World’s biggest party opens in Brazil
World

World’s biggest party opens in Brazil

by Joseph Anthony
written by Joseph Anthony 132 views

The world’s biggest party – the 2014 FIFA World Cup —got under way last night with a colourful opening ceremony before hosts Brazil kicked off against Croatia.

Thousand of fans, including dignitaries watched as a cast of 660 dancers paid tributes to the country’s nature, people and football with a show around a “living” ball on the Arena de Sao Paulo pitch.

The final act saw a performance of official World Cup song “We Are One” by Jennifer Lopez and rapper Pitbull.

In the month-long tournament, 32 nations, including Nigeria, will compete in 64 games.

Many fans took to the streets to sing and chant their support for Brazil as excitement built in the hours before the tournament began.

But there were also demonstrations from those unhappy with the cost of hosting the tournament by a country with a troubled economy.

Police in Sao Paulo used tear gas to break up one protest, which involved about 50 people. Striking airport workers in Rio de Janeiro blocked a road outside the airport, demanding a wage increase and a World Cup bonus.

The strike was to have lasted for 24 hours but union leaders called it off early for legal reasons.

Dancers dressed as trees and flowers paid tribute to Brazil’s nature in one of three acts of the opening ceremony.

However, there was no trouble within the 65,000-seater Arena de Sao Paulo during the opening ceremony.

Performers dressed as trees, flowers and various musical instruments all performed in three acts before the central ball opened to reveal singers Claudia Leitte, Jennifer Lopez and rapper Pitbull as they sang the official World Cup song as the finale.

No host nation ever lost their opening World Cup game, with the previous 20 producing 14 victories and six draws for the hosts.

Brazil defeated Croatia 3-1 in the opening match last night.

Neymar scored a brace after the Croatians went ahead.

Oscar scored Brazil’s third goal to seal it for the host nation.

The Super Eagles open their game on Tuesday with a match against Iran.

The team will play their second game against first timers Bosnia Herzegovina  on June 22.  Nigeria’s final group game will be against  group F favourites Argentina on June 25.

Hosts Brazil start as favourites to win the World Cup for a sixth time. Holders Spain are aiming to win a fourth major tournament in a row after winning the European Championship two years ago.

The other seeded teams are Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Argentina, Germany and Belgium.

Football governing body FIFA said it had sold more than 2.9 million tickets, but they were still available for several matches.

Earlier during the FIFA congress, the body voted against introducing age and term limits for its executives.

The referendum for age and term limits was one of the reforms listed by the former chairman of FIFA’s independent governance committee, Mark Pieth.

The resolution required a majority to take the proposals forward to next year’s FIFA congress, where they would have required the backing of 75 per cent of members to be passed.

With the proposals rejected, the position of FIFA President Sepp Blatter would appear to have been strengthened.

The Swiss spoke on Wednesday of his incomplete “mission” at the helm, although he stopped short of confirming his intention to stand for another term in 2015.

The 78-year-old Blatter also hit out at what he called “disrespectful” attempts to curtail his presidency, while speaking on the sidelines of the congress.

On Tuesday, the national associations of England and the Netherlands were among those to speak out against Blatter continuing as president.

The Swiss, who said originally that his current four-year term would be his last, said the apparent European revolt “was the most disrespectful thing I’ve ever experienced in my entire life”.

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