Brazil Wastes $300 Million to Build "Arena Amazonia" Exclusively for the 2014 FIFA World Cup
http://www.latinopost.com/articles/6247/20140620/amazon-river-arena-amazonia-world-cup-2014-world-cup-fifa-john-oliver-controversy-expensive-rainforest.htm
John Oliver, host of HBO's Last Week Tonight, aired a segment where he satirically congratulated the Brazilian government for constructing a $300 million soccer stadium in the middle of the Amazon rainforest.
"Okay, that does seem like a waste of money, especially when you consider that that stadium is only going to be used for four World Cup games," Oliver said. "There's also no team in Manaus that can fill it afterwards, at which point it becomes the world's most expensive bird toilet."
The stadium in question is Arena Amazonia in the city of Manaus, which has a population of around 2 million people. Although Manaus is business hub due to its economic free zone, the city is largely only accessible by boat or by plane, which makes transportation to the stadium a major issue.
When constructing the $300 million project, supplies and building materials had to be shipped up the Amazon River in order to make it to the job site, which is located right in the heart of the Brazilian rainforest.
Recent protest movements have centered around the estimated $12 billion that have been spent on wasteful stadium such as Arena Amazonia. Citizens of Brazil are questioning what will happen to the stadiums after all the tourists have gone and the seats are empty, with no teams to fill the void.
Brazil has constructed or remodeled 12 stadiums throughout the country and many will be hard to fill after the World Cup is through.
The Brazilian government and the city of Manaus contend the stadium will continue to be used in revenue producing ways long after the World Cup leaves. Officials cite that Manaus has a soccer team who plays in Brazil's 4th division.
Critics site the fact that Manaus's current soccer team only attracts around 1,000 fans per match, while Arena Amazonia holds 42,000 people within its massive confines.
Concerts and cultural events have also been posed as uses for the stadium, but the frequency of these events seems to scarce to support itself.
The 2016 Olympics will be held in Rio de Janiero, which is roughly a 4-hour flight south of Manaus. It is highly unlikely that an attempt will be made to move events from Rio to a stadium of that distance.
According to the FIFA rules of hosting a World Cup, eight stadiums must be constructed or revamped to host the 64 matches and large tourist crowds. Brazil went above and beyond this number, choosing 12 cities instead of the suggested eight.
The mayor of Rio de Janiero admitted to reporters that "we made a mistake" when choosing 12 host cities.
Brazilian Prostitutes Gear Up For World Cup Crowds
http://www.latinopost.com/articles/6113/20140613/brazilian-prostitutes-prostitutes-learn-english-world-cup-2014-world-cup-fifa-fifa-world-cup.htm
As the Brazilian government adds its finishing touches to the twelve World Cup stadiums and transit lines, the Brazilian red-light district is also gearing up for the influx of an estimated 600,000 international travelers. The World Cup brings with it thousands of alcohol ingesting, adrenaline pumping men who Brazilian prostitutes can convert into clientele and cold profit.
Prostitution is a legal occupation in Brazil and so in preparation for the large English population, free English classes were offered in the cup city of Belo Horizonte. At least a thousand sex-workers showed up to the classes in order to perfect their English vernacular.
Minas Gerais State Association of Prostitutes president, Cida Vieira, told Huffington Post reporters that, "English will be very important to communicate with clients during the Cup. They'll have to learn how to work out financial deals and also use a specialized vocabulary with sensual words and fetishes."
Vieira has specialized the course to mostly include erotic phrases as well as hand gestures that will prevent confusion on set acts and prices.
Although prostitution is legal in Brazil, the organization of a brothel is not. To get around this road-bump many Brazilian bars act as fronts for brothels that are set up in back of the store. Tucked away in back alleys, up twisting flights of stairs, the brothels of Brazil live on in secrecy.
Surprisingly enough more than half of the World Cup prostitutes were not prostitutes a month ago. The huge crowds of men have opened up lucrative business opportunities for the otherwise impoverished citizens of Brazil. The average monthly income for a citizen of Brazil is around $330 a month. While working the World Cup streets, women can easily make five times that amount.
Mel, 20, is one such woman who recently joined the ranks of the world's oldest profession. Mel told Daily Mirror reporters, "I became a prostitute three weeks ago. I know there will be a lot more custom for the World Cup. I use the money to support my family, pay the rent, the bills."
Whether prostitution is morally acceptable or not, the fact remains that Brazil is an impoverished nation with a slim middle class. Families and individuals must do what they can in order to survive.
World Cup 2014: Top 5 All-Star Soccer Players to Follow During the Tournament
http://www.latinopost.com/articles/6101/20140612/messi-ronaldo-neymar-van-persie-fifa-fifa-world-cup-2014-ozil-top-5.htm
Forget the Soccer Stars: Watch these Top 10 World Cup WAGs Instead
http://www.latinopost.com/articles/6229/20140620/wags-world-cup-soccer-wives-girlfriends-top-best.htm
As the famous football stars compete on the pitch, climbing their way closer to the 2014 World Cup, there's a whole other competition going on, and it's happening in the stands.
The WAGs, or "wives and girlfriends" of those soccer giants, are equally as competitive, strutting and posing their way to the top of the WAG food chain. But they are more than just arm-candy; many are moms, and most have solid careers well outside of their soccer wife duties. They are journalists and models, and some became famous on their own volition, well before their superstar partners.
The wives and girlfriends of famous footballers have always been a source of curiosity for the fans, and rightfully so. The first women of football are elusive and coy, dodging the gossip columnists and paparazzi, with WAG pioneers like Victoria Beckham paving the way.
And now, with the 2014 World Cup well underway, it's time for the better half of soccer to shine. After all, jetsetting can be a tough job, but someone's got to do it. And in this case, that "someone" includes Shakira, the red hot partner to soccer star Gerard Pique.