You can add flooding to the laundry list of issues plaguing the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
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Host city Manaus—responsible for four World Cup matches including the likes of England, Italy and the United States—declared a state of emergency as the waters of an Amazon River tributary swelled to record highs. Per a report from the Associated Press, the 180-day state of emergency that went into effect on Tuesday is strictly a preventative measure—one that will ensure swift access to emergency resources should the waters of the Rio Negro unexpectedly spill into the city.
Should that happen, Manaus city hall spokeswoman Jacira Oliveira believes it would not be enough to do damage Arena Amazonia stadium.
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Unfortunately for Brazil, damage has already been done in the public relations world as the nation attempts to host the most prestigious tournament in world football. Deaths, public protests and sex tourism are just a few of the concerns capturing the headlines ahead of the 2014 World Cup. Even the iconic Pele had piercing words for his native land's preparations.
"It's clear that politically speaking, the money spent to build the stadiums was a lot, and in some cases was more than it should have been," Pele said (via USA Today) during a speaking engagement in Mexico City.
"Some of this money could have been invested in schools, in hospitals," he added.
"Brazil needs it. That's clear. On that point, I agree [with the protests], but I lament what protesters are doing, which is breaking and burning everything. It's money that we will have to spend again. We already know that 25 percent of foreigners who are going to Brazil [for the World Cup] are worried about this movement [protests], and I think they have even canceled [their trip]."
"So, this is a great loss for the country."
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