McMaster#28 Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 They just released a response to some of the allegations people are levelling against them for Brazil '14 http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/02/36/32/63/faq_en_neutral.pdf FAQ: Setting the record straight So far, the World Cup in Brazil has cost $15 billion USD. The taxpayers have footed the bill, FIFA hasn’t spent anything. FIFA has covered the entire operational costs of the World Cup to the tune of around $2 billion USD. We don’t take any public money for this, and instead we only use the money generated by the sale of World Cup TV and marketing rights. In terms of the host country’s investments, the figures quoted often include investments in infrastructure that are not directly linked to the cost of the World Cup and some have not even been made for the World Cup. The country will benefit for many years to come from investments in road networks, airports or telecommunication systems, and as such they are not solely World Cup-related costs. Money that has been invested in stadiums is now missing from the budget for education and health. President Rousseff, speaking two weeks before the World Cup, stressed that the state budget for education and health will not be affected by the Brazilian Development Bank’s loan for the stadiums (just 0.16 per cent of Brazil’s GDP). FIFA ordered Brazil to build 12 expensive stadiums. FIFA neither demands that a country has to build 12 stadiums, nor how they are to be designed. There are some basic guidelines to follow so that the stadiums meet the requirements and expectations of the teams, security officers and the media, but first of all, each Host Country has to decide whether it wishes to use eight, ten or 12 stadiums. Brazil opted for 12. Each Host Country also has to design their stadiums in such a way that allows them to be used in a sustainable manner over the longer term. Only then is consideration given to any modifications that may need to be made for the World Cup, with both parties working together to find the best possible solution. The tickets are so expensive that most Brazilians can’t afford them. Compared to other major events (Olympic Games, Formula 1, tennis tournaments, pop concerts, etc.), there are many cheap tickets available for the World Cup. For the group-stage matches, for example, tickets were available to Brazilians for as little as $15 USD. FIFA has also given 100,000 tickets, free of charge, to the builders working on the stadiums as well as to the socially disadvantaged. Of the 11 million requests for tickets, some 70 per cent were placed by Brazilians, and 58 per cent of the 2.7 million tickets purchased to date have also been bought by Brazilians. FIFA demands a full tax exemption for its sponsors, which means that the host country doesn’t make any money. FIFA does not make any demands for a general tax exemption for sponsors and suppliers, or for any commercial activities in the host country. Instead, FIFA only requires an easing of customs procedures for some materials that need to be imported for the organisation of the World Cup and that are not on sale in the host country (e.g. import of computers to be used by FIFA or the LOC), import of electronic advertising boards (and subsequent export), import of footballs to be used during the World Cup), and which will either be used during the event and then re-exported, or donated to an institution linked to sport in the host country. All of these exemptions are comparable in scope to those requested by organisers of other sporting or cultural events. Of the $2 billion USD that FIFA spends on the World Cup, around $1 billion USD is spent on services in Brazil – in other words, money that is injected directly into the Brazilian economy. Even though FIFA is very cautious with economic prognoses, the Brazilian Economic Research Foundation is expecting the World Cup to generate additional income for the Brazilian economy of around $27.7 billion USD. FIFA only wants to make a profit; it doesn’t care about anything else. FIFA is an association of associations with a non-commercial, not for profit purpose that uses significant funds in the pursuit of its statutory objectives, which include developing the game of football around the world, organising its own international competitions, and drawing up regulations for association football while ensuring their enforcement. So the question is: what does FIFA do with the profits from the World Cup? In short, all 209 member associations will benefit in equal measure. In fact, FIFA spends $550,000 USD on worldwide football development – every single day. What is more, we also spend nearly $2 million USD on organising international competitions – every single day. The host country is left alone to deal with its social, economic and ecological problems. FIFA is fully aware of – and fully accepts – its social responsibility as part of the World Cup. In 2006, the World Cup in Germany was the first to have a comprehensive environmental programme. Then, in 2010, FIFA launched Win in Africa with Africa, an initiative to develop sustainable football infrastructure across Africa at a cost of $70 million USD. On top of that, $12 million USD was invested in a number of social projects, and the 2010 FIFA World Cup Legacy Trust was founded after the World Cup with a further $100 USD million to promote social development in South Africa long after the World Cup and to support initiatives that use football to drive social development. It is fair to say that South Africa is still benefitting from hosting the World Cup in 2010. As far as the 2014 World Cup in Brazil is concerned, FIFA unveiled a complete sustainability strategy nearly two years ago, focusing on environmentally-friendly stadiums, waste management, community support, reducing and offsetting CO2 emissions, renewable energy, climate change and knowledge transfer. FIFA strategy is based on international standards such as ISO 26000 and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) as well as on the development policy of the Brazilian government. Once again, FIFA is supporting a wide range of social projects, has launched a nationwide health initiative, and is organising a “Social World Cup” at which 32 social organisations will take part in their own World Cup. Additional measures will be implemented in the areas of health, infrastructure and women’s football as part of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Legacy Trust. FIFA believes that its social responsibility is a crucial element of the sustainable success of its events, but the World Cup can only be used as a tool or as a catalyst for change in a country if everyone involved pulls in the same direction as part of a global strategy. FIFA is responsible for forced evictions in Brazil. FIFA has never demanded any such evictions. FIFA has received in writing from the Federal Government and the Host Cities that for none of the 12 stadiums constructions or renovations, somebody had to be evicted or moved. FIFA drives out street traders to ensure the sponsors’ exclusivity. On the contrary, FIFA works hard to ensure that street traders are part of the World Cup. In the immediate stadium environment, however, security concerns mean that there is an area that only people with match tickets or accreditations can enter. Therefore FIFA, building upon the experiences gained at the World Cup in South Africa, sat down from the very start with the local authorities and World Cup Host Cities (who are ultimately responsible for trader activities) to put special programmes in place for traders. In the majority of Host Cities, street traders who were already working around the stadiums have been registered and will therefore be able to work close to the stadiums and the FIFA Fan Fests™ during the World Cup. The traders have also received special training, a uniform and an accreditation that allows them to sell authorised products. By way of example: Sao Paulo, the Host City for the opening match, currently has a total of 600 registered street traders in the vicinity of the FIFA Fan Fest™ and the Arena de Sao Paulo. This is a standard procedure that is necessary, particularly in the interests of safety, for major events. A similar accreditation process was also in place for the Olympic Games in London and Vancouver, for example. It also helps to ensure that fake products are not sold in contravention of both Brazilian and international law. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moto Club Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 What???!!!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PMLF Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 Such a joke of a FAQ. I wonder how desperate they are to release something like this. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
georginho_juventusygr Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 So, which numbers are made up? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moto Club Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 Such a joke of a FAQ. I wonder how desperate they are to release something like this. They are laughing in our faces. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PMLF Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 Hopefully this silly statement will encourage far more protests to happen. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Hall Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 So, which numbers are made up? The stadium number is a sheer lie. The bid guidelines said 12 for the 2018 and 2022 bid. Of course they then let Qatar only go with 8 so maybe they're covering their arse for that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ri916 Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 The stadium number is a sheer lie. The bid guidelines said 12 for the 2018 and 2022 bid.Of course they then let Qatar only go with 8 so maybe they're covering their arse for that. William, it's been 3 and a half years mate, let it go. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PMLF Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 According to Blatter, Brazil wanted 17 stadiums in the World Cup, I wonder why they didn't mention that there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Svenc Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 WTF, Germany 2006 was barely recorded as a "blip" in German economy, this is widely recorded and acknowledged everywhere. South African people had to cover the loss South Africa recorded in 2010 (a couple hundred millions of income vs the couple billions in preparations). Maybe there will be, ahem, "additional income" if you just numbers up such as typical lobbyist economists do prior to such events. People that deliberately don't consider how for each benefit their will be a trade-off, and be it only that for every "event tourist" there will be anumber of Summer tourists driven away, or that every minute spend on watching the games at home or in the stadiums is a minute that isn't being spend on consuming something else (nicely covered in Soccernomics). Even though, that highly unlikely will turn into profits or even something as huge as projected here compared to an usual June/July in Brazil. That would be a complete first in history. Furthermore, who actually "likes" this to show off to Facebook friends. Probably all the members being bored silly at the Congress right now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yqFnBObojk#t=6565 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PMLF Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 Yes, Brazil will certainly never recoup the so-called investment made to host the World Cup. And half of the stadiums will be barely used after the World Cup, in fact they are not even packing during the World Cup... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Svenc Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 Yes, Brazil will certainly never recoup the so-called investment made to host the World Cup.And half of the stadiums will be barely used after the World Cup, in fact they are not even packing during the World Cup... Manaus looks wholly stupid, tbf, and there's going to be what, four games? Kind of similar to South Africa, I don't remember which stadium it was but it was equally build in the middle of nowhere simple because a member of the South African committee or something wanted it to be there (either because it was his home town or because it was in his business interest, like owning a construction company there, I don't remember). Ah well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PMLF Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 Manaus looks wholly stupid, tbf, and there's going to be what, four games? Kind of similar to South Africa, I don't remember which stadium it was but it was equally build in the middle of nowhere simple because a member of the South African committee or something wanted it to be there (either because it was his home town or because it was in his business interest, like owning a construction company there, I don't remember). Ah well. Yes, the full attendance (as in all games altogether) of the state league of Amazonas wouldn't fill the Arena da Amazônia a single time. There is no need to have any stadium there, especially considering in Belém the attendances are much higher but the stadium there was ignored. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RubenJ Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 I wonder if they are going to put out a similar FAQ about worker exploitation in Qatar? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PMLF Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 Brazil's president Dilma Rousseff will watch only two World Cup games (opening game and the final), says minister of sports Aldo Rebelo. No doubt she is afraid of getting booed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason the Yank Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 After this one is over, FIFA will only ever award the World Cup to authoritarian regimes/dictatorships. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darren1983 Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 Anyone seen this video of John Oliver explaining who FIFA are? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.