreas contíguas ao estádio ("carecão", ex-piscinas, ginásio, Mosqueteiro), transformando-as em centro empresarial, shopping, hotel, centro de convenções, estacionamento etc.<br /><br />Com o dinheiro da exploração destas áreas o Grêmio reforma o Olímpico e ainda segue recebendo rendimentos indefinidamente. Pode manter o campo suplementar, transformando-o em um mini-estádio, com estacionamentos no sub-solo.<br /><br />Por que não?<br /><br />Por que não consultar a torcida sobre a reforma do Olímpico ou a construção da Arena?<br /><br />Por que não?<br /><br />E não venham dizer que o Olímpico está localizado em lugar de difícil acesso para os padrões Fifa.<br /><br />Essa balela de "padrão Fifa" é uma ilusão, pois se algum jogo vier a ser realizado na nova Arena na Copa do Mundo de 2014 (contrariando todas as indicações até agora existentes que apontam para o Beira-Rio), não será muito diferente de uma partida entre Zaire e Namíbia.<br /><br />Em lugar de difícil acesso está o Beira-Rio, previamente escolhido pela FIFA como palco das partidas da Copa do Mundo em Porto Alegre, o qual está confinado entre o Guaíba e o morro Santa Tereza, somente possuindo acesso em dois sentidos.<br /><br />O fato do assunto ter transitado e ter sido aprovado por diversas comissões e pelas mãos e cabeças de diversos gremistas "eméritos" não é impeditivo de uma revisão urgente, pois os equívocos são próprios dos seres humanos.<br /><br />A maior prova disto — no âmbito do próprio Grêmio em passado muito recente — é o contrato da ISL, aprovado por todas as comissões e quase unanimemente pelo Conselho (apenas 05 conselheiros votaram contra) e que se revelou um equívoco monumental. Nesse caso, a sorte do Grêmio foi que a ISL quebrou, pois do contrário hoje o Clube não teria sequer um estádio.<br /><br />A discussão do contrato da ISL gerou um consenso muito maior do que a construção da Arena entre os sócios, conselheiros e dirigentes. E nem por isso deixou de ser um erro histórico.<br /><br />Ainda quanto a aprovação da matéria pelo Conselho Deliberativo há alguns outros aspectos que merecem reflexão, pois esse negócio realizado pelo Grêmio não sobrevive a uma discussão judicial.<br /><br />Primeiro, porque a aprovação da matéria perante o Conselho Deliberativo ocorreu sem a aferição das presenças ("quorum"), oportunamente requerida conforme consignado em ata e, segundo, porque o texto aprovado não corresponde ao contrato firmado. Somente esses motivos seriam suficientes para colocar em dúvida a questão da matéria já estar vencida. Para que uma matéria esteja vencida é preciso que tenham sido cumpridos os requisitos formais.<br /><br />Contudo essa questão apresenta mais um "senão", qual seja o fato de que o Conselho Deliberativo tem no máximo legitimidade para fazer a representação associativa e jamais a representação patrimonial dos titulares de quotas de Fundo Social. Uma coisa é representação associativa e outra, muito diferente, é representação patrimonial.<br /><br />Talvez não seja do conhecimento de todos, mas o Grêmio comercializou no passado quotas de "Fundo Social", onde cada proprietário de "Fundo Social" é titular de 1/1000 de todo o patrimônio imóvel e móvel do Grêmio (assim está expressamente consignado em documento próprio). Nota-se claramente que essa relação patrimonial não pode ter sido representada pelo Conselho Deliberativo, pois os titulares de quotas de "Fundo Social" têm a co-propriedade do patrimônio do Grêmio.<br /><br />Gostem alguns ou não, esta é uma situação consolidada sob o prisma jurídico. Trata-se de um exemplo típico de direito adquirido, através de um ato jurídico perfeito.<br /><br />Assim, o fato da aprovação da construção da Arena pelo Conselho Deliberativo não é impeditivo de uma revisão, caso se perceba e se reconheça que houve equívocos no curso do processo. O que vale mais: insistir em um erro ou correr o risco de acabar com um clube de 100 anos de tradição?<br /><br />Contudo, há outros fatos relevantes e que não foram devidamente analisados nesse processo. O parecer da Comissão de Patrimônio não pode ser tido como favorável ao negócio firmado com a OAS. Exatamente a comissão mais importante em todo esse processo, teve uma posição que não pode ser tida como de aprovação.<br /><br />E mais, o alardeado estudo da Fundação Getúlio Vargas/FGV somente indicou como favorável ao negócio realizado pelo Grêmio um cenário totalmente improvável para um clube de futebol, sempre sujeito a alterações no seu desempenho. O único cenário que aponta para um negócio rentável exige que o Grêmio tenha uma presença quase constante em Libertadores e figure nas 4 primeiras posições do campeonato brasileiro em todos os anos.<br /><br />Para demonstrar a inviabilidade do cenário exigido, basta observar que nenhum clube brasileiro nos últimos 30 anos atendeu às exigências de desempenho que colocam a construção da Arena como positiva. Ou seja, fora do cenário ótimo (praticamente impossível de ser cumprido) a construção da Arena trará prejuízos ao Grêmio. Palavras da FGV.<br /><br />Se agregarmos esses fatos aos demais (falta de avaliação técnica da Azenha, falta de cálculo do valor a ser pago pela Arena, etc) não é possível enxergar como todo esse risco possa ser minimamente razoável. Vale lembrar que um risco elevado implica necessariamente em uma probabilidade de prejuízo muito elevada.<br /><br />O que é incompreensível é porque não se sanam estas dúvidas agora: Bastaria (1) mandar avaliar a Azenha (não demoraria mais do que 60 dias e o custo não seria exorbitante) e (2) fazer o estudo do custo do novo estádio (é um trabalho que se resolve em poucos dias).<br /><br />Há medo ou desinteresse nos resultados?<br /><br />A convicção reinante é que o Grêmio pagará um valor absurdo pelo novo estádio e só esse motivo pode justificar essa nuvem imensa de dúvidas e a inexplicável ausência do cálculo do valor que o Grêmio deverá pagar pela Arena.<br /><br />Evidentemente que o clube precisa crescer. Mas um clube de futebol não cresce simplesmente como conseqüência da construção de um novo estádio. Se assim fosse, o Ypiranga de Erechim deveria ter sido campeão brasileiro, talvez gaúcho, pelo menos da 2ª divisão do interior. Se assim fosse, em Cidreira deveria ter "brotado" um time de futebol minimamente razoável para fazer jus ao "Sessinzão" (pomposamente denominado Estádio Municipal de Cidreira).<br /><br />Os exemplos são muitos e todos conduzem a um risco muito elevado, maior ainda ser considerarmos a grandeza do Grêmio e tudo o que está em jogo. Aliás, é sempre muito citado o ditado que "quanto maior a árvore, maior o tombo".<br /><br />Não há dúvidas que o Grêmio está tentando alterar a ordem dos fatos e isso é muito perigoso, além de quase sempre redundar em um problema imenso. A construção da Arena não assegurará títulos e conquistas para o Grêmio na sua atividade fim. Pelo contrário, a construção de um estádio retirará (ver caso das penhoras do Olímpico) recursos do futebol, dificultando PERMANECER em um lugar privilegiado no cenário esportivo.<br /><br />Por outro lado, uma equipe vencedora proporcionará mais recursos para manter o futebol forte e, se conveniente, construir um novo estádio.<br /><br />A primeira prioridade do clube deveria ser sanar suas finanças, montar um bom time de futebol, reconquistar a confiança dos investidores, etc, e aí sim pensar em um novo estádio.<br /><br />É extremamente importante fazer 4 perguntas para todos os gremistas, em especial para aqueles que têm algum poder de decisão no Grêmio:<br /><br />1) Na gestão de seus bens pessoais, trocaria um terreno seu, localizado na Azenha, com 500 metros quadrados, onde existisse uma casa antiga de 100 metros quadrados (passível de uma boa reforma) por um apartamento de luxo no bairro Humaitá, com os mesmos 100 metros quadrados de área, com o agravante que ainda pagaria um pesado financiamento durante 20 anos?<br /><br />2) Na gestão de seus bens pessoais faria o negócio acima referido sem saber quanto custaria esse novo e luxuoso apartamento ao longo e ao cabo de 20 anos?<br /><br />3) Na gestão de seus bens pessoais, havendo dúvida quanto ao valor da sua propriedade, venderia o imóvel sem a precedência de uma criteriosa avaliação técnica?<br /><br />4) Na gestão de seus bens pessoais, faria um negócio sem saber qual seria o custo final?<br /><br />Se houve pelo menos uma única dúvida nas respostas às perguntas acima formuladas, é preciso refletir muito sobre todo esse negócio.<br /><br />Ninguém poder ser contra o desejo do Grêmio possuir um novo estádio, pois é natural que qualquer pessoa queira ter uma casa boa, moderna, quiçá luxuosa. Mas este é o momento do Grêmio ingressar nessa empreitada? Valem os riscos que estão em jogo?<br /><br />Marco Antonio Costa Souza - Conselheiro do Grêmio</span>eutestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14161427650636426971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204518762438845522.post-52604762711523446032009-07-11T17:28:00.000-07:002009-07-11T17:31:07.417-07:00Prodetur será parceiro da Copa do Mundo 2014O ministro do Turismo, Luiz Barretto, anunciou que estão avançadas as negociações entre o governo federal e o Banco Interamericano de Desenvolvimento (BID) para criar uma nova linha de crédito do Programa Nacional de Desenvolvimento do Turismo (Prodetur) destinada às sedes da Copa do Mundo de 2014. “Nossas equipes técnicas já se reuniram com o BID e são grandes as possibilidades de ampliarmos em mais US$ 1 bilhão os investirmos no turismo. Esse crédito vai beneficiar as doze cidades que receberam os jogos da Copa e se interessarem em participar. Portanto, vai ser possível incorporá-las ao programa, além dos estados e municípios que já atendidos. O Prodetur será um grande parceiro da Copa do Mundo do Brasil“, disse Barretto durante o XI Fórum dos Governadores do Nordeste, que acontece em João Pessoa (PB).<span id="fullpost"><br />O Prodetur é uma parceria entre o Ministério do Turismo (MTur) e o BID, por meio da qual estados e municípios brasileiros podem acessar uma linha de crédito no valor de US$ 1 bilhão para realizar investimentos no setor turístico. O programa encerrou 2008 com US$ 741 milhões em financiamentos aprovados. Desse total, US$ 383 milhões serão destinados, principalmente a obras de infraestrutura, a seis estados do Nordeste: Ceará, Pernambuco, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Piauí e Sergipe.<br /><br />Segundo Barretto, a nova linha de credito terá quatro pilares: infraestrutura turística, qualificação de mão-de-obra, promoção e hotelaria. “Esses investimentos já têm contribuído para mudar o perfil sócio-econômico do Nordeste, dando grande impulso à atividade turística. Mas, principalmente, melhorando a qualidade de vida dos nordestinos. Não existe boa cidade turística se ela não é boa para seu morador“, observou.<br /><br />O ministro ressaltou que a parceria entre o poder público e a iniciativa privada é peça fundamental nas preparações para o evento esportivo e ainda para o desenvolvimento do turismo no país. “Estamos trabalhando em várias frentes. Na última terça-feira (07 de julho), por exemplo, demos início às negociações com o BNDES [Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social] para a criação de uma linha de crédito específica para a reforma e readequação do parque hoteleiro das cidades-sede. Esta é uma atividade totalmente privada, mas nosso papel é criar condições para colaborar com o setor“.<br /><br />Em relação à qualificação profissional, Barretto frisou a parceria do MTur com a Fundação Roberto Marinho, que inicia em agosto a capacitação de mais de 80 mil profissionais turismo nos idiomas inglês e espanhol, e a inserção de 26 mil beneficiários do Programa Bolsa Famíla no setor turístico programadas por meio do Plano Setorial de Qualificação (Planseq).<br /><br />A questão da promoção teve grande relevância na fala do ministro. “O Brasil estará na vitrine do mundo durante a Copa, que é a maior janela de oportunidade para divulgar o país. Com isso, será nossa oportunidade projetar e reforçar a boa imagem do Brasil atualmente. Isso, é claro, deve ser formatados através de um diálogo entre todas as instâncias de governo. A Copa não é apenas das doze cidades-sede, mas de todo o Brasil“.<br /><br />O ministro do Turismo lembrou ainda que o governo federal está elaborando um PAC - Programa de Aceleração do Crescimento exclusivo para a Copa do Mundo, por meio de um grupo de trabalho liderado pelo Ministério de Casa Civil. “Todos os esforços estão sendo feitos para termos um grande evento”, concluiu.<br /><br />Também representaram o governo federal no fórum, os ministros da Cultura, Juca Ferreira, dos Esportes, Orlando Silva, e o interino da Secretaria de Assuntos Estratégicos, Daniel Vargas.<br /><br />Fonte:http://www.h2foz.com.br/modules/noticias/article.php?storyid=11990</span>eutestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14161427650636426971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204518762438845522.post-45082799821272863272009-07-11T17:24:00.000-07:002009-07-11T17:26:12.171-07:00Copa do Mundo 2014 em Fortaleza: uma ameaçaNa próxima semana, o governador do Ceará, Cid Gomes, nomeará os integrantes do Comitê Gestor da Copa do Mundo 2014. Até ontem, o Palácio Iracema, sede do Poder Executivo estadual, não sabia informar quem comandará esse comitê, mas já se sentia em condições de constatar que “esse é um terreno pelo qual circulam muitas vaidades”. E é aqui que mora o perigo.<span id="fullpost"><br />A Fifa excluiu duas das 12 cidades da África do Sul escolhidas para sediar a Copa de 2010. Isto quer dizer que, se o Governo do Ceará e o da Prefeitura de Fortaleza, ambos sustentados por um arco político multipartidário, não fizerem o dever de casa, ou seja, se não começarem logo as providências para garantir a inclusão desta Capital na organização da Copa de 2014, serão punidos pela Fifa com a pena capital. Imagina-se que o Comitê Gestor da Copa 2014, para o âmbito de Fortaleza, deva ser liderado por um executivo de alto nível, reconhecidamente competente — nada de político metido nisso. Os demais membros desse comitê devem ser gestores igualmente competentes, não necessariamente ligados ao esporte, mas com currículo e não com folha corrida. Faltam apenas quatro anos para a Copa das Confederações — a que antecede a Copa do Mundo. É muito pouco tempo para planejar, projetar, licitar (ih!, haverá licitações) e executar as necessárias obras de infra-estrutura de transporte. E ainda falta o mais importante: o dinheiro! O secretário de Esportes, Ferrúcio Feitosa, viajou nesta quarta-feira para Brasília para, junto com a bancada federal cearense, reunir-se com o ministro dos Esportes, com quem tratará, exatamente, de dinheiro para a Copa. A propósito: como a Lei 8666, que trata das licitações, é muito rigorosa, sendo apontada pelos governadores e pelos empreiteiros como principal responsável pelo atraso no cronograma das obras públicas, o Governo do Ceará sugeriu ao Comitê Central Organizador da Copa 2014 no Brasil que alguma providência seja adotada para abreviar prazos, inibir recursos administrativos e assegurar o cumprimento integral dos orçamentos. A Casa Civil da Presidência da República, que integra o comitê, apoiou a idéia cearense e prometeu estuda-la com a urgência necessária.<br /><br />Egídio Serpa • 24/06/2009<br /><br />Fonte: http://blogs.diariodonordeste.com.br/egidio/esporte/copa-do-mundo-2014-em-fortaleza-uma-ameaca/</span>eutestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14161427650636426971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204518762438845522.post-43110385937721099022009-07-11T16:43:00.000-07:002009-07-11T16:45:43.094-07:00Wellington Dias defende Copa do Mundo 2014 em ParnaíbaO governador Wellington Dias encontra-se hoje (10) em João Pessoa/PB, onde participa do 11º Encontro de Governadores do Nordeste e da sexta reunião do Conselho Deliberativo da Superintendência do Desenvolvimento do Nordeste - SUDENE. Entre vários temas a serem discutidos, o piauiense quer reivindicar a inclusão de Parnaíba como uma das cidades anfitriãs na Copa do Mundo de 2014.<span id="fullpost"><br /><br />Wellington Dias vai aproveitar a presença do ministro do Esporte, Orlando Silva, para pedir que Parnaíba receba uma das seleções que irão disputar seus jogos em Fortaleza/CE, já confirmada como sede. A definição, no entanto, deve passar ainda pelo crivo das próprias seleções, que serão definidas em sorteio após o término das eliminatórias em cada continente.<br /> <br />Entre as pautas também está a nova lei Rouanet. As mudanças serão discutidas com o ministro da Cultura, Juca Ferreira. Além disso, estarão em debate o Fundo de Desenvolvimento para a região Nordeste e o Prodetur.A única ausência da reunião é o governador de Sergipe. Marcelo Deda (PT) acompanha a esposa, que deu a luz a um bebê com sete meses de gestação.<br /> <br />Yala Sena (flash)<br />Fábio Lima (da Redação)<br />redacao@cidadeverde.com<br /> <br />Fonte: http://www.cidadeverde.com/txt.php?id=40904</span>eutestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14161427650636426971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204518762438845522.post-23724101698181423612009-07-11T16:29:00.000-07:002009-07-11T16:31:11.105-07:002014 World Cup In South AmericaThe FIFA executive committee decided yesterday that the 2014 World Cup would be held in South America, returning there for the first time since 1978.<br /><br />The United States, which staged the World Cup in 1994, had intended to bid for the 2014 tournament. The U.S. Soccer Federation will now focus on bidding for the 2018 World Cup.<br /><br />Four of the first 11 World Cups were played in South America, in Uruguay (1930), Brazil (1950), Chile (1962) and Argentina (1978). A South American nation won all four times.<span id="fullpost"><br /><br />Germany will be host to the 2006 World Cup, and the 2010 tournament will be in Africa, with South Africa the favorite heading into next year's vote by FIFA's executive committee. The World Cup was held in Asia for the first time last year, with Japan and South Korea as co-hosts.<br /><br />The executive committee also decided the 2004 FIFA under-19 women's world championship would be played in Thailand, and that the FIFA indoor world championship that year would be played in Taiwan.<br /><br /><br />Fonte: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/08/sports/plus-soccer-2014-world-cup-in-south-america.html</span>eutestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14161427650636426971noreply@blogger.com0