By Andrew Warshaw
December 23 – FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke says it’s time to “recharge the batteries” over the Christmas period after what he has described as a “momentous” year – in part related to trying to organise next year’s World Cup in Brazil where half the stadiums will not be ready by FIFA’s end-of-year deadline.
In his final bulletin of 2013 for FIFA’s website, Valcke admits that the Confederations Cup in the summer, which co-incided with mass street protests throughout Brazil, was a “highly demanding dress rehearsal” for the real thing.
But the recent World Cup draw, said Valcke, marked a “watershed moment” in terms of operations.
“Above all, the Final Draw has spurred us on and given us the impetus and motivation to concentrate on completing the important tasks still remaining in the final preparation phase,” he wrote. “The clock is ticking ever faster and the level of anticipation is rising for all of us.”
The tragic deaths of two workers at the Sao Paulo stadium scheduled to host the June 12 opening match between Brazil and Croatia, followed by another fatality at Manaus, was not lost on Valcke.
“None of us organisers – FIFA, the LOC, the federal government and the host cities – have the slightest cause to sit back and rest on any laurels,” he wrote. “The finishing touches are crucial, and they need to be added in a number of areas.”
“The work at the six non-FIFA Confederations Cup stadiums is in the final stages – with the exception of Sao Paulo, for the for the sad reason we are all aware of – and all the other five will have hosted the first of at least three test events within the first three months of 2014.
“In addition, the temporary structures in all 12 stadiums need to be brought up to FIFA World Cup standards and sizes, to name but two of the many tasks still on the agenda. With all deadlines in mind, there will and have not been any compromises in terms of safety and security – a matter which is always top priority for workers, players and fans equally.”
“While we all keep focused on the preparations, it is also time to recharge batteries over the holiday season.”
Contact the writer of this story at andrew.warshaw@insideworldfootball,com