Brazilian organizers of the 2014 World Cup on Wednesday unveiled an online catalogue of training centres selected to accommodate the 32 teams that will compete in the high-profile event.
The catalogue, which will be updated until the end of 2013, currently lists hotels and training facilities in 54 cities across this huge country which will host its first World Cup since 1950.
Thirty of the centres are located in Brazil's southeast, including 20 in Sao Paulo state, 14 in the south, four in the north, three in the northeast and another three in the center-west.
The list, available in four languages on the site of world football governing body FIFA (www.fifa.com), will be updated with new centres beginning in September and a final version will be released at the end of 2013.
Luis Fernandez, executive secretary of the sports ministry, told a press conference the training centres provided an opportunity to bring the benefits of the World Cup to more cities beyond the 12 that will host the event's 64 games.
The 12 host cities are Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Cuiaba, Curitiba, Fortaleza, Manaus, Natal, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio, Salvador and Sao Paulo.
FIFA has for months complained about delays in renovation or construction of stadiums as well as infrastructure projects for the 2014 World Cup.
Brazil plans to spend billions of dollars to build or modernize stadiums, airports, roads and public transport for the event.
But costs for temporary installations such as space for fans, the media and guests were not factored in, which will drive up overall costs.
The World Cup will kick off in Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014 and the final will be held in Rio's iconic Maracana stadium on July 13, 2014.
Host Brazil have won the trophy, currently held by Spain, more than any other country with five titles to their name.
Source: AFP
