Brazil’s World Cup hailed a success

World Today

Contrary to many forecasts, Brazil’s World Cup was considered a success. Even if on the field the five-time world champion suffered its worst defeat in history, the tournament ran smoother than expected. CCTV’s Lucrecia Franco, in Rio de Janeiro has more.

The World Cup is over, with more things going right than wrong. On Sunday many Brazilians danced samba in Rio’s Copacabana beach. They wanted to tell the world they are not just the country of the beautiful game. Nothing happened as expected. Brazil was knocked out 7–1 in an historic and humiliating defeat to Germany, now the World Cup champions. The national team lost, but the football fiesta was praised.

The tournament, however, brought some lessons. Stadiums were completed at the last minute, promised infrastructure was delayed, and the benefits of the $13 billion cost of hosting the event are yet to be seen.

Leo Gryner, chief operating officer of the 2016 Olympics in Rio, said the World Cup’s main lesson was the need to plan ahead. “We will deliver everything at least six months prior to the games,” he said.

Maybe the greatest legacy of the tournament was the Brazilian’s warmth and hospitality, but as the thousands of tourists that came to Brazil are heading home, leaving a country that showed it can through a great party, it needs to face social issues and a slowing economy.

FIFA World Cup in Brazil hailed as a success

Contrary to many forecasts, Brazil's World Cup was considered a success. If on the pitch the five world champion suffered its worst defeat in history, out of it, the tournament run much more smoothly than expected. CCTV’s Lucrecia Franco, in Rio de Janeiro has more.

Brazil is now looking ahead to its 2016 summer Olympics. However, is the country ready to host another big event just two years away? Latin America specialist Cynthia Arnson of the Wilson Center joins the show.

Cynthia Arnson on Brazil Summer Olympics

Brazil is now looking ahead to its 2016 summer Olympics. However, is the country ready to host another big event just two years away? Latin America specialist Cynthia Arnson of the Wilson Center joins the show.