Beyond the political atmosphere

Brasilia is getting prepared to welcome 600.000 tourists during the World Cup

The most expensive stadium of the 12 host cities is ready for the World Cup

By Mariana Santos

BRASILIA, Brazil – For fans of modern architecture, design and urbanization, Brasilia is the place, and particularly for fans of the architect Oscar Niemeyer (1907-2012), maybe even a paradise. Everywhere you look in the Brazilian capital there is an exotic, beautiful and intriguing structure to see.
 

From June 12 on, however, all eyes will be turned to only one building: the Grand National Stadium Mané Garrincha. Like Rio, Brasilia will host seven games during the World Cup, the biggest number of matches in one city, including the third place match near the end of the tournament.

The National Stadium was one of the first to be finished and has already been tested during the Confederations Cup last June. With a capacity of 71.000 spectators and displaying cutting edge green technology, it has been praised for its beauty – and criticized for its high cost of construction: around 600 million dollars; so far, the most expensive stadium of this World Cup.

Many citizens see the construction as a big waste of money. Brasilia has no relevant local soccer team and many people are skeptical about finding a rational use for it after the games.

Run, Brasilia, Run

But a successful World Cup depends on more than just beautiful stadiums. Brasilia is rushing against time to have everything ready by June 12th. Only five months before the tournament begins, there is still much to do to prepare the airport, public transportation, and accommodations. The Ministry of Tourism estimates that at least 600.000 tourists will come to the city for the games, one third of them foreigners.

Construction site will be over by April, say the authorities

Various renovations are on course almost everywhere at the Juscelino Kubitschek International Airport. To adapt it for the increase in demand, about 380 million dollars were spent last months to expand the parking area, buy modern equipment, and build new facilities. All to increase capacity from the current 16 million to 21 million passengers per year – the same as Dusseldorf International Airport.

Changes are also underway outside the flight terminal. There is no train or metro station at the airport, so the only way into the city is by bus, cab or car. The government is enlarging the airport runway and roundabout and has promised work will be completed by April 30. What is now a construction site only 300 meters from the airport will be a finished building.

By foot

And good news for those who like to walk: the hotel sectors North and South are close to the National Stadium – it can be reached by foot. In any case, walking will be a better choice than using the public transportation, considered chaotic and inefficient by visitors and citizens alike. It is no surprise that brasilienses prefer to drive their own cars – there is one car for every 2,5 inhabitants here.

The bad news is that anywhere else is almost impossible to go by foot. There are only a few good sidewalks and the distance between sectors is quite large. Besides, not many are brave enough to face a long walk at temperatures of 30°C and humidity levels that sometimes reach 10% during the Brazilian winter.