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US rapper Pitbull (left) and Brazilian singer Claudia Leitte will perform World Cup song “We Are One.”
DPA/Sao Paulo
Not as lavish or as long as at the Olympic Games, the football World Cup opening ceremony tomorrow will be short and see neither Jennifer Lopez nor speeches and fireworks.
The protocol for the 25-minute show in Sao Paulo’s stadium was changed as a result of Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff being jeered while speaking at the opening of last year’s Confederations Cup. Instead, the show will centre on Brazilian culture and culminate in the official World Cup song “We Are One” performed by US rapper Pitbull and Brazilian singer Claudia Leitte some 80 minutes before hosts Brazil and Croatia kick off the tournament.
Superstar Lopez has also lent her voice to the tune but withdrew from performing in Sao Paulo, stating “production reasons.” Pitbull and Leitte meanwhile can’t wait to perform in front of the 61,000 in the arena and billions more via television around the world.
“To be performing We Are One to the world, especially in such a beautiful country like Brazil, is going to be a lot of fun,” Pitbull said in a FIFA statement.
Leitte said: “I see this concert as a great introduction to the big show that we will put on during the World Cup. It’s going to be a great celebration.”
Brazil’s treasures
Directed by Belgian Daphne Cornez, a cast of 660 will perform during the show which is to highlight Brazil’s treasures of nature, people and football. “The sense of excitement here is amazing and everyone is very motivated,” Cornez said.
The show is to feature dancers, gymnasts,trampolinists, capoeira, performers and stilt walkers. But there will be no fireworks because of the daytime hour scheduling, and the speeches have been abandoned as well after the hostile reception for Rousseff - and FIFA president Joseph Blatter - last year in Brasilia.
Rousseff, who is seeking re-election in October, will also not attend the FIFA congress today. The Confederations Cup was overshadowed by at times violent protests against the government over the huge sums spent on the World Cup instead of on infrastructure and services, and against FIFA.
All stakeholders hope there will be no repeat during the World Cup, which runs until July 13 and that the colourful opening ceremony will instead set off a celebration of football.
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