Listen to any Brazilian official talking about their country hosting the 2014 World Cup, and the word they all use is “legacy”. And they say it all the time. Speaking at the Soccerex global business industry convention in Rio de Janeiro, Marcia Lins, the state’s Sport and Leisure Secretary, says: “This is about legacy… it really is a new Rio, a paradigm shift, we are not going to let this opportunity go by.” Put simply, Brazilian authorities are obsessed that the tournament will have a positive, lasting effect on the country. Whether they will be successful, only time will tell, but here is a look at the four main areas they are focusing on – the new stadiums, boosting tourism, reducing crime, and improving infrastructure.
