Brasília National Stadium is the third stage for Olympic football inaugurated in 2013
Dilma Rousseff makes the first kick-off and Elza Soares sings the national anthem. Bocão makes the first goal of the new Mané Garrincha
Final do Campeonato Candango marcou a inauguração do Estádio Mané Garrincha (Agência Brasil/Fábio Rodrigues Pozzebom)
Mané Garrincha, the Brasília National Stadium, was inaugurated this past Saturday, the 18th, in the Federal Capital. Now, three of the five stages to host the men´s and women´s matches for the Rio 2016™ Olympic Games are ready. The fourth, Maracanã stadium, will open its doors officially on June 2nd to host the friendly match between Brazil and England.
The President of the Republic Dilma Rousseff made the morning´s first kick-off and Garrincha´s ex-wife Elza Soares sang the national anthem before the Brasilia championship final. Right-back Bocão made the new stadium´s first goal. Washington and Romarinho, son of star player Romário, also made goals in the victory of Brasiliense over Brasília by 3 x 0, consecrating it State Champion in 2013.
With a capacity for 70,800 fans, the first row is just seven meters from the field, the stadium received 22 thousand fans for this first Confederations Cup test event. The competition begins on June 15th with a Brazil-Japan game at the Mané Garrincha.
For Dilma, the new Brazilian stadiums, including those already cited in addition to the Castelão in Fortaleza (CE) and the Arena Pernambuco in Recife (PE), although these last two will not be used in the Rio 2016™ Olympic Games, are notable for their quality, modernity, simplicity, beauty and solidity.
“I hope that this space is not used just to play football. It´s a multi-use arena for various activities: cultural, sports and educational”, said the President, who made it a point to speak about the homage paid to Garrincha, the Angel with the Bandy Legs, one of Brazil´s heroes winning the 1958 and 1962 World Cup.
“It´s an homage to a genius. An improviser who had a great ability to play football and who was often used by sports chronicler Nelson Rodrigues as an example of a Brazil which overcame the mongrel complex”, she remembered.
Mineirão and Fonte Nova
The two other Rio 2016 Games stadiums, which are open to the public, are the Mineirão in Belo Horizonte (MG) and the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador (BA). The Maracanã will host a test-event at the end of April, but will be inaugurated officially only in June. São Paulo will be the fifth Brazilian state to host Rio 2016™ Olympic Games football.
