Culture

2014 Brazil World Cup


The World Cup is held every four years. Now just a few days are left. On June 12, the World Cup will begin in Brazil. However, because of some serious problems in Brazil, some people question whether the World Cup can take place successfully or not. In this article, I want to deal with the issues related to the World Cup.

Although only a few days are left before the start of the tournament, preparation for the World Cup has not gone well. The construction of soccer stadiums is still ongoing. For example, the stands have not been fully equipped. Also many people worry about safety problems in Brazil. Recently, a violent demonstration took place in Rio de Janeiro. The violent protest was caused by finding a dancer’s body in a slum. Because residents of the slum believed the police caused the death, protesters attacked the police with Molotov cocktails. Around the same time, some officers went on strike for a few days to improve the working environment in Amazonia and Bahia states. During the strike, a number of violent crimes such as muggings and murders occurred.

A big problem is that in cities like Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and Brasilia, some protesters are against hosting the World Cup because hosting the World Cup requires a large amount of money. The protesters demand the government invest in education and health, not in the World Cup. The size of the protest is gradually growing and protests have become violent. Protesters who are against hosting the World Cup warned that if the government doesn’t suggest a solution, they might attack the hotels and buses of the soccer teams.

Furthermore, in Rio de Janeiro, there are many dangerous shanty towns. The slums are controlled by drug dealers. The authorities dispatched nearly 3000 Brazilian troops to secure slum areas. Fully combat-ready soldiers and police with armored cars are on patrol in the slums. People who live in the slums feel scared because gun battles have broken out between the army and drug dealers. It is happening just a few weeks before the start of the World Cup. Many drug dealers have been arrested and shot dead, but most of the gangs remain and they have weapons. If confrontations between the army and the drug dealers persist, it is possible that an innocent victim may be harmed during the tournament. Rio de Janeiro will host some of the soccer matches including the final, and a lot of fans are expected to come to Rio de Janeiro to watch the tournament. Because crimes targeting travelers are also expected, people who plan to go to Brazil need to be careful.

In short, the recent situation in Brazil is serious. Many people are worried about the safety problems in Brazil such as the violent protests, the confrontation between the army and drug dealers, and the strike by the police. The authorities need to solve the safety problems so that travelers can enjoy the festival. I hope the Brazil World Cup will be successful.