FIFA and the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) "pressed on" and decided that the football tournament of the 2016 Olympic Games will be "spread throughout Brazil," according to Jamil Chade of ESTADÃO. In a meeting Monday, FIFA "established that the competition will be disputed in seven stadiums in six cities." Sources at FIFA "confirmed" that the "entity's efforts are to demonstrate that the stadiums built for the World Cup, targets of much controversy, were good investments." Brazil's use of seven stadiums "will surpass [the number of stadiums used in] all football tournaments organized by the IOC since the 1968 Games" (ESTADÃO, 3/16). The GAZETA PRESS reported the following stadiums as "hosts for the 2016 Olympic football games:" Minerão in Belo Horizonte, Mané Garrincha in Brasília, Arena Amazônia in Manaus, Engenhão in Rio de Janeiro, Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro, Fonte Nova in Salvador and Arena Corinthians in São Paulo (GAZETA PRESS, 3/15). In São Paulo, Alexandre Lozetti reported CBF President-elect & FIFA Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games Chair Marco Polo Del Nero noted FIFA's "intention ... is to amplify the integration of football into the rest of the competition." Del Nero added that FIFA "wants football close to the Games" (GLOBO ESPORTE, 3/15). REUTERS' Andrew Downie reported Del Nero said, "The Olympic football tournaments will be a fantastic opportunity to revive the great atmosphere seen during the 2014 FIFA World Cup, not only in Rio de Janeiro but also in the other five cities. They did an excellent job in 2014 and now they can use the World Cup stadiums and infrastructure already in place to unite the country for a major event once more." Sixteen men's sides and 12 women's sides "will play 58 matches between August 3-20" (REUTERS, 3/15).
