Brazil Making Entrance On Global Stage With World Cup, Olympics

Last night's edition of CBS' "60 Minutes" examined Brazil's thriving economy with CBS' Steve Kroft reporting while "most of the world is consumed with debt and unemployment, Brazil is trying to figure out how to manage an economic boom" and with the World Cup and Olympics "on the way, Brazil is about to make its grand entrance on the global stage." Kroft noted Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva "charmed the international committees that awarded Brazil the 2016 Olympics and the World Cup of 2014, political victories that announced the country's arrival as an international player." However, the events will "present some challenges for Brazil's next president." Kroft noted there are "massive problems with infrastructure," as 90% of roads in the country "are still unpaved, and in the cities there's not much in the way of public transportation." There already are "major delays in the building and renovating of stadiums for the 2014 World Cup." FIFA stated that Brazil "is way behind in making preparations for the World Cup," and Kroft asked Lula whether the country will "be ready." Lula: "First, we need to be careful about European perfectionism because everything that happens here, in the South, they think they know better than us. Well, the Europeans may put their minds at ease because we will organize the most extraordinary World Cup ever" ("60 Minutes," CBS, 12/12).