By Andrew Warshaw
July 7 – As the investigation continues into last week’s tragic accident in the World Cup host city of Belo Horizonte, when part of a flyover collapsed killing two people and injuring many others, no-one will have been more devastated than the city’s top tournament official.
For weeks, Belo’s World Cup municipal chief Camillo Fraga has been playing up the attributes of the country’s third largest city, eager to put it on the global map along with the likes of Rio de Janeiro and St Paolo.
In an interview with INSIDEworldfootball shortly before last weekend’s tragedy, Fraga spoke about his pride at all the positive publicity Belo had been receiving and about the prospect of the host nation coming back for this week’s World Cup semi-final.
He talked animatedly about how few anti-government protests had taken place in the city – and the legacy Belo Horizonte would leave. “For us the World Cup has been a strategy to become a known international city,” he said. “We have an expression which translates as ‘the beach is too far so let’s go to the bar’. It’s a fun place to be.”
It was all a far cry from a year ago when, during the Confederations Cup, Belo Horizonte was one of several cities hit by public demonstrations with more than 20,000 protesters taking to the streets over the massive World Cup spending spree.
“We had a lot of protests but this time people have been completely wrapped up in the World Cup,” Fraga said. “To be honest I was afraid that we may not have a big party but the Brazilian flags have come out in force.”
Unlike many other cities, where stadium delays put FIFA and the local organisers under constant pressure, the Mineirao Stadium was delivered on time. In all, Belo Horizonte spent about $500 million on World Cup infrastructure and has enjoyed one of the most atmospheric fan fests, packed out with up to 20,000 fans for some games.
Fraga was at pains to play up the legacy aspect, not least when it comes to the city’s much-improved public transport system, the only downside being the international airport where work is still ongoing and which at times has struggled to contain the massed ranks of fans coming in and out.
“It was a real disappointment that the airport wasn’t completed in time for the World Cup,” Fraga admitted. “But it’s important to say that was the responsibility of the federal government. Airports are a national problem, not just in Belo.”
Until last weekend’s accident, fans and journalists alike were in general agreement that Belo, home to national champions Cruzeiro, was the best example of a functioning World Cup city.
After the tournament, says Fraga, every effort will be made to make sure the state-of-the-art Mineiro stadium will be anything but a white elephant with scores of events planned. Meantime both the British Olympic Association and the British Paralympic Association have signed contracts to make the city their training base ahead of the next summer Games taking place in Rio.
All this, of course, has sadly been overshadowed by last week’s fatal accident that led to three days of mourning and prompted many Brazilians to question, not for the first time, whether construction projects had been rushed.
On Tuesday, Brazil come to town for their eagerly awaited semi-final showdown against Germany. Football is back on the agenda, a welcome relief for Fraga and his team following a tragedy that represented their worst nightmares.
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