Brazil starts World Cup countdown

16 September 2011 Last updated at 23:46 GMT President Rousseff is confident Brazil can deliver the stadiums on time Brazil has begun its countdown for the 2014 World Cup, 1,000 days before it hosts the football tournament.

President Dilma Rousseff launched the event at a stadium in Belo Horizonte alongside the footballing legend Pele, who is Brazil's World Cup ambassador.

Ms Rousseff promised the new stadiums and other infrastructure required would be ready on time, despite major difficulties and delays.

The tournament will kick off on 12 June 2014.

Before then, Brazil must build or upgrade 12 stadiums.

Many of them are behind schedule and over budget.

At some, construction workers have been on strike - including the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro where the final will be played and the Mineirao ground in Belo Horizonte where President Rousseff started the countdown.

Building work on the new Itaquerao stadium in Sao Paulo - which is hoping to host the opening game - only began in May.

Construction workers refurbishing the famous Maracana stadium in Rio are on strike Confidence

Brazil must also deliver huge infrastructure developments such as roads and airport terminals so that fans can move between the 12 venues spread across the huge country.

Much of that transport infrastructure is anyway badly needed to meet the demands of Brazil's booming economy and expanding middle class.

"Investing in infrastructure is a way of saying no to the international crisis affecting countries in the Eurozone and the US," Ms Rousseff said.

The 2014 World Cup will be the first in South America since Argentina hosted the tournament in 1978, and the first in Brazil since 1950.

Correspondents say most Brazilians are confident they will make a success of hosting the tournament - after all, they have already won it World Cup five times.

Rio de Janeiro is also due to host the Olympic Games in 2016.

The two tournaments are being seen as statements of Brazil's emergence as a rising global economic power of the 21st Century, much as the 2008 Beijing Olympics served as a calling card for China's confident new role on the global stage.

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The New Miss Universe Starts with the Letter ‘P’

This is not yet our “P”earful “P”orecast for Miss Universe 2011 but if you happen to check out this year’s 89 candidates, delegates from countries that starts with the letter “P” are quite a strong batch.

Who among the group “P” beauties will make it to the Top 16?

From left to right:

Miss Panama, Sheldry Sáez, has a feisty elegant look and a typical latina beauty that could come across as striking to the judges.

Miss Paraguay, Alba Riquelme, has a figure to die for. A shoo-in for Best in Swimsuit (if ever the MUO will give the special award).

Miss Peru, Natalie Vértiz, has a photogenic face. She reminds me of Miss Universe first runner up Cynthia Olavarria from Puerto Rico.

Miss Philippines, Shamcey Supsup, is very charismatic. Not to mention that she’s topping various online polls everywhere.

Miss Poland, Rozalia Mancewicz, has the supermodel look that has been proven favorable lately in the Miss Universe pageant.

Miss Portugal, Laura Gonçalves, is charming and regal. She has the potential to bring home the very first Miss Universe crown for her country.

Miss Puerto Rico, Viviana Ortiz, is Miss Puerto Rico for Pete’s sake. Do I need to describe her? Puerto Rico is already a staple in Miss Universe. Believe me, sash factor will work for her.

I wonder what letter will appear in Madam Auring’s crystal ball this time. I hope it’s a “P”.

Image courtesy of Elle from Missosology

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