Brazil Enlists United Nations To Help Prepare Stadium For Confederations Cup, World Cup

Rio de Janeiro is "turning to a surprising partner" for help to complete Mané Garrincha stadium in the run-up to June's Confederations Cup: the United Nations, according to REUTERS. The Brazilian government this week signed a R$35M ($17.61M) agreement with two U.N. agencies "under which they will procure services and items such as tents, generators and security cameras for the stadium." The contract is "one of the clearest signs yet that Brazil is running behind on the construction of stadiums and other key infrastructure for upcoming sporting events." The U.N.'s main advantage is that it "can acquire goods and services without going through the complex and lengthy procurement process required by the Brazilian government." Some of the temporary structures to be procured by the U.N. agencies for the Confederations Cup will "remain in place for the seven World Cup games that will be played in Brasilia a year later." UNDP spokesperson Boaz Paldi said the arrangement with Brazil was "not entirely unprecedented" and the value of the contract could rise (REUTERS, 3/21).