Amazon fans rally for World Cup

World Today

Amazon fans rally for World Cup

The Brazil-Chile game was avidly followed by Brazilians across the country and even in remote towns of the Amazon. CCTV’s Stephen Gibbs reports from one town that even delayed its folklore festival in the name of football.

Only accessible by boat or air, Parintins can seem cut off from the mainstream of this vast country. It is definitely an idiosyncratic place. For three days every year, everything here shuts down for the town’s unique folkloric festival. Residents divide into blue and red teams, and compete over who can put on the most flamboyant show.

This weekend, that festival itself was put on hold for a few hours so that everyone could watch the other big game. Most people were happy to put football first. To the delight of all, Brazil won. An estimated 160 million Brazilians are watching every time the national team plays, in every corner of this country. That figure is set to go up. As long, of course, that Brazil keeps on winning.

After Saturday’s victory, the town went back to holding its own competition. It is an operatic contest, with each team trying to outdo the other, over who can best portray an indigenous fable about a resurrected ox.

This is a hard-fought battle, but maybe less nail-biting than the football. At least in Parintins, everyone can be sure that whatever happens, a local team will win.

Amazon fans rally for World Cup

The Brazil-Chile game was avidly followed by Brazilians across the country and even in remote towns of the Amazon. CCTV's Stephen Gibbs reports from one town that even delayed its folklore festival in the name of football.