I am in shock and cannot believe what I witnessed yesterday
in Recife at Arena Pernambuco during the first game of Confederations Cup
between Spain and Uruguay. A beautiful building, The Arena, or White Elephant – its nickname was ready
and waiting for fans to arrive with its shining green lawn and red chairs. The
crowd was excited even though Uruguay was not the same squad that played the
last World Cup in South Africa. They were playing against the world champions
but still the match was a little disappointing. Outside the arena the story was
very different. It was a rainy afternoon
with gray skies symbolizing an opening marked by disaster and shame caused by
the lack of responsibility by the state and federal governments, FIFA and
unfortunately by the Brazilian fans.
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| Arena Pernambuco, Recife - PE |
On Saturday during the official opening of the Confederations
Cup in Brasilia where the Brazilian team defeated Japan 3—0, the festivities
were marked by booing not only for the FIFA’s president but also for Brazilian
President Dilma Rousseff . Outside Mane Garrincha Arena, the atmosphere was very
tense. A big demonstration against the government and FIFA protesting the
billions that has been spent in preparing for the World Cup. While the country
is sinking due to a lack of infrastructure--a woeful transportation system,
substandard education and healthcare, among others, the government is spending
a fortune building stadiums worth billions of dollars. The rich are getting richer,
political corruption is rampant with the poor getting poorer. A country with
huge social and economic inequalities will host the 2014 World Cup and the
Olympics in 2016? In Brazil problems do not get resolved but it is a common
practice of "a simple makeup". This is the way the country is getting
ready to host those important events but with a huge difference; it is not
working this time. Are the Brazilian authorities blind?!!
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| Brazilian fan at Arena Pernambuco |
World Cups and Olympics are international events of such
magnitude that they require not only infrastructure, education, respect to
others, but a lot patience in welcoming guests from around the world.
Brazilians should be very happy and proud of their country’s rising profile,
but they should keep in mind that everyday routines will change. The country
does not have the infrastructure as we already know. Therefore, you have to
prepare yourself for crowded buses and metros and all the resulting disfunction
that comes with it. Protestors turned looters have started to vandalize
everything is not the answer. Respect above all is the most necessary virtues,
but unfortunately this word did not make it into the Brazilian dictionary.
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| Uruguayan fans walking to Arena Pernambuco for their match against Spain |
What I witnessed yesterday was very sad. I was in shock. While
I am from Pernambucana radicalized abroad for over 20 years. I was very happy
to know that Brazil and Recife will host such events. To be quite honest I came
home again because I wanted to be here to celebrate with my compatriots these
special moments. After yesterday I came
to a conclusion that Brazil doesn’t have the necessary infrastructure and Brazilians
sociologically are not prepared to host such large events. I believe FIFA’s arrogance
along with government corruption and incompetence are treating Brazilians with
lack of respect.
Capitalist FIFA seeks only profits during the World Cup.
Money is their ultimate goal. Organizers do not care for the fans, but instead
cater only to the well being of the sponsors, and they impose ridiculous rules.
For example, fans yesterday were not allowed to bring umbrellas inside the
arenas even though it was raining. June is winter in Brazil and during winter
months certain parts of the country rain a lot. It turns out that the bosses
will arrive by car and they will never get wet. The crowd that comes from metro
and buses are the ones that have to deal with the rain. Waterproof garments are
not allowed to be sold in the arenas. Only sponsor related products priced at criminally
high rates are sold.
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| South Americans fans invaded Arena Pernambuco |
Regarding the arena whose is in charge of the construction--FIFA,
the state government? It is unacceptable that in restrooms there are NO garbage
cans. How much did the government spend in building the Arena Pernambuco? I
guess the organizers ran out of money to install garbage cans inside and outside
the stadium? The amount of waste during the first match of the Confederations
Cup was simply unbelievable. Outside, there was growing pool of beer cans and
water bottles. This is another example of the lack of respect not only for the
Arena Pernambuco itself but to all of the citizens. It is your money. What kind
of message are the authorities sending to Brazilians and to all foreigners
present yesterday. This type of behavior is just not unacceptable.
What a calamity. The general feeling was of disappointment, revulsion,
and shame. Trash everywhere, lack of trash bins, people soaked unnecessarily
wet, kilometric lines to buy beer costing R$ 12.00 ($6.00 dollars). A fan paid R$ 240.00 ($120.00 dollars) for a
ticket and could not find his seat since it did not exist. FIFA is responsible
for ticket sales. It really was a Sunday that Brazil should have been very
proud of, but it turned into an afternoon of shame.
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| Couple from Northeast Brazil |
Yesterday’s biggest shame was the lack of organization in
getting to the Arena. The lack of public transportation prepared to transport
more the 60,000 people was dismal. Forced to travel by metro and buses due to
lack of parking - one of the exigencies by FIFA, fans spent an average of two
hours to reach the final destination. Governor where are you? It seems to me
you are more concerned about solving your alliances to get elected to the
presidency next year than solving the many problems the state desperately has.
Where is your authority and determination to provide what is necessary to host
a World Cup Brazilians and the world deserve?
The lack of basic planning with the metro is disgusting. The
metro is not even prepared to absorb the number of passengers during the games.
Cosme e Damiao station is not even ready. Not to mention the project. It was not
designed to meet a higher demand due to important games such as the
Confederations Cup last Sunday. A disaster. Crowded platforms, trains unable to
leave due to the number of users on the platforms, only one ramp to access platform
and very crowded trains.
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| Uruguayans getting to the Arena Pernambuco for their match against Spain |
To reach the metro station fans must walk 600 meters from
the arena to the bus station. People must wait in endless lines. Some of the passengers
did not want to wait in line to catch the buses, and the police could not
contain the crowd. This past Sunday, the lack of respect, patience, and lack of
education caused some fans to vandalize buses and break fences. Who is to
blame? All the authorities, FIFA, and all the irresponsible fans are
responsible for Sunday’s disaster. It has been proved once again that Brazil is
still a third world country. Quoting a
tourist from Uruguay "if Uruguay squad come back to Recife during the
World Cup I will not come. I'm being treated like an animal". Shame on you
Brazil. I just hope that Pernambuco’s governor became aware of this comment.
This statement should also be a warning to the president of
the republic. Dilma was embarassed on national television and I hope the foreign
press broadcast the opening. Brazil is going through a phase of general
discontentment. Demonstrations are happening every single day in major capitals
and the government attitude is to sweep the dirt under the carpet. This country
is having a chance to host major international events and is being tested. So
far Brazil has failed miserably. It is up to the federal and state government
to take responsibility in providing basic infrastructure. Nothing is perfect.
We still have time to make the Confederations Cup and the World Cup an
unforgettable experience. I know education, responsibility, and respect are not
qualities we can be acquired overnight but at least Brazilians and the
authorities should try in the name of the of our passion for football.
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| Spaniard fan waiting for the shuttles to go to the Arena Pernambuco |
Finally, I received a message from a very angry fan which I
want to share: "Neca more than angry, I was embarrassed and I still am.
Embarrassed by the whole lack of structure and planning, ashamed of having exposed
my family to harm needlessly, and especially ashamed to be Brazilian. We are a
third world country with education and citizenship of a fifth world country. Go
back to your country and be proud of it, with all it’s imperfections”.
