World Cup organizers on Wednesday will "attempt to allay fears about security, escalating accommodation and travel prices" at next summer’s event in Brazil, according to Henry Winter of the London TELEGRAPH. Representatives from FIFA and the Brazilian Government "will also gather in Costa do Sauipe to seek to tackle the many criticisms being levelled at the World Cup." One of the main questions is "the cost to supporters" planning on traveling around such a vast country amidst "alarming signs of profiteering by hoteliers and airlines." Fans will discover which of the 12 venues they must travel to, and find accommodation in, when the group-stage draw is made in Costa do Sauipe on Friday. More than 500,000 foreign supporters "are likely to travel to Brazil, although the number could dip if fears over inflated prices continues." The Brazilian Government "has already turned down requests from overseas carriers to run domestic routes during the tournament." It "hopes to put on more flights, using local carriers, and that prices will fall but it is also the timing of the flights." The general consensus from concerned U.K.-based travel agents is that internal flights will average between £700-£800 ($1,150-$1,310). They also warn England fans to "expect problems trying to book low-cost Brazilian carriers with credit cards." The issue of hotel costs "will also be raised on Wednesday." The Brazilian Government is "looking at prices." Roughly 75% of hotels in game venues have signed up to the FIFA-approved MATCH, which "tends to demand long-stay bookings." The average cost for "one of the good" hotels in Rio is currently £1,500 ($2,400) a night. Costs "could fall if either Government announces on Wednesday it will intervene or if fans are put off travelling" (TELEGRAPH, 12/3).
THE BLACK MARKET: BLOOMBERG's Tariq Panja reported World Cup organizers "warned 100 companies about unauthorized ticket sales and expect the number to swell following this week’s tournament draw." With the demand for tickets higher than in any previous World Cup, MATCH Head of Enforcement Imran Patel said that he "expects a surge of offers on the black market." Patel: "I’m sure more and more cases will arise where the sort of markup we look at is astronomical, exploiting the goodwill of the fan who wants to buy a ticket to watch a game." So far, just more than 1 million of the 3.3 million tickets "have been sold." FIFA has warned ticket holders, including corporate partners who get access to thousands of tickets, "about unlawful sales." MATCH and FIFA "have been trying to build relationships" with consumer-protection groups around the world with a focus on Latin America, where unauthorized sellers "have been particularly active" in Mexico, Colombia and Ecuador (BLOOMBERG, 12/3).
STADIUM DEADLINES: In London, Owen Gibson reported FIFA "has admitted that not all of the stadiums for the Brazil World Cup will be ready in time for its original deadline of January." However, FIFA President Sepp Blatter said that he was "confident all 12 stadiums would be ready when the tournament kicks off in June following a meeting with the local organising committee." Blatter: "We have just received a report. There are some small delays in construction of stadia. But so small that with one exception we can say everything is ready" (GUARDIAN, 12/3). REUTERS' Mike Collett reported the Sao Paulo stadium damaged when a crane collapsed on its roof last week, killing two construction workers, "will be ready to stage the opening match" of the World Cup. FIFA President Sepp Blatter said, "The problems we now face regarding the stadiums are so small we can close our eyes" (REUTERS, 12/3).
MORE 'EMBARRASSMENT': REUTERS' Andrew Downie reported FIFA faced "yet another embarrassment when a Sao Paulo prosecutor opened an investigation into possible racism" by FIFA. A Sao Paulo state prosecutor has asked FIFA and the company it hired to "organize Friday's draw to explain why it chose two white-skinned actors to present the televised show instead of two black-skinned actors" (REUTERS, 12/2).
