Marcos Chagas        Reporter Agência Brasil

Brasília – Sunday morning, September 4, under a scalding sun in a very clear blue sky, typical weather in the capital of Brazil from April to October (the very dry season), a group of demonstrators marched in favor of having the opening game of the 2014 World Soccer Cup played in the city. Both Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo have other ideas about that.

According to one demonstrator, Edilson de Oliveira Barbosa, 45, opening the World Cup in Brasilia would be good because it would show the country and the world that there is more than corrupt politicians here.

Delfim da Costa Almeida, 58, a representative of the Federal District Commercial Association, said the small turnout (only around 200 people took part in the march) was due to the heat (temperature above 85) and low humidity (around 35%), as well as the fact that the march was not announced very much. “We should have done more advertising,” he said. Delfim Costa said he agreed with Edilson about the  bad reputation the city has. “The World Cup could improve the city’s image. Most people think of corruption and impunity when they think of Brasilia,” he declared, adding that the march was, for that very reason, a completely private sector event, no participation of the local government at all.

Claudio Trimm, 34, a lawyer and member of a special commission at the local bar association (“OAB-DF”), said the movement in favor of the opening game in Brasilia was just beginning and that a lot of work would be done to get sponsors and organize other events.

Allen Bennett – translator/editor The News in English

Link - Brasilienses fazem manifestação em favor do jogo de abertura da Copa 2014