By David Gold
July 17 – FIFA and Brazil’s largest public television network, Globo, has confirmed that there will be free access to small public gatherings showing matches during the World Cup in 2014.
Globo are the official broadcaster of the Confederations Cup and World Cup in 2013 and 2014 respectively, being held in Brazil.
No licence will be required to project the games in a non-commercial environment if the numbers watching are fewer than 5,000.
Companies organising such viewings must also comply with terms and conditions stipulated by FIFA’s regulations.
Such viewings will complement the FIFA fan festivals, which will see large public screenings of matches in each of the 12 host cities of the World Cup.
They have proven a key part of recent World Cups, and although it is part of Brazilian culture to watch major football events at home with the family, huge numbers are expected at public viewings.
FIFA general secretary Jérôme Valcke said: “Football and the FIFA World Cup touch the entire host country.
“It is extremely important for us that all Brazilians – irrespective of whether they live in a small or big city – are part of these historic football festivals taking place in 2013 and 2014 in the home of the five-time world champions, and not only those living in the official host cities.
“We are sure that with free access to non-commercial public viewing events – thanks to the support of our Official Broadcaster, TV Globo – all fans in Brazil will be able to enjoy and be part of the incredible FIFA World Cup experience and transform the country into an unforgettable, massive football celebration with vivid images to be sent across the globe.”
Ronaldo (pictured below), a World Cup winner for Brazil in 1994 and 2002 and the competition’s all-time top scorer, is now a key part of Brazil 2014.
He said: “My earliest memories of the FIFA World Cup are of watching the matches in 1986 and 1990 with family, friends and neighbours on a big screen in the streets.
“It was truly a dream for us kids to watch the Seleção perform far away from home, but with those celebrations on the streets it made us all feel like we were right in the middle of the action.
“Luckily my own dream came true and I not only went to four editions of the FIFA World Cup, but I also won two of them.
“It is nice to think that thousands of kids will experience the same feeling that I had when I was a kid during the celebrations that will take place at public viewing events across Brazil.”
Those staging viewings are also asked to refer to the Globo platform to acknowledge FIFA’s regulations and submit requests to hold public events.
It has also been confirmed that revenue generated by licence fees in Brazil are to be donated by FIFA and Globo to a Brazilian charity which has yet to be confirmed.
“TV Globo is very proud to be working in partnership with FIFA on a great number of projects related to the FIFA Confederations Cup 2013 and the 2014 FIFA World Cup,” said Marcelo de Campos Pinto, Globo Esportes executive director.
“We consider the project involving public viewing events to be fundamental as it will serve to bring the country together and enhance the joyous spirit of Brazilians around the FIFA competitions.”
The public viewing policy outside of Brazil will be announced at a later date.
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