World Cup cost Brazil $11 billion

[ellenrr]

one billion for each goal.
haha
fuckin' idiots!

[aikoaiko]

1. Or money well spent to host a big party for the world

[ellenrr]

2. yeah - while the favelas rot and the infrastructure crumbles. One good thing

about the W.C. is that it really mobilized people from all classes and various ethnicities to come into the streets for protests that were brutally suppressed.

I hope this organizing continues.

[estevamsp33]

14. I think this is a bit unfair.

The government that brought the WC to Brazil is the same government that has performed one of the largest social advances seen in the last decades in global terms and is also the one responsible for the most succesful program aming the reduction of poverty. The number of people that has ascended socially in Brazil has no paralel in its history.

There were favelas before the WC and they wouldn't disappear if the WC was not hosted. If anything, people in the favelas are now living better. 11 billion is really not that much money - not for the 5th largest country in the planet, this could easily be spent to realocate just the dwellers of a single middle-size favela... Rocinha or Paraisópolis would take ten or eleven times more money than this. The cost of living and building is very high in Brazil.

[Javaman]

4. You should watch John Olivers report on how FIFA Screws over host nations.

and how they basically take all the money the host nation makes off of the WC.

it's an incredible scam.

here's the clip.

&feature=kp

and the very best part is that Brazil built a stadium in the middle of that Amazon that is virtually impossible to reach other than by boat.

and all the money spent on that stadium could have gone to, I don't know, feeding people, maybe?

in a few years, that stadium will be a thing of the past after the jungle reclaims it.

World Cup arena awaits its second act in Brazil's Amazonas city of Manaus
http://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/1551398/world-cup-arena-awaits-its-second-act-brazils-amazonas-city-manaus

[ellenrr]

5. thanks. love John Oliver. another good read is Dave Zirin:

"Yes, a 7-1 loss is a brutal way to exit the World Cup. But masses of people throughout the country have already committed themselves to fighting a different kind of brutality: the hosting of mega-events on their backs. That anger isn’t going anywhere. The question will be whether Brazil can sustain the level of militarization that has muted the protests during the World Cup. It is probably economically unsustainable to maintain the FIFA police state for the next two years. That will open more space for dissent, and these dissenting voices must be heard. It’s Brazil now. FIFA and the IOC have both stated their desires to return the Olympics and World Cup to the United States. Unless we want to experience this brand of weaponized gentrification-on-steroids, we would do well to amplify Brazil’s fighting voices and encourage those around us to listen. It’s not about solidarity. It’s about common survival."

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/dave-zirin

[Javaman]

6. Thanks for the article. It looks like it will be an interesting read. nt

[ellenrr]

8. he has a book too. nt

[Javaman]

10. I just read two of the articles.

they were fantastic.

such a horrible crime has been perpetrated upon the Brazilian people.

this won't end well.

the Olympics will be very interesting.

[estevamsp33]

16. "this won't end well."

I've been hearing this for seven years.

Since it was announced that the WC was going to be hosted in Brazil, the international press, particulary US and UK media, have started a bashing campaign - probably motivated by political and diplomatic animosity between those countries, exacerbated after the NSA spying scandal, which Dilma Rousseff strongly criticized. The English-speaking media loves stereotypes, clichés and platitudes.

They said that the venues wouldn't be ready on time, that the "crumbling infrastructure" would force FIFA to realocate the WC to a more "civilized nation" (LOL), that there would be blackouts, that the water would be poisoned, that all the tourists would be robbed, spanked, tortured, raped, murdered, that the gangs and druglords would perpetrate a bloodbath, that the protesters would invade the stadiums and sparkle an out-of-control wave of violence, that the tourists would have to sleep in the streets or favelas because there are not enough hotels in Brazil...

The catastrophic narrative didn't last for three days: international press is already calling WC 2014 "the best World Cup ever". Tourists are delighted. Nobody is complaining.

https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/the-rio-report/why-brazil-2014-shaping-best-world-cup-ever-104131658.html

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/28174503

Then, English-speaking media said that if Brazil lost the WC, there would be huge riots all over the country and the tourists would be murdered...

It has been almost a week since Brazil was eliminated from the WC and, so far, no "huge riots", no mass murders, etc.

It would be fantastic if English speaking media finally realized that Brazilians are not savage beasts that go out rioting over silly things. We're pretty much like any other people on Earth.

But, please, continue with the freak show. I'm sure the Olympics will be "a catastrophe" too...

[Javaman]

20. I love how you conflate "this won't end well" with

"It would be fantastic if English speaking media finally realized that Brazilians are not savage beasts that go out rioting over silly things. We're pretty much like any other people on Earth."

that's an amazing accomplishment of going zero to 1000 in nothing flat.

"this won't end well" could mean a lot of things.

In my case, it means, the poor people of Brazil, will actually stand up for themselves and tell the crooked government to stop this crap.

"savage beasts" holy Hyperbole batman!

[estevamsp33]

23. The "crooked government"...

... is the same government that has lifted 40 million out of poverty, reduced the number of favelas by 16%, was responsible for the biggest drop in unemployment ever seen in Brazilian history (from 25% to 5%) and has made Brazil advance socially in unprecedented scale, with one the largest drops in social inequality in Latin America.

And now, they've also brought the WC which will generate dozens of billions in revenue, profit, tourism and the projection of Brazil's image in the international stage.

Can't think of a single reason of why Brazilian people would want the government to "stop this crap".

Most Brazilians think like me, that's why we will re-elect our leftist government in October.

[Javaman]

25. Have fun with that.

most governments are crooked, it's just measured by degree.

but if you want to insist that your government is somehow above it all, knock yourself out.

[BeyondGeography]

30. "So long and thanks for the memories, Brazil. We’ll never forget you"

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/jul/14/brazil-world-cup-memories-legacy-2014

That's how it ended for this columnist for The Guardian, who, I would wager, speaks for the many, many people who had the time of their lives in Brazil at the Cup, no small thanks to the hard working Brazilian people who supported the event as hosts.

As you note, none of the gloomiest pre-event Debbie Downerville scenarios even came close to panning out, so those who were really hoping for the worst (which is what they are prone to do, regardless of the issue) are back to screaming about the money.

[estevamsp33]

17. I live opinative articles.

Except when those giving opinions are clearly not informed enough.


"Masses of people througout the country"?

Hardly.

Last anti-WC protest in São Paulo gathered 50 people. 50 people in a city of 20 million.... do these people represent the majority of Brazilians? They certainly do not speak for me.

Most Brazilians love football and love WC. The anti-WC protests are using the WC as scapegoat for next October presidential elections. Most Brazilians are not buying it. Unfortunatelly, as we can see, lots of foreigners are.

The protests are not being brutally supressed. They are just not attracting audience, attention, people. Brazilians are not interested. It's that simple.

"FIFA and the IOC have both stated their desires to return the Olympics and World Cup to the United States." - You do realize the United States doesn't have a single stadium in conditions of receiving a World Cup, don't you?

[Javaman]

21. 11 billion dollars.

I'll just let that speak for itself.

[estevamsp33]

22. A drop in the ocean...

... for a country that responds for the world's 6th largest GDP.

11 billion dollars couldn't cover Brazil's spending with education or health care for even two weeks...

But I guess good spending to you is burning almost ONE TRILLION dollars to kill people in Iraq and steal oil... or spending half of the planet's military budget as the US does.

[Javaman]

24. 11 billion isn't a drop in the ocean to the poor. Good day. nt

[estevamsp33]

29. Brazil spends far more money on its social services than 11 billion.

This is a childish argument and you're not making it any better.

[Javaman]

32. LOL

yes, 11 billion is just a pittance.

nice try and good day.

and it appears as if you need the last word, you may have it.

[estevamsp33]

33. It depends. 11 billions in comparison to what?

11 billion wouldn't cover even the cost of Obama's presidential election.

11 billion is what Brazil is spends in two weeks with education alone.

Your president spent far more money, almost a TRILLION dollars to bail corrupted bankers.

Your former president spent 800 BILLION to invade Iraq, kill millions of innocent citizens, and steal their oil...

But you just can't accept spending 11 billions in an international sporting event.

How can anyone take you guys seriously? With such a pathetic slective indignation? No way.

[estevamsp33]

19. It's not exactly "in the middle of the Amazon".

It is located in Manaus, a metropolis with 2 million inhabitants that was founded in the banks of the Amazon river in 1669. A city with opera houses, shopping malls, a huge port and one of Brazil's largest industrial parks. It's not a small village lost in the Amazon like some people here seem to believe.

Yes, you can get there by boat. But only if you want to. If you prefer you can go by transatlantic (there's a "transatlantic season" in Manaus). Or by airplane, since Manaus has the third largest international airport in Brazil, only after Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. You can also go by car or bus and get there by the two federal highways that intersect Manaus. There's also an international highway connecting Venezuela to Manaus.

[JustAnotherGen]

27. I'm enjoying your posts - and your perspective

It is clear to me you 'see' - really 'see' your country. I.E. Still a long way to go.

However at the same time - you also see how it was portrayed as almost full of savages and backwards. We had friends that attended for a few days. One is a music industry exec - man from my hometown in Rochester and he noted - how silly the hype was about violence. He felt more comfortable there with his teenage son (black Americans) - direct quote: Than he would in Sanford, Florida (see the Trayvon Martin murder trial where the guy walked free and clear).

The wait and see will be what money was poured into the country by visitors during the World Cup.

Any stats from in country on what impact was to the local economy?

[estevamsp33]

31. Thank you.

I've heard similar comments here from tourists. Several of them were surprised by the fact that they could walk by foot late at night while feeling completely safe. Others were surprised by the quality of some public services, such as the subway. Every one of them had the impression that the press was largely exaggerating.

So far, the WC has generated 30 billion reais (15 billion dollars) in taxes and revenues. The government estimates that the WC will have a total impact of R$ 142 billions (US$ 71 billion) injected in the economy, considering the period between 2010 and 2014.

Micro-enterprises' profit is estimated in 500 million reais (250 million dollars).

The WC has also generated 332,000 permanent jobs and 381,000 temporary jobs.

FIFA paid 18.1 billion reais (9 billion dollars) in taxes to the Brazilian government.

So... the investment in stadiums has already been paid back.

http://copadomundo.uol.com.br/noticias/redacao/2014/03/06/veja-sete-argumentos-para-defender-a-copa-do-mundo-no-brasil.htm

[davidpdx]

3. How much extra did the rioting cost?

I haven't seen many people talking about that on DU.

[snooper2]

7. I posted some news reports from VICE but nobody cared

Soccer is sooooo awesome and international and bonding and loving and there is no racism or bigotry and it is the opposite of the evil stuff in the United States like football what isn't to love!

[truebrit71]

9. Good thing they're in the final....oh...oops...

...

[estevamsp33]

11. Wow.

Thank you guys for letting us know how bad Brazil is at spending its money on world cup when the country has so many other priorities.

Please, tell us more about how spending half of the planet's military budget, getting involved in wars at each three or four weeks, bombing countries to get oil and killing people at wedding with drones iw a better way of spending the citizens' money than with sports or celebrations...

Thanks again. How could we ever live without you guys?

Learn, Dilma. Learn.

[octoberlib]

13. Good point.

We need to clean up our own house/crumbling infrastructure before criticizing anybody else's.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

12. The Joint Chiefs wiped their asses with that much last week.

[Raine1967]

18. 11 Brazillian Dollars?

Sorry, I could not resist.

[riqster]

28. You have to do the Dr. Evil pinky gesture for full effect.

[ClarkeVII]

26. What a waste of money

Hopefully in the US we do not make the same mistake by:

1. Funding exuberant high school and college stadiums
2. Adding to the NFL owners net worth by giving them stadiums while our city infrastructure is crumbling.

We would never make the same mistakes as Brazil