By David Gold
October 16 – Brazil’s preparations to upgrade infrastructure, and to renovate and construct several stadia are in a battle against the clock to be ready in time for the 2014 World Cup, its President Dilma Rousseff has admitted.
Brazil has been dogged by a series of issues, ranging from delays on construction of stadia to slow progress being made upgrading airport capacity.
At the start of this month, work had yet to begin on five of 13 airports which require upgrades during the next three years.
Speaking in Curitiba, one of the host cities, Rousseff admitted that Brazil was in “a race against time”.
She added: “In fact, we should have anticipated urban growth and invested during the 1980s and 90s.”
During her visit, Rousseff announced a grant of $571 million ($361 million/€411 million) to the state of Parana, of which Curitiba is the capital, for the development of an underground system.
Significant infrastructural work, such as boost telecoms networks, and improving roads, hotel capacity and security, still has to be done too.
And stadiums being built are still at risk of missing out altogether, with the proposed venue for the opening game of the competition, the Itaquera in São Paulo, only seeing construction begin a few months ago after a long dispute.
The ground is unlikely to host games during the 2013 Confederations Cup, the dry run ahead of the following year’s showpiece, and there is still a risk the world famous Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro could also miss out on that tournament.
Strikes and problems with its roof have caused delays in its renovation, and though it is still on track to be ready in time for 2013, further delays or problems could place that in further doubt.
“The counry will not enjoy the kind of legacy that it could have enjoyed hosting an event of this magnitude,” said Jose Roberto Bernasconi, President of architectural and consulting engineering association Sinaenco.
“It’s not going to reach its full potential because the Government and organisers took too long to start getting things done after Brazil was chosen to host.”
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