Rio Report -- Airports Potential Embarrassment; Crime Wave in Rio

Airports a Potential "Embarrassment" for Brazil

If Brazil doesn’t make upgrades to its airports before the 2014 World Cup, the facilities could be a "national embarrassment".

That’s the word from the International Air Transport Association, which published a report last week on the priorities needed throughout Latin America.

"I don’t see much progress and the clock is ticking" said IATA chief Giovanni Bisignani. "To avert a national embarrassment we must get all the stakeholders to the table and finalize a plan."

Brazilian sports minister Orlando Silva echoed the report’s findings on Monday saying more progress is needed on airport improvement before the World Cup.

"When we think about an event of this size and that Brazil is almost a continent, and that you can only travel around by plane, then we realize that this is the biggest risk for the 2014 World Cup."

He added that the Brazilian airport authority "will have to change its conduct, behavior and attitude, otherwise Brazil could suffer embarrassing situations in 2014."

The IATA report said: "Brazil is Latin America’s fastest growing aviation market but its infrastructure capability is not keeping pace with the growth in demand. Of the top 20 airports in Brazil thirteen don’t have terminals that can meet today’s demand. This includes Sao Paolo Guarulhos, the region’s largest hub which will play a gateway role in 2014 for the FIFA World Cup and in 2016 for the Summer Olympics."

According to the report, IATA is "adding resources in Brazil".

Jerome Valcke, FIFA secretary general said earlier this year that FIFA was concerned about the lack of progress on promised infrastructure upgrades before the World Cup.

"It is amazing that Brazil is already very late,'' Valcke told The Daily Telegraph, a British newspaper in May. "The red light has been switched on. Brazil is not on the right path. This year, there is a presidential election, so almost nothing will happen. Next year, carnival comes along. So is everything going to start only after carnival?''

Brazilian officials said they are on the right track and everything is on schedule.

With venues in 12 cities throughout Brazil, the World Cupis more dependent on a robust airport infrastructure than the Olympics.

Rio 2016 president Carlos Arthur Nuzman said in October, the IOC’s biggest concern ahead of the Olympics is if the city can improve its airports before the Games.

Rio’s bid book pledged to have a "fully upgraded international airport by 2014". Part of the upgrade includes adding capacity for 25 million passengers.

Documents supplied to the IOC by Rio’s bid organizers said $400 million would be spent "extending and upgrading Rio International Airport".

Two airports serve the city of Rio de Janeiro, one for international travel, and one for domestic only flights.

Police Raids Battle Crime Wave

While there is no sign of trouble with the 700+ delegates attending Soccerex in Copacabana, a crime spree in Rio de Janeiro is making headlines. Robbers have created roadblocks out of burning cars, leading to police raids on favelas Tuesday. Four people suspected of orchestrating the violence are under arrest.

Two people died Tuesday when attackers shot a car in Copacabana, site of Olympic beach volleyball. Police said the attack was not connected to earlier violence.

"These fire attacks are being orchestrated by a criminal gang," the police said in a statement.

More than 1000 police are being added to street patrol to help stop the violence.

Authorities were unable to identify who was behind the attacks, but Sergio Cabral, governor of the state of Rio de Janeiro offered an explanation. He thinks drug gangs that have been kicked out of the favelas are to blame.

"Without a doubt, those attacks are related to the retaking of territory and Rio de Janeiro's new public security policy," Cabral said at a press conference Monday.

Media Watch

Agence French Presse reports on the rise milicias, described as "squads of corrupt police" who are seizing control of the slums in Rio.

The economic impact of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics is profiled by BBC News.

Written by Ed Hula III.