Some Less Glitzy Scenes From Brazil 2014 as World Cup Approaches

So, yes, this particular World Cup was the first of these tournaments that I have seen such incredible turmoil and tensions surrounding it.

I had assumed - wrongly -  that, given their traditional love of the sport, Brazilians would be the last people in the world to protest the upcoming World Cup tournament that their nation is hosting.

But there are many Brazilians that are decidedly less than thrill at the enormous expenditures that Brazil has invested in to enhance the image and prestige of Brazil. In a country with significant poverty issues, spending as much money as they did on a sports tournament seems, to some seems the height of irresponsibility and hypocrisy. Poor neighborhoods have been cleared in order to make way for the flashy new stadiums with quite the price tags attached to them. In a country where many do not get enough food and education, many are expressing their concerns that the money would be better invested in actually helping lift Brazilians out of poverty and despair.

Some of the images are rather striking, and the divisiveness that the preparations for Brazil's hosting this World Cup - as well as the upcoming 2016 Olympics - have drawn attention and garnered headlines around the world. There has even been some speculation that Brazil might lose the Olympic Games.

For that matter, the World Cup in 2022, slated to be hosted by Qatar have been vehemently criticized for inhumane conditions of the workers preparing the grounds, for human rights abuses, and for the general corruption that seems to have been involved.

Given the controversy with the Olympics in Brazil and Russia recently, and the World Cup with Brazil and Qatar, it seems like these kinds of controversies, which were most unusual in the past, are becoming the new normal.




Here are some links to articles that elaborate on the controversy in Brazil, including some that show rather striking pictures:


Eyes on Brazil - 50 Days Until the World Cup:

http://sports.yahoo.com/photos/eye-on-brazil-50-days-until-the-world-cup-slideshow/




See How World Cup Protests Are Really Heating Up in Brazil, published by takepart:

http://www.takepart.com/photos/world-cup-protests-brazil?cmpid=tp-ptnr-upworthy





A Brazilian Street Artist Has Created the World Cup's First Viral Image by Jeremy Stah of Salon.coml:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_spot/2014/05/20/paulo_ito_world_cup_a_brazilian_street_artist_has_created_the_world_cup.html