2014 World Cup Will Stimulate The Brazilian Economy

Brazil should receive more than R$140B ($67.5B) in investments thanks to the 2014 World Cup, according to REGIAONOROESTE.com. The event "will move the economy of the country and create lots of business opportunities." Itau Unibanco Chief Economist Ilan Goldfaln said, "Major events bring large audiences, they need large infrastructures, you have to redo the stadiums, you have to reform what people call infrastructure, which are the airports, roads, and you have to create more hotels." Goldfaln added, "And once these events are done it means that the economy is more heated, more people are hired, you spend more" (REGIAONOROESTE.com, 6/22).

VOLUNTEERS APLENTY: CORREIO BRAZILIENSE's Lorrane Melo reported that FIFA's volunteer program will select close to 26,000 people to work the 2013 Confederations Cup and the 2014 World Cup. The sectors that FIFA will be looking for volunteers in will be: "transport, media, security, protocol, tourism, medical department and language services" (CORREIO BRAZILIENSE, 6/24).

CHANGE OF PLANS: PORTAL2014.org.br reported that the Brazil Football Federation (CBF) has been forced to change its plans regarding the construction of the new headquarters and training center. The site purchased for R$26M ($12.5M) in Rio de Janeiro's Barra da Tijuca neighborhood is not in "condition for construction." A study revealed the "soil of the terrain is too swampy." CBF President Jose Maria Marin "is already looking for another locale." The new CBF headquarters "should be inaugurated in 24 months." As well as "harboring the installations" of the Federation, the new site will have three football fields, a high-end training center, a modern physical therapy center and press rooms, in addition to a hotel and a football museum (PORTAL2014.org.br, 6/22).