Football as a vehicle for social inclusion in Brazil

, Rebelo stated, addressing the audience. It provides vulnerable children with a vehicle for social inclusion.

Rebelo described football as a grassroots movement in Brazil that has become an important social institution, born from within society and not from the Brazilian government. Football focuses on the abilities of each individual and provides a context wherein individual talent mitigates differences.

In preparation for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics, Brazil is spending an estimated $3.5 billion on stadium construction and renovation as well as on transport infrastructure.

A celebration of the people of Brazil
The legacy of the World Cup and the Olympics shouldn’t be seen as only having material benefits, Rebelo stated. They are aimed at social development and celebrating the diversity of Brazilian society.

At a separate news conference, Rebelo commented, The infrastructure investments are really geared toward all communities. In the `70s, Brazil built a lot of big stadiums and these stadiums were geared only toward soccer, nothing else. But these stadiums nowadays are completely different. He predicted they will be used for, conferences, musical shows, restaurants, (and) trade shows.

Recently criticising high World Cup ticket prices, Rebelo argued that those who can’t afford expensive tickets will be prevented from attending an event that he described as a celebration of the people of Brazil and very important for the whole population.

FIFA, in turn, donated 50,000 tickets and will offer half-price seats to the elderly and students.

• Visit the Fox Soccer website for more on Aldo Rebelo's reaction to high ticket prices