London 2012 Olympics: Pele’s fears over readiness for 2014 and 2016

PELE has cast doubts over Brazil’s readiness to host two major sporting showpieces in the next four years.

Concerns over infrastructure are commonplace prior to key events, with recent examples being the Athens Olympics in 2004 and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Similar worries are now surrounding Brazil, which will stage the 2014 World Cup before the Olympics roll into Rio de Janeiro two years later.

Getting everything into place for just one is difficult enough and Pele is all too aware of the problems his nation faces. “At the moment, things are not great,” he said. “We have a little problem with the construction. We will work hard, but we worry because the communication is not so good yet and the transport is not so good yet. People are saying it will be easy, but I do not think it will be – we have only two years. I spoke with President Dilma (Rousseff) and she said she is going to do her best to organise things, but we are not ready yet.”

Pele, however, is confident there is enough time to resolve any issues. “I think if we work properly then we can be ready,” he added. “But everybody knows we have problems.”

Rio will have to pull out all the stops if it is to deliver a Games to match London’s, but Pele remains hopeful. “The same company who organised the Olympics here will be in Brazil,” Pele said. “In London, the organisation has been fantastic. But we (Brazil) have a lot to show the world and a lot to offer.”

While organisers have been lauded for a fine Olympics thus far in London, it is the action itself that has gripped the world. Few moments can rival last night, when Usain Bolt further wrote his name into sporting folklore by becoming the first man to retain the Olympics 100m and 200m titles, after which he declared himself the greatest athlete to live. There are few who could match Bolt for sporting greatness - though Pele is undoubtedly one candidate. He was voted Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee in 1999. When asked whether Bolt had joined them as one of the greatest sportsmen of all time, Pele responded: “Yes, no doubt.”