It may be stating the obvious to remark that the forthcoming World Cup in 2014 will be a massively important sporting event for both host nation Brazil and the whole world. It goes without saying too that it will also have a huge impact on the economy of the country plus implications for both domestic and international investment. This is not least because of the many major construction and infrastructure projects already under way.
Another spin-off from the whole situation is the developing range of extra contacts with the UK that are developing because of it. Not least of these is the forthcoming visit by Prince Harry, an event featuring more in Brazilian news these days. A 'peg' to hang his visit on is the aim to compare notes about Britain’s Olympic hosting this year and Brazil’s in 2016 but we can be sure the Football event in 2014 will feature in the discussions too.
Against all this background the specially-constituted Brazilian parliamentary committee for the '2014 law' is due to report very soon and present its draft ideas for the World Cup.
There are many aspects under consideration in the Bill, but perhaps the most controversial are those of particular interest to President Dilma Rousseff.
One of them is the intention to provide half-price tickets to purchasers over 60 years of age ( more mischievous commentators have remarked that that is a group that includes Dilma herself!). If the proposal is fully passed, ‘senior citizens’ would be able to get 50% discounts in all categories of ticket.
Another major debate is expected to focus on the question of whether alcohol can or should be served at the FIFA events, and if so at which ones and in what containers. Considering the numbers of people involved, this is an issue of quite important economic as well as social importance.
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