The Global Sport Summit - Economist Conferences, by Jeanine Pires

Hoje ao final da manhã em Londres tive a oportunidade de representar o Ministro do Esporte Orlando Silva na Conferência realizada pelo The Economist com seguinte tema: Transforming the Industry: the rules of engagement.

Nossa participação objetivou apresentar brevemente a importância que os eventos esportivos de 2014 e 2016 terão em nosso país e continente. Compartilho com vocês minha fala: 

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

On behalf of the Brazilian Minister of Sports, Orlando Silva, I would like to thank The Economist for the opportunity of being here to share some fantastic news about Brazil, the country that will host the two major sports events of the planet - the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Nowadays, a great social and economic transformation is in course in Brazil. The country is experimenting a rare moment in terms of wealth redistribution and social inclusion, and this movement is expected to be stronger in the coming years. Social policies and higher minimum wage contribute for the reduction of inequalities, and makes Brazil a great domestic market of consumption.

More than 30 million Brazilians overcame poverty in our country. About 25 million of them have risen to the C class, which today accounts for almost half of Brazil’s population – around 90 million people. Brazil gathers the conditions to a long term growth cycle and to become one of the most dynamic economies of the world. In 2010, Brazilian GDP is expected to grow 7.5% and global investments in infrastructure shall increase more than 20%, reaching 49 billion euros. 

The World Cup and the Olympic Games will bring significant benefits to the country, as a result from investments in airports, roads, urban transportation, sport venues, hotels, telecommunications, and environmental projects. All of these become opportunities for entrepreneurs and experts in planning, engineering, constructing and managing large scale infrastructure projects. The macroeconomic environment and political stability assures good conditions for these new investments.

The Brazilian Government already has a strong and long term investment programme aimed at stimulating infrastructure development and boosting economic expansion. The Accelerated Growth Plan - PAC, was announced in 2007 and allocates around 255 billion euros over a four year period.

There will be a huge impact over infrastructure, tourism, employment and consumption. The total planned investment for 2011-2014 is 382 billion euros. The World Cup and the Olympic Games will accelerate the transformation that is already in course.

Federal Government estimates that 330 thousand direct jobs and 4 hundred thousand temporary staff will be created during the 2014 throughout Brazil. Between 2010 and 2019, the World Cup will add 74  billion euros to the Brazilian economy. The country may host 6 hundred thousand visitors during the World Cup.

In 2016, for the first time the Olympic and Paralympic Games will be held in South America, in the wonderful city of Rio de Janeiro. We are sure that this fact will have huge impact not only in Rio, but in Brazil and in the entire continent.

Initial surveys demonstrate that the investment of 4.8 billion euros in the Olympic Games will generate 20.4 billion euros to Brazilian economy from 2009 until 2027. Around fifty five sectors of Brazilian economy will have direct benefits from the Olympic Games, especially construction, housing, services, gas and oil, technological and information services and transports. More than 120 (one hundreds and twenty thousand) jobs a year will be created until 2016.

UK companies are particularly well placed to take advantage of opportunities on these projects given the strong links between London 2012 and Rio 2016, and also the good relationship between our governments.

Brazilian is making a great effort to plan and get the best of the major sports events to the country. We have important goals to be achieved before, during and after the games. We are working hard to deliver not only the events, but a legacy that will help to change Brazil and South America.

Successful events can make the country more known around the globe and transform even more our culture and our people as our most important values. 

This is a longstanding idea for which Brazil has been gradually preparing itself. In 2003, President Lula reformed the Ministry of Sports in order to have a policy fully devoted to sports, revealing a new understanding of its strategic role in Brazilian society. The Pan American Games of 2007, which were held in Rio, were in tune with this political decision. They were also a test of Brazil’s commitment to these goals. 

The main social legacy that Rio 2016 will leave can be resumed on three targets:

The first one is the Sports Legacy. It is meant to ensure that the practice of sports and physical activities is widely promoted in Brazil before and after the Games are held. This policy wants to implement significant advances in Brazil’s Olympic performance, in the efficient development of technical teams, in a deeper exchange with other countries, in making full use of the large sports facilities that the Games require, and in boosting the sports-related production chain.

The second aspect is the Social Legacy. It combines projects designed for social inclusion and well-being of the low-income populations, particularly through educational sports. Rio 2016 is expected to afford totally new and innovative opportunities to these sectors. The main focus is on young people: on their professional and citizenship training based on the universal values of sports. One of the most important programmes is called Second Half Time, which offers after-school activities, such as practice of sports, pedagogical supervision and food for students of public schools exposed to social risk. Since 2003, 3.6 million children and adolescent were assisted by the program.

Finally, there is the Urban and Environmental Legacy, two areas that are addressed here as an inseparable unit. The environment of the Cariocas is their city, and life in urban centres is highly dependent on access to sustainable natural resources. Likewise, the Olympic Games cannot be held without good urban mobility, safety, the best services, air quality and public transportation. Because these needs are complementary, synergies must be ensured between urban and environmental improvements, linking the Olympics to Rio’s structural regeneration with a view to the future. The beauty of the city and country landscapes are the greatest attractions of the games.

Degraded areas, like the port area in Rio de Janeiro, are already being recovered. Improvement of public transport and urban roads are being carrying on in the FIFA World Cup 12 Host Cities and in Rio, for the Olympic Games. 

Besides, the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games environment and sustainability plan, supported by all levels of Government, will focus on four areas:

Water conservation and Renewable energy

A carbon neutral Games

Waste management

Social responsibility

We are also facing a big challenge: the public safety. During 2009 and 2010, 13 Pacifying Police Units (UPPs) were installed in nine communities of Rio de Janeiro; it is a hard and assertive programme with great progress and still big challenges.

The Government also created the World Cup and Olympics Scholarships in order to train professionals directly involved in the 2014 and 2016 events. These measurements are part of a great programme, National Programme for Public Safety with Citizenship in metropolitan regions, by means of the articulation between safety policies and social and preventive actions. It innovates in establishing a federative relationship that integrated the Federal Government, the states, the cities and others sectors. The programme presents more than 90 types of actions, the main target public is young people from 15 to 24 years of age involving the cities to a national security strategy formerly restrict to states role. 

We are also learning with other countries that have already hosted major sports events, like Germany, South Africa, Canada and, now, the UK; that will hold with great success the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. All of them have a lot to exchange with us with their experiences, which will help Brazil to deliver the Games with great venues, organisation and professionalism. But also with passion, joy and Brazilian hospitality. Both 2014 and 2016 will be opportunities to show the world much more of our country, our people, our nature and our great economy. 

Major sports events change cities and countries. But when they are held in emerging countries like Brazil, they mean much more - they give proud to the people, they accelerate investments and they improve social inclusion. 

It is a great challenge to our country. But we are facing it and we will deliver peaceful, well organised and joyful games, in the way that Brazilian people do their great parties.

In this short speech, I have introduced some figures and programs to show you how Brazil is working to ensure that, in 2014 and 2016 the world will have games of celebration and transformation.

This Sunday 31 October, Brasil has a democracy important moment. 135 million brazilians will be voting to elect the new President in totally electronic voting system, giving us the opportunity to know the final result at the same night.

Now, I invite you to visit Brazil, to learn more about the country and to experience a land of joy, sports and business. 

Thank you !

Jeanine Pires