Brazil eyes our stadium builders

Several have pitched for construction and renovation of some of the 12 stadiums in Brazil for the 2014 World Cup. The South American country last hosted the tournament in 1950.

While the South African government allocated more than R8.4-billion for building and renovating 10 stadiums, Brazil will be spending a reported R18.6-billion on its 12 stadiums.

Brazil will reportedly invest R131-billion in all projects related to the tournament.

This will include R44.8-billion to upgrade public transport and R21.3-billion on airports.

A Brazilian government delegation, including a team of observers and the sports minister, Orlando Silva, visited SA in June to find out how the country dealt with its challenges.

Silva told Associated Press: "We want to study all aspects. We have to improve the infrastructure, the ports, airports, urban transport, and services.

"Hospitality and air transport are priorities for Brazil, and the country will be looking closely at what the South Africans were doing in that area."

The Brazilian government is upgrading Rio de Janeiro's 50-year-old, 90000-seat Maracana stadium, which is scheduled to host the final, and Sao Paulo's 62000 seat-Morumbi Stadium.

Stadiums to be built will include a 55000-seater in Salvador, a 50000-seater in Manaus, a 46160-seater in Recife, a 42500-seater in Cuiaba, and a 42500-seater in Natal.

Though the country's transport infrastructure, according to the UK's Daily Telegraph newspaper, still needs a radical overhaul and the bullet train joining Rio, Sao Paulo and Campinas remains a pipe dream, there are no alternatives in South America representing a convenient back-up plan.

Bloomberg reported last month that Qatar, the Persian Gulf emirate, plans to spend R27.6-billion to build nine stadiums and upgrade three in its bid to stage the event in 2022.