Football's world governing body FIFA said
Tuesday it had set up a $100 million World
Cup Legacy Fund for Brazil, aimed at sports
facilities, youth and women's football, and
medical and health projects.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter pledged two
years ago to give back some of the 2014
World Cup income to grassroots programs in
the South American country, which spent
about $15 billion organizing last year's
World Cup.
Spending on the Rio de Janeiro 2016
Olympics is expected to top $15 billion.
FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke,
speaking in Sao Paulo, said the World Cup
"inevitably has an impact on society and the
environment in the host country." He said
organizers had a "responsibility to limit the
associated negative effects, while at the same
time maximizing the huge positive impact it
can have."
It will take years to assess the impact of the
World Cup in Brazil.
It is clear that Brazilian politicians
underestimated the costs, stadiums were late
getting ready, and many related
infrastructure project were cancelled, or
have yet to be completed. On the field,
matches were high-scoring and jam-packed,
and a heavy police and military presence
helped discourage the kind of protests that
overshadowed the 2013 Confederations Cup.
Brazil was eliminated in a stunning 7-1 lost
to Germany in the semifinals.
FIFA, a not-for-profit organization based in
Switzerland, generated more than $4 billion
in sales from the 2014 World Cup. The figure
could reach $5 billion for Russia's 2018
World Cup.
An analysis earlier this month said Brazil
spent about $3 billion on new and
refurbished stadiums, 90 percent of it being
public money. Former President Luiz Inacio
Lula da Silva had promised all stadiums
would be privately financed.
Government officials acknowledged that
public holidays associated with the World
Cup were partly to blame for the country
falling into a technical recession late last
year.
Four of the 12 stadiums used for the World
Cup are almost certain to become white
elephants. Some are faced with hosting
weddings and children's events to generate
income. Several are expected to host a few
games for the Rio Olympics.
Valcke acknowledged that "some of the
stadiums are not used permanently." He said
it would "take time to use all the stadiums at
their maximum."
He also responded to criticism of FIFA in the
Brazilian media.
"Our commitment (is) to be in Brazil after
the World Cup, not to leave, as some media
said — I mean (comments like) 'FIFA is
coming to Brazil taking the money out of
Brazil and run away from Brazil right after
the final'. It is not true.
"FIFA is committed to develop and support
football wherever we organize our events."
Despite Brazil's prestige in the game, Jose
Maria Marin, president of the Brazilian
Football Federation, said some of the legacy
money was targeted for the 15 states where
the game is not as well funded.
"We took on a commitment with the states
that did not host the event to make sure the
benefits of the World Cup will reach places
where, although the love of football is huge,
the structure offered to the community still
cannot be compared to that which we see in
the bigger cities."
FIFA said the Brazilian federation was
responsible for the projects — subject to
FIFA approval. FIFA said the spending would
be audited by accounting firm KPMG
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