Brazil World Cup and Olympics

Despite being the fifth largest country in the world and one of the most passionate and successful nations when it comes to football, Brazil hasn't hosted a World Cup since 1950.Perhaps even more surprising is the fact that no South American city has ever staged an Olympic Games. So, awarding the 2014 FIFA World Cup to Brazil and deciding to hold the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro were probably long overdue, although no one doubted the size of the task ahead of the country. Now, however, there are serious concerns that the task is proving too great.

To some degree, Brazil has a head start because it staged the 2007 Pan American Games and built many facilities then to Olympic specifications. The result is that it has 60% of the necessary sports venues in place. But it still has major construction and renovation needs for the two events.

The World Cup is to be staged across twelve cities and the intention is to build five new stadia and undertake radical makeovers of a further seven at a cost of US$5.7 billion. Added to this is a plan to improve transport links between the venues by constructing 2,518 kilometres of new railway routes. This includes a high-speed rail link between Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Campinas.

Large investments are also due to be made in infrastructure, with telecommunications due to get $11.5 billion a year for the next five years. Major road routes, which are often riddled with potholes, are due an upgrade. Airport facilities, already under severe strain and with traffic due to double by 2014, are to receive a $3.3 billion investment.

With the World Cup expected to attract 500,000 tourists and tourism in Rio de Janeiro expected to be up 15% by 2016, there is a push to build more hotel accommodation. Rio is increasing its capacity to 50,000 rooms while its historic port area is due for a strategic regeneration. All host cities for the football are expanding their hotel networks. Overall, public works projects worth $52 billion are planned.

One outcome of all this development is a boost for green construction in the country. Olympic stadia have to be built to meet low carbon emission and low energy standards. Although the same is not true for World Cup facilities, developers are in general trying to achieve LEED certification, with four stadia having reached the standard and four others trying to attain it. As a result, the proportion of green building space in Brazil is expected to increase by 30% a year.

Doubts are increasingly being voiced over the slow progress, with many projects being wellbehind schedule. By the summer of 2010, construction work had only begun on six of the twelve football stadia. Questions are being asked over the choice of the host cities and there is a view that ten would be a more manageable number.

Deadlines have come and gone, with allegations of corruption and poor planning. Little progress has been made on the high-speed rail link and funding is slow to come through. With much still to do and the events getting ever closer, Brazil needs to pick up its pace if its president's promise of well-organised events isn't going to come back to haunt it.

Constructionbytes.com is a free construction news and resource site established by construction professionals for fellow industry members.

If you like the site then please subscribe to our regular newsletter to receive future news and information articles.

http://constructionbytes.com/

Paul James

Brazil Real Estate Expanding in Anticipation of World Cup and Olympics

Brazilian capital is aptly name Brasilia. Brazil is ranked eighth in terms of GDP but economic experts the country to reach the fifth position in the next few decades. Brazil is part of the BRIC group, comprising of Brazil, Russia, India, and China, which are anticipated as the future superpowers. Tourism, construction activities in various sectors, the completion of highways even to remote areas of the country, higher agricultural activities, and new settlements had boosted the real estate in Brazil to new heights. Hence, international investors have substantial scope and prospects to profit from Brazil for sale and Brazil rentals.

Brazil real estate had been flourishing in the recent years due to the lower prices, compared to property prices in the United States and many European countries. Further, the warm climate, breathtaking beaches, and an intriguing culture are the other attractions for international investors. Several prime Brazil real estate listings had been purchased by foreign investors in many locations across the entire country.

The Brazil laws are also a big help for overseas investors, since they enjoy the same rights as local residents. It is not just the beachfront properties that are most sought after by international investors but even the large inland farms and ranches that find a place in the list of Brazil for sale and Brazil rentals.

For the last several years, the major activities of real estate in Brazil had been limited to Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. High class penthouses, simple and luxury apartments, family homes, and commercial properties had been purchased by international real estate investors even at higher prices in these cities. However, the preferred destinations at present are the northern regions of the country along the coast.

The overseas investors with long-term perspectives are purchasing small or large pieces of lands in such areas, with the intention of developing them over the next few years. Brazil is slated to host the 2014 FIFA World Cup, as well as the 2016 Olympic Games. Hence, the Brazil activities had been picking up momentum not only in the larger and flourishing cities of the nation but even remote tropical towns and small fishing villages are getting the attention of international investors. They are investing in oceanfront homes and resorts, countryside hotels, ranches, and farms, expecting significant appreciation in the prices of Brazil real estate listings in the next 6 years, providing them with substantial profits.

International Real Estate Listings.com is the worldwide leader in international real estate for sale, international real estate exchanges, and international rentals. International property owners, agents, and developers are encouraged to create an account, upload an unlimited number of listings, write as much creative property details, include a You Tube property video, and it will be activated as a Basic Listing for 6 months, free.