Vinicius Konchinski Reporter Agência Brasil

Johannesburg, South África – On Monday, after the final games in South Africa, the 2014 World Soccer Cup will really belong to Brazil. It is a good idea, at this moment, to look at how things unfolded in the Rainbow Nation.
The final cost of stadium building and renovation in South Africa came out at around ten times original estimates. The original estimate was made in 2003, and was R$370 million. In 2006, a new estimate was R$1.9 billion.  The final cost was double the high estimate, R$3.8 billion, according to the South African treasury.
Renovations at one stadium, Ellis Park, in Johannesburg, cost 400% more than the original estimate. Another, Green Point, a new and modern stadium in Capetown, cost almost 200% more than planned.
The main builder and financier was the South African government and there was not sufficient control, says Barry Pollen, director of an oversight organization called Stadium Management. “There were delays. Then things had to be speeded up, which means more costs,” he explains.

“Construction is already behind in Brazil. There is a risk of extra costs if there are more delays,” Pollen warns. “Projects should have been ready two years ago. There are cities [in Brazil] that still do not know where the games will take place…. When construction does begin, the builders will want to charge more in order to meet deadlines.”

Allen Bennett – translator/editor The News in English
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