Brazilian president says World Cup work nearing completion

Rio de Janeiro, March 5: Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has said that with just 100 days to go before the 2014 World Cup opens in Brazil, her country was close to completing the preparations.

“Today is a very special day for all Brazilians. There are 100 days left to go before the World Cup, and the country is in the final stretch of the preparations for the big celebration,” Rousseff said Tuesday via Twitter, reports Xinhua.

“The host cities of the ‘Cup of Cups’ are lit up in green and yellow (the colours of Brazil’s flag) to mark that moment the whole world is waiting for what is coming,” said Rousseff.

Despite lingering doubts about Brazil’s readiness to host such a large-scale sporting event, the head of the state appeared confident of the World Cup’s success, with both visitors and Brazilians.

Only eight of the 12 stadiums hosting games are currently ready, with construction work at some venues plagued by problems, including the accidental deaths of several workers.

“Brazilians are ready to show they know how to welcome tourists and to contribute to making this the ‘Cup of Cups,’” said Rousseff, adding the event “has turned into more than a football tournament: it is the Cup for peace and the Cup against racism”.

Thirty two national teams from around the globe will be competing in the June12-July13 World Cup.