Rio OC coming together with key positions announced

Two important appointments at the Rio 2016 Organising Committee have been made over the past week, with both the communication and human resources directors finalised.

Big-spending sport budget to fund new infrastructure around country

With a 63% increase from 2010 to 2011, sport is the area of federal government spending that has increased the most according to the latest Brazilian budget, in a further sign of the country’s intention to invest heavily in its sporting future.

Dock redevelopment set to leave the paper

In a great demonstration of just how extensive the preparations and associated business opportunities are for Brazil´s 2014 World Cup, this week sees the launch of an extensive harbour upgrade in Fortaleza, capital of the state of Ceará on Brazil´s north-eastern coast.

Breaking down Brazil’s sport industry part III

In this site’s third and penultimate report on key figures from the Brazilian sport industry, we take a look at the all important area of private sector involvement. Although, with Brazilian sport not yet reaching the levels of professionalism and administrative rigour as in Australia, it is often difficult to find specific information, key numbers from recent years include:

Urban transport a key to Cup preparations

2011 will see the beginning of a massive range of projects in Brazil’s preparations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the upgrading of transportation systems in all 12 host cities will be one of the main focuses, offering a gamut of opportunities for local and international businesses.

Promotions space set for growth as Cup, Games approach

A telling development this week from a major Brazilian company specialising in promotional materials reveals yet another area of opportunities arising in the country ahead of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics.

Helping Brazil deal with disasters

This week´s tragic flooding in the north of Rio de Janeiro state, around 100km from the heart of the 2016 Olympic city, is just another example of one of Brazil´s biggest ongoing challenges. Flooding is an annual threat in many parts of Brazil, particularly in the heavily populated south-east incorporating the three biggest states of Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais, and will no doubt return in the wet seasons preceding the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics.

Breaking down Brazil’s sport industry part II

Continuing last week´s initial coverage of an important Ipsos Marplan Institute report on the wider Brazilian sport industry, the study also reveals that although the Brazilian federal government has taken a much stronger position on sport industry investment since the mid 1980s, the total is still very low compared to top spending countries the US, the UK and France. While in 2004 the latter countries spent 1.6%, 1.8% and 1.9% respectively of federal revenue on sport, Brazil´s equivalent was just 0.087% (US$192 million).

Sports MOU deepens ties between Australia and Brazil

In December 2010 the Governments of Australia and Brazil signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore opportunities to cooperate in sports, including the exchange of information on commercial opportunities for Australian and Brazilian businesses related to the hosting of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games.

Please contact this site or Austrade Brazil (Sao Paulo) for the full MOU.

Rio Olympic Park a prime opportunity for architects

Rio de Janeiro’s city council and the Brazilian Institute of Architects (Rio chapter) are set to launch yet another major international architecture competition for 2016 Olympic facilities, the latest covering the ´General Project of the Olympic Park´, which will be located on a one million square metre former motorsport facility in the Barra de Tijuca region, in the south of the city.

Breaking down Brazil´s sport industry

Although Brazil and Rio de Janeiro’s successful bids to host the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics respectively have caused a massive change in the country’s sports market, the pre-Cup and Games situation was quite different and provides a telling picture of just how much work and preparation is required over the coming years.

Airport privatisations set to begin

Brazil's top newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo has reported that new Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff intends to privatise two of the country's most important international airports, Guarulhos and Campinas, both in Sao Paulo. Key Brazilian airlines TAM and Gol have apparently shown strong interest in the move and would contribute to the development of new terminals.

New Dilma government shaping up well for Aussie interests

Australia´s chances of building new business links in Brazil through the 2014 World Cup and Rio 2016 have received a boost with the changeover of the Brazilian federal government.