Countdown to the 2014 World Cup
16 September 2011
Article by Pelé, honorary ambassador for the 2014 World Cup, written on 16 September 2011.
Brazil has always cast a spell on those who become acquainted with it. The beauty of its nature, its biodiversity, culture and creativity, and the contagious joy of the Brazilian people, have always impressed anyone who has had the opportunity to experience my country.
On the 1000th day before the 2014 FIFA World Cup, I have reasons to believe that, in addition to those qualities, which have always characterised us, other attributes such as competence, seriousness, innovation, transparency, sustainability, diversity and democracy should provide even more reasons for those who come to our country to become enchanted by it.
Our economy, currently the seventh largest in the world, is diversified and innovative, combining growth, stability and sustainability with social inclusion. In the past decade more than 40 million people have ascended to the middle class, which has finally become the largest class in Brazil. These circumstances have contributed to the significant decrease in criminality in Brazilian cities, making us better able to ensure security both for our population and for the tourists who come to visit us.
Evolution is equally conspicuous in the field of infrastructure. Not only will the stadiums be delivered on schedule, as has become evident, but our ports and airports are being modernised, and there will be an important legacy in terms of improvements to transport, tourism, communications and energy supply. With the launch of the Brazilian Government’s official World Cup website, www.copa2014.gov.br, information on the progress of construction work and investment in the World Cup can be followed on the internet. This and other types of transparency, monitoring and control mechanisms have been able to prevent and identify possible irregularities effectively and, as such, have enhanced the Brazilian democracy itself.
Brazilians are proud of being a result of a mixture of ethnic groups, religions, origins and colours. We are a nation in which everybody, including tourists, feels at home. We are persuaded that our strength and our creativity in all areas – including football – ensue from this diversity, from this mixture. I believe it is precisely because of this that democracy has become deeply rooted in Brazil.
Needless to say there is still much to do. Some old problems linger on while new problems arise to challenge us. What makes me optimistic is that Brazil is increasingly able to deal with them. In this context I think the 2014 World Cup is coming to Brazil at the right time, offering a great opportunity to show the world that it is not only in sport that we know how to do things beautifully.
Edson Arantes do Nascimento: Pelé
Brazil has always cast a spell on those who become acquainted with it. The beauty of its nature, its biodiversity, culture and creativity, and the contagious joy of the Brazilian people, have always impressed anyone who has had the opportunity to experience my country.
On the 1000th day before the 2014 FIFA World Cup, I have reasons to believe that, in addition to those qualities, which have always characterised us, other attributes such as competence, seriousness, innovation, transparency, sustainability, diversity and democracy should provide even more reasons for those who come to our country to become enchanted by it.
Our economy, currently the seventh largest in the world, is diversified and innovative, combining growth, stability and sustainability with social inclusion. In the past decade more than 40 million people have ascended to the middle class, which has finally become the largest class in Brazil. These circumstances have contributed to the significant decrease in criminality in Brazilian cities, making us better able to ensure security both for our population and for the tourists who come to visit us.
Evolution is equally conspicuous in the field of infrastructure. Not only will the stadiums be delivered on schedule, as has become evident, but our ports and airports are being modernised, and there will be an important legacy in terms of improvements to transport, tourism, communications and energy supply. With the launch of the Brazilian Government’s official World Cup website, www.copa2014.gov.br, information on the progress of construction work and investment in the World Cup can be followed on the internet. This and other types of transparency, monitoring and control mechanisms have been able to prevent and identify possible irregularities effectively and, as such, have enhanced the Brazilian democracy itself.
Brazilians are proud of being a result of a mixture of ethnic groups, religions, origins and colours. We are a nation in which everybody, including tourists, feels at home. We are persuaded that our strength and our creativity in all areas – including football – ensue from this diversity, from this mixture. I believe it is precisely because of this that democracy has become deeply rooted in Brazil.
Needless to say there is still much to do. Some old problems linger on while new problems arise to challenge us. What makes me optimistic is that Brazil is increasingly able to deal with them. In this context I think the 2014 World Cup is coming to Brazil at the right time, offering a great opportunity to show the world that it is not only in sport that we know how to do things beautifully.
Edson Arantes do Nascimento: Pelé