FIFA Secretary General Jérome Valcke has visited Manaus, Brazil, one of the stadiums that will be a host site for the 2014 World Cup, and received "guarantees that the stadium will be ready by Dec. 20." Brazil's Amazonas Governor Omar Aziz "confirmed the required completion date and highlighted that there will be a local match between Rio Negro and Nacional to test the facilities in early January." Construction of the stadium "is almost 80% complete." For the World Cup, FIFA said that "it will not tolerate delays in the completion of the stadiums" (EP, 8/21). ... Australian politician Tony Abbott has "upstaged" former Australian PM Kevin Rudd on "his home turf," handing over A$5M ($4.5M) to help upgrade National Rugby League side Brisbane Broncos' facilities and grounds ahead of Wednesday's "crucial nationally televised debate." While Rudd is the club's No. 1 ticket holder, Abbott has "swooped in to pledge the money towards new training facilities for the Broncos as well as green space for the community and the construction of a sports medical centre" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 8/21).
