First 2014 official hospitality agent appointment marks opportunity

Continuing the recent spate of activity in the Brazilian sports marketing sector as a number of international players set up shop in the country, SportsMark has shown the motive for its new São Paulo office upon announcing its appointment as the exclusive US agent for the sale of Official Hospitality Programs for the 2014 Cup.

Brazil hotel market hitting great expectations

While a number of 2014 World Cup infrastructure projects across Brazil struggle to stay on schedule, the anticipated and much needed surge of investments in the hotel sector to cater for the event has well and truly kicked off, with the country now one of the global hot spots for new hotel developments.

Explaining the need for changes to Brazil´s tenders law

Ricardo Leyser, secretary of high performance sport in Brazil´s Ministry of Sport, has provided a noteworthy overview of why it is essential for Brazil's existing laws governing tenders for major public works to be altered to allow preparations for the 2014 World Cup and Rio 2016 move ahead at faster rates.

Commenting in the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper, he points out that the existing laws, which are currently being debated in Brazil´s Senate, are too focused on formal procedures, creating a range of unnecessary legal and administrative requirements that regularly lead to the paralysation or even abandonment of projects, while those that are completed are often of poor quality.

Sports marketing play highlights land of opportunities

English PR and marketing business Chime has become the latest to plunge into the Brazilian sport market in a bid to take advantage of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics.

Brazil, Latam to benefit from new Austrade direction

Although precise details are still being decided, this week´s announcement by Trade Minister Craig Emerson of a comprehensive reform of the Australian Trade Commission marks the beginning of a stronger focus for the organisation on Latin America including, of course, the emerging powerhouse that is Brazil.

Sao Paulo Cup opening on edge of abyss

In a massive possible development that would see a huge shift in focus for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Sao Paulo, Brazil´s biggest city and business and cultural hub, looks set to lose its logical position as host of the opening ceremony and match following a major blowout in costs for its chosen stadium, Itaquerão.

Sustainability now a requirement for Rio 2016

Brazil´s federal level Urban Development Commission has passed a law requiring that all infrastructure works for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro meet certain standards for sustainable design. Although sustainability and green building have been oft-quoted by Games organisers to this point, no official requirements have been in place.

Tender law´s Cup and Olympics shortcuts raising debate

The ongoing push by Brazil´s ruling party to streamline regulations governing tenders in a bid to speed up preparations for the 2014 World Cup and Rio 2016 Olympics should come to a head over the coming weeks as the Senate debates the contentious issue.

Tender law´s Cup and Olympics shortcuts raising debate

The ongoing push by Brazil´s ruling party to streamline regulations governing tenders in a bid to speed up preparations for the 2014 World Cup and Rio 2016 Olympics should come to a head over the coming weeks as the Senate debates the contentious issue.

Maracanã to go private

Ther Rio state government has announced that it will hand over administration of the famed Maracanã stadium to a private operator once ongoing renovations are completed. Governor Sérgio Cabral stated this week that the process to appoint the new administrator will begin in the second half of 2011, commenting that it is no longer possible for the state to run the facility and a professional, private group is required. Cabral added that once refurbishments to the stadium and the smaller Maracanazinho facility are ready in December 2012 they will be very interesting prospects for the private sector.

International technology deal demonstrates possibilities

Japanese information technology giant NEC Corportation has made a telling move to take advantage of preparations for the 2014 World Cup, having recently initiated negotiations to supply one of the host stadia with cutting edge products.

Network of anti corruption initiatives providing assurances in Brazil

With a number of Australian major event specialists increasingly cautious of international contracts following a range of issues with organisers of the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, the recent launch of the “Clean Games In & Out Of The Stadium" anti-corruption scheme covering the Brazil 2014 World Cup and Rio 2016 Olympics should ease some concerns.

Massive multi-sport alliance leveraging Cup and Olympics for youth development

In a huge international advance into the Brazilian sport market and one that provides a range of ideas for groups looking to follow a similar path, the Barcelona Football Club Foundation, the US National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) have joined with the City of Rio de Janeiro in a partnership set to benefit an estimated 140,000 children and youth.