By David Gold in London
June 30 – Brazil is facing a race against time to ensure the Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro is ready for the 2013 Confederations Cup, whilst doubts over the construction of stadia in Natal and São Paulo persist, according to a report released today by UK Trade & Industry.
Also cauinsg concern is the Itaquera stadium in São Paulo, which has yet to see work begin, and has long been a source of frustration for Brazil 2014 organisers and FIFA.
It has been accepted that the venue will not be ready in time for 2013, but Brazil is still optimistic that it can host the opening game of the World Cup.
It is hoped that work on the stadium will begin in the coming weeks, but negotiations over the removal of a piping network, a dispute over a contract with Corinthians – who are due to move into the venue after the World Cup – and the failure of the club or the stadium constructors to secure funding mean that building works cannot start.
But it is the renewed concern over the iconic Maracanã which is most alarming, and the failure to have the stadium ready for the Confederations Cup, taking place in July 2013, would be a major blow.
A new roof has to be constructed for the ground after the Secretary for Public Works declared the existing supports unfit for purpose.
According to the report, “with the roof work delayed, the ability of the construction team to deliver a working stadium in time for the 2013 Confederations Cup is in doubt.”
It goes on to say that current projections put the delivery date of the ground at March 2013, which would enable the Maracanã to host games during the tournament, but it gives it very little room for error in the next two years.
Though Brazil should have the five necessary stadiums required to host the Confederations Cup ready in time, there are concerns over some of the other venues, in particular Natal.
Like São Paulo, work has yet to begin on the Estádio das Dunas and the ground won’t be ready until after the end of the Confederations Cup.
Work has also been delayed on the Castelão Stadium (pictured) in Fortaleza, pushing back its estimated finish date to April 2013, and the Arena Da Amazônia in Manaus won’t be ready until the end of June 2013.
“There are serious concerns about the progress of the country’s preparations for the tournament,” the report says.
“Although readiness for the event itself is not [yet] doubted, preparedness for the Confederations Cup tournament is a worry.”
Marcelo Tavares, the infrastructure and sports manager of the British Consulate-General in Rio de Janeiro, admitted that preparations were slow.
“It’s a bit behind South Africa,” he said.
“To have the São Paulo stadium ready by 2013 will be a challenge, but it will be ready for the World Cup.”
Coping with a significant volume of air traffic is another concern, with the Institute of Applied Economic Research suggesting in April that airports in nine of the 12 host cities will not be ready for the World Cup.
Investment has since been forthcoming to attempt to overcome those problems, but the report suggests that the urgency in this area may be too late.
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