January 31 – The Official Poster of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the final visual icon to be launched for the 2014 World Cup, has been unveiled in Rio de Janeiro as part of FIFA’s ‘500-day’ visit to Brazil.
The poster was showcased by Brazil’s newly appointed World Cup ambassadors in their first official engagement. Four FIFA World Cup winners, Amarildo, Carlos Alberto Torres, Bebeto and Ronaldo, as well as women’s football star Marta, joined FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke to reveal design.
The poster was designed by Brazilian creative agency Crama, and was selected by a judging panel. The creative concept at the heart of the poster is “An entire country at football’s service – Brazil and football: one shared identity”.
“The Official Poster is an important step for showcasing Brazil and the FIFA World Cup in the Host Country and abroad. It is important to convey the message of a country that is modern, innovative, sustainable, happy, united and, of course, passionate about football,” explained Ronaldo.
The 500-day visit marks the number of days left before the start of the 2014 World Cup. The FIFA delegation, led by FIFA secretary general Jérôme Valcke, started the 4 day trip January 27 but suspended the first public celebration event in respect of those who had died in the Santa Maria nightclub fire.
Planned technical meetings did take place and a memorandum of understanding was signed with the Brazilian Ministry of Communications regarding the challenges faced with telecommunications, described by Valcke as “a key issue in the staging of the FIFA World Cup”.
Valcke, who has been previously been criticised in Brazil for pushing the country hard to increase the pace of its World Cup preparations, also visited the Estadio Nacional in Brazil’s capital Brazilia to see the progress of the construction work.
His relationship is clearly now on much better terms though there was still a word of caution that the new deadlines must be met.
“It is an amazing stadium, perhaps one of the most beautiful I have ever seen, and I am convinced that when it is finished it will provide the city with one of its most spectacular reminders of 2014,” said Valcke.
“We still have 500 days ahead of us and we are working hard and very well with the Brazilian government, the state governors and city mayors… We are going to carry on working with the six host cities of the FIFA Confederations Cup and I can safely say that everything is on track.
“We would have preferred the initial deadline of December 2012 to have been met but the decision to extend it to April was made by the whole group: the Brazilian government, the host cities, FIFA and the LOC. What cannot happen is for that deadline to be extended. Everything has to be ready by then: the pitch, roof, seating, rooms, technology solutions, etc.”
Federal District Governor Agnelo Queiroz said: “We now have 4,000 workers operating in three shifts around the clock. Fifty years on, we are bringing the spirit of entrepreneurship and hope back to our city, with people coming from all over Brazil to build this magnificent stadium, which will form an integral part of our history.”
The day before the delegation had attended a match in Fortaleza between local clubs Fortaleza and Ceara in the newly transformed Estadio Castelao. The first stadium to be finished for the 2014 World Cup and a stadium that will be used in this year’s Confederation Cup.
Valcke will visit all 12 host cities for FIFA World Cup 2014 this year.
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