By Sports Reporter/Doha
For the man in charge of one of the most historic stadiums in world football and the host venue of the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ final, Qatar’s plans and progress ahead of the 2022 edition have caused quite an impression. Luis Silva, COO of the Maracanã Stadium, the legendary arena which at one time held up to 200,000 spectators and was renovated for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ to accommodate 74,698, told sc.qa that there is an impressive focus on legacy and sustainability in Qatar’s plans.
“All the concepts and ideas for the future, always in a sustainable environment, are amazing. I believe you will deliver an outstanding tournament,” Silva said in Doha after seeing plans for the modular stadiums planned by Qatar, the upper stands of which will be demounted and sent to countries in need of sporting infrastructure in co-ordination with FIFA and the continental confederations after the tournament.
Speaking at the Josoor Institute, launched to train industry professionals who will play an integral role in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, Silva headlined a course on venue and stadium management which was attended by delegates including representatives from the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, Qatar Stars League and Qatar Football Association.
With the Maracanã Stadium – officially named the Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho – prepared to host its first of seven matches of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ on June 15 between Argentina and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Silva expressed his confidence in the venue providing a tremendous atmosphere for all visiting fans. The historic stadium is the second most popular tourist attraction in Rio de Janeiro.
‘Spectacular atmosphere’
He also pointed out that based on his experience of visiting Qatar several times since 2011, fans can look forward to a spectacular atmosphere in the first ever FIFA World Cup™ in the Middle East: “It’s really impressive how you do things and how you do things well. From my perspective as a foreigner who travels to Qatar from time to time, I really enjoy it,” he added.
Originally from Portugal, Silva has been in charge of Brazil’s most renowned stadium since March 2013, which was originally built for the 1950 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. The stadium chief sees the 2014 tournament as football’s return home. He assured the world that Brazil is ready: “We are now almost ready to deliver the best World Cup,” he said, while adding that “in a big project like this, there is always the challenge to accomplish everything in the time schedule that we have, there are always some adjustments that we need to do in this type of project.”
Silva will support both his native Portugal and Brazil this summer, but hopes the latter win because “this way the party will be even bigger.” Nonetheless, he admitted that Brazilians still remember the Maracanazo in 1950, when Brazil lost the final game against Uruguay, and said that the collective memory of that tournament will make the home team even stronger this year. “They are afraid of something similar happening and this forces them to be more concentrated and focused. I am sure they will be outstanding on the pitch.”
His advice to Qatar for the next eight years of preparations was to continue to work ahead of schedule as the country builds to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™ and to “focus on efficient planning and try to meet all the deadlines to reach 2022 in a perfect condition and deliver all the amazing things that are shown in the plans.”
Luis Silva, COO of the Maracanu00e3 Stadium
