I am from Brazil, I am not against the World Cup, I am against the bad use of public money, when we need better schools, better hospitals, infrastructure and much more....
Brazil is considered the land of football, and it is true, football is part of our lives and makes people crazy, but our country is also the land of the worst politicians...as well our population tends to see corruption as a “normal” thing.
Regarding the Cup, the choice of the cities involved: The importance of the city, touristic aspects and other obscure things that can not be measured (money), only the interested people could measure, or understand this.
The initial figure for the whole world cup project, according to the goverment was 42 billion, now it is 72 billion – Just a very small miscalculation of 30 billion Reais.
The cities:
São Paulo
São Paulo city will hold the opening of the games. The natural thing was São Paulo, the football club use his stadium to hold the opening. But a political maneuver gave the opening to Corinthians, one of the most popular clubs in Brazil. Corinthians does not have Stadium, but will have a modern one for the opening in 2014. How??? Only the politicians, the former president of Brazil and the ruling people of this club know;
The initial costs were estimated by 750 millions !!! But the specialists predict more than 1 billion!!! I think with one billion, at least one small school or hospital could be done (I am being ironic) Bad use of tax payer money;
Rio de Janeiro – Maracanã a Black hole of public money
Rio de janeiro land of carnival and “Mulatas” holds the Maracanã, the biggest stadium in the world, and a bottomless place for public money. The first stand of the stadium was completely reformed in 2005 / 2006 for the 2007 Pan American games at a high cost, in other words – public money, as it is a state ruled stadium; Now for the world cup at least half of the stadium was destroyed in order to make it in accordance to the FIFA requirements. The estimated costs were 995 million, but the work is not finished yet, and there is a long way ahead, and many things may be changed. (money)
Curitiba – a second division club will receive public money in some works in its stadium, through an immoral political maneuver. The initial figures were 90 million, than 135, 180 and finally more than 200 millions. The government state will pay 33% the city hall more 33% of the whole amount!! To sum up, 66% will be paid by tax payers and is clearly agreed by the politicians, as a crystal clear thing.
Just four matches of minor importance for the world cup.....
Fortaleza, Recife, Natal and Salvador – These cities represents the northeast part of Brazil, and are known as a touristic pole and natural beauty;
Most of the football clubs involved on these cities plays second division league and others third and fourth.
The government will build public stadiums that will remain useless for most time of the year.
Poverty is high there and the world cup will not resolve the water shortage, the infrastructure problem etc.....public money on useless assets.
Manaus and Cuiabá– the choice for these cities was just for tourism intention, as a football is completely irrelevant. (third and fourth division clubs), another useless stadiums will be built.. Public money on useless asset, a white elephant as heritage. Brasília – Brazil ´s capital, and base of government, is building a stadium for 71,000 people in a city where football is also irrelevant with its clubs playing third and forth division leagues.
According to the official site for the world cup, the planned cost was 743,5 millions, but it is now updated to 918 million, but as the government publicly expressed, this figure will rise because there are other things to be done, to fulfill FIFA requirements. In other words, another 1 billion useless stadium.
Belo Horizonte – There are two clubs playing the main league (first division), both do not have their stadiums and normally play on a state built stadium, which is now being remodeled for the Cup games.
As the government is the ruler and the stadium is very large, the risk for corruption is considerably high.
Porto Alegre – In this city one club is using a partnership to reform his stadium – this is the right thing to do, but the work is delayed, and the deadlines for world cup are at risk (Risk of tax payer money is low – at least is what is expected)
