2014 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony
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 Performers surrounding the "living ball" as it opened with native singer Claudia Leitte on stage. | |
| Date | 12 June 2014 |
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| Time | 15:15 Brasília official time (UTC-3) |
| Location | Arena de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil |
| FIFA World Cup opening ceremonies |
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The 2014 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony took place on Thursday, 12 June 2014, at the Arena de São Paulo in São Paulo, Brazil at 15:15 Brasília official time (UTC−3), about a quarter to two hours before the opening match of the tournament between hosts Brazil and Croatia.[1]
In the hours leading up to the ceremony, several hundred Brazilian football fans took to the streets to sing and declare their support for the host nation's national team, as excitement for the opening match of the tournament continued to build up. However, several thousand others continued demonstrations against the cost of hosting the tournament, which are estimated at a total of about US$16 billion at the expense of both FIFA and the Brazilian government, making it the most expensive World Cup in history.[2][3] Police in São Paulo reportedly had to use teargas to disperse one group of around 50 protesters, while striking airport workers blocked off a road leading to the Aeroporto Internacional de São Paulo, demanding an increase in wages as well as a World Cup bonus. The strike was to have lasted for 24 hours, but for legal reasons union leaders called it off early.[4]
Dignitaries in attendance
The opening match and ceremony was attended by many guests :
Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations
Ali Rodriguez Araque, Secretary General of UNASUR
Sepp Blatter, President of FIFA
Dilma Rousseff, President of Brazil
Ivo Josipović, President of Croatia
Ali Bin Al Hussein, Prince of Jordan
Albert II, Prince of Monaco
Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of Gabon
Michelle Bachelet, President of Chile
Horacio Cartes, President of Paraguay
Jose Mujica, President of Uruguay
Jose Eduardo dos Santos, President of Angola
Evo Morales, President of Bolivia
Desi Bouterse, President of Suriname
Rafael Correa, President of Ecuador
