Organisation, Brazil Up to Task

Since the start of the competition, they have been working round the clock to give the event the grandeur it deserves.

In under twenty-two days, the world's most popular sports jamboree will come to an end. Host country and the temple of football, Brazil, is leaving no stone unturned to make the million dollar event a remarkable one. For a hitch-free organization, the government of Brazil through the Local Organizing Committee headed by Ricardo Trade and his collaborators are spending sleepless nights making sure the 12 stadiums hosting the FIFA World Cup matches are in good state.

Though by the kick-off date, some finishing touches were still being made outside some stadiums, the local organizing committee has at the eve and after every encounter, made sure the playground undergoes thorough cleaning, watered and treated to stand the test of time. In each of these, turf scientists have been recruited to work round the clock.

Within and without the stadium, joint supervisory teams comprising FIFA officials and members of the Local Organizing Committee are posted to make sure all the spectators and other stakeholders are given proper directives by the 2014 World Cup volunteers.

Contrary to speculations, transportation into and within Brazil is fluid. Be it by air, land or rail, the Brazilian government and the private sector are working hand-in-hand. On match days, special buses are put in place to transport media men to the stadium and spectators at give-away prices.

Practical solutions have been found to the much feared inter-urban air transport congestion, though the fairs have kept sky-rocketing. Train and metro workers are readily available with special take-off schedules put in place on match days to-and-fro.

Communication hitches witnessed at the beginning of the competition have been laid to rest. A special telephone network service in partnership with the Local Organization Committee is in place to ease communication. In addition, free internet services have been put at the disposal of all accredited journalists in media centres of each stadium. Also, just like in South Africa four years ago, access to the press tribune is orderly.

Apart from regular emails sent to each journalist, practical modalities have been put in place in media centres. For example, cameras, recorders and computers are available for any media person in need for work, but must be refunded. Not forgetting repairs and software installation services.

Away from the media world, lodging facilities are readily available and up to standard, though most visitors and media practitioners complain of a hike in prices of rooms and long distances from some hotels to the stadium. Furthermore, apart from major refurbishing done in some of these hotels, security has been put in place with mobile police units navigating from one end of the streets to the other.

In all, it is a beautiful country and a marvelous soccer show that Brazilians are serving to the world so far.