By Tom Degun
May 25 – London-based international sport business consultancy Vero Communications, founded by Mike Lee (pictured), has announced the launch of their first overseas office in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, which formally opens today under the company name MLA True Communications.
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By David Gold
May 6 – Brazil’s preparations for the 2014 World Cup will speed up towards the end of this year, according to the country’s Sports Minister Orlando Silva, who is seeking to improve the country’s image amid sluggish preparations for the tournament.
By Duncan Mackay
May 2 – A new $3.1 million (£1.8 million) scheme has been launched by the Ethos Institute of Business and Social Responsibility and the United Nations Global Compact to try to ensure that the build-up to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil and 2016 Olympics and Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro remain free of corruption.
By David Gold
April 27 – Orland Silva, Brazil’s Sports Minister, has cast fresh doubt on whether São Paulo will be able to host games during the 2014 World Cup, with construction still yet to begin on the city’s Itaquera Stadium, which is intended to host the tournament’s opening match.
By David Gold
April 19 – MATCH Hospitality, the FIFA Hospitality Programme rights holder, has launched a global Invitation to Tender (ITT) process for companies interested in becoming official and exclusive agents of hospitality for the 2013 Confederations Cup and 2014 World Cup in their respective countries.
By David Gold
April 18 – Up to 10 of the 13 Brazilian airports currently being upgraded for the 2014 World Cup, are unlikely to be ready on time or able to cope with the volume of air traffic during the tournament, a report by the country’s Institute for Applied Economic Research shows.
By Andrew Warshaw
April 15 – A galaxy of footballing legends past and present, led by Pele and Franz Beckenbauer (pictured), meet next month to start to find ways of improving the game as a result of some of the sterile encounters at last year’s World Cup.
By David Gold
April 14 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter has said that world football’s governing body “do not have any problem” with progress being made by Brazil in preparation for the 2014 World Cup.
By David Gold
April 13 – The Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro has been given the green light for a new roof as part of its renovation ahead of the Brazil 2014 World Cup and 2016 Rio de JaneiroOlympic Games.
By Andrew Warshaw
April 11 – Rio de Janeiro will definitely stage the qualifying draw for the 2014 World Cup on July 30, FIFA announced today, ending speculation that Sao Paolo or Brasilia may get the nod.
By David Gold
April 2 – Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana, which is intended to host the final of 2014 World Cup, will need a new roof, Brazil Football Federation President Ricardo Teixeira has confirmed.
By David Owen
March 31 – Two 2014 World Cup stadiums are struggling to meet FIFA’s construction deadline, world football’s governing body has indicated.
By David Gold
March 31 – FIFA has been assured that São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro will be ready to host games at the 2013 Confederations Cup by Brazil Football Confederation President Ricardo Teixeira (pictured).
By David Gold
March 27 – Brazil’s Sports Minister Orlando Silva responded to FIFA President Sepp Blatter’s criticism of the country’s preparations for the 2014 World Cup by reassuring him that they were making good progress and that he was confident everything would be ready in time for the showpiece tournament.
March 25 – Brazil Sports Minister Orlando Silva is seeking help from the country’s Congress to simplify bidding processes and speed-up work ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympics and Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro.