Brazil 2014 Unveils Poster; Tokyo Ups Public Support; Toronto "Ignites" Pan Ams

Brazil Unveils World Cup Poster

FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke says the official poster for the 2014 World Cup is "a great example" of Brazil’s creativity and talent.

"The winning entry will no doubt serve as a splendid visiting card for the 2014 FIFA World Cup that is due to kick off in 498 days," said the Frenchman, who sat on the judging panel alongside Brazilian Minister of Culture Marta Suplicy, Local Organizing Committee President Jose Maria Marin, Brazilian artist Romero Britto as well as LOC Board of Administration members Ronaldo and Bebeto.

"The poster highlights the significance and sparkle of the event as well as the fascination of football in a very emotive way," added Valcke.

The poster was unveiled Wednesday at a media briefing in Rio de Janeiro by FIFA World Cup winners Amarildo, Carlos Alberto Torres, Bebeto and Ronaldo as well as women’s football star Marta in their first official duty as ambassadors of the 2014 World Cup.

It was the last remaining visual icon to be launched by the LOC, which hit 500 days to go Monday but was forced to cancel a planned celebration in the wake of Sunday's Santa Maria nightclub fire that claimed the lives of 231 people.

Following three days of mourning, Brazil was back in World Cup mode Wednesday to reveal the poster, designed by Brazilian creative agency Crama.

"It’s different, Brazilian, creative and daring," said Suplicy.

"It has our boundless size and manages to capture our rhythm and colors."

For more on the poster launch, follow World Football INSIDER.

Tokyo Public Support Increases

A poll commissioned by the Tokyo 2020 bid committee finds 73 percent of Tokyo residents support the bid.

The latest figures would seem to be in line with recent polling from both the bid and independent organizations.

A poll conducted by Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun in December found 68 percent of eligible Tokyo voters supporting the bid, and a Tokyo 2020 survey conducted in October found 67 percent of the city’s residents backing the bid.

The paper also issued a nationwide poll that found 78 percent of Japanese citizens support Tokyo 2020. However, an IOC-commissioned poll found just 47 percent of Tokyo in favor of the bid.

Public support was cited as a weak point of this bid, and previous efforts to stage the Games in Tokyo. Bid president Tsunekau Takeda acknowledged those concerns in a statement.

"We know public support was a challenge for us last time, and so we are delighted by this very strong result," he said Wednesday in a statement.

"It is especially significant that a large number of our passionate supporters are young people, showing that the future is bright for the Olympic Movement in Japan. The Japanese are enthusiastic fans of sport and they love the Olympic and Paralympic Games. They also understand, as recent surveys indicate, that hosting the Games in Tokyo in 2020 would have long-term benefits for Japanese sport, society, the economy and the environment."

Toronto Hopes to "Ignite" Pan Ams Passion

Inspired by London 2012’s "Inspire" scheme, Toronto 2015 Pan American Games organizers unveiled their program to encourage grass-roots participation in the Games.

Dubbed "IGNITE", the program encourages citizens to create any program that will get people engaged.

"The only prerequisite," Toronto 2015 said, "is the initiatives must help ignite the spirit of sport and culture embodied by the Games."

According to the organizing committee, this is the first non-commercial project to be officially recognized in a Pan American Games.

"These are the People’s Games and IGNITE is a wonderful way for people to take ownership of them," said Louise Lutgens, TO2015’s Senior Vice-President, Community and Cultural Affairs.

"What they accomplished in London last summer was impressive. We want to create a similar groundswell of eclectic projects with a Pan Am twist for the TORONTO 2015 Games that have a deep and lasting impact on our communities. We encourage everyone interested to sign up today."

Applications for the IGNITE program can be found here.

Written by Ed Hula III.

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