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COSTA DO SAUIPE, Brazil -- The Brazilian government has brushed aside the importance of more delays in completing 2014 World Cup stadiums, saying that missing FIFAs deadline will not affect the countrys ability to successfully host next years tournament. Demaryius Thomas Blue Jersey . A day after FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke said three stadiums would not be ready in time for the Dec. 31 deadline, Brazilian officials said they actually plan to deliver all six remaining venues after that date. They claim only three are delayed, with the other three being handed over after the expected date only because of problems accommodating the schedule of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who wants to be present for the ceremonies. Brazils Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo said Brazil is like a bride who gets to the wedding late, but the event still goes on as expected. "In every wedding that I attended the bride was late. Ive never seen a bride arrive on time. But Ive never seen a wedding not happen because of that," Rebelo said. "Its probable that there will be a delay here or there, but nothing too significant. What is important is that all of the stadiums will be ready (in the end)." FIFA has already said it will have to change plans at the venues because of the delivery delays. FIFA Marketing Director Thierry Weil said the schedule for the release of tickets has already been slightly altered because the seating plans have not been finalized, and footballs governing body said other areas will also be affected. "Due to the reduced timeline, FIFA, the LOC, government and stadium authorities are adjusting the stadium operational program to ensure that the stadiums are delivered and host events prior to the FIFA World Cup without compromising on safety or quality," FIFA said in a statement. Brazilian officials reiterated there was no reason for concern. "We are in a much more advanced stage at this point in time than we were before the Confederations Cup," Brazils deputy sports minister Luis Fernandes said. "In March, there were still doubts whether the Maracana would be ready for the final. We are in a much better position now. The only doubt we have is related to the Sao Paulo stadium." Sao Paulo remains the biggest question mark after a crane collapse last week killed two workers and damaged part of the stadium. A report on the scale of the damage is expected by the end of the week. But there is still confusion about the delivery date of the other five stadiums that arent ready, with the government, local World Cup organizers and FIFA saying different things. The other six World Cup stadiums were ready for the Confederations Cup. Valcke had said that in addition to Sao Paulo, the southern city of Curitiba and the wetlands city of Cuiaba also would not be ready to deliver their stadiums by the end of the year as expected. He said they would likely be ready in January or February. Rebelo, the government official in charge of Brazils preparations for the World Cup and the 2016 Rio Olympics, said Wednesday that the stadium in Porto Alegre was also delayed, and that all six remaining stadiums will be only be delivered in January. The local World Cup organizing committee had said that only Sao Paulo and Curitiba were facing delays, and that Curitiba might not be ready until March. "They will all be delivered with enough time for the test events that are needed before the World Cup," Rebelo said. Tom Jackson Orange Jersey . Numbers Game examines the deal that sees Martin St. Louis and Ryan Callahan swapping places. The Rangers Get: RW Martin St. Terrance Knighton Jersey . LUCIE, Fla.The New York Islanders have sent Thomas Vanek to his second new team of the 2013-14 season. The Islanders have traded Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick to the Montreal Canadiens for Sebastian Collberg and a conditional second-round draft pick. Both picks are conditional upon the Canadiens making the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Vanek, 30-years-old, was traded to the Islanders from the Buffalo Sabres for forward Matt Moulson, a conditional first round draft pick and a 2015 second round draft pick. He reportedly turned down a "substantial" contract offer from the Islanders in early February, believed to be close in both length and salary to his current deal. In 60 games with the Islanders and Sabres this season, Vanek has scored 21 goals and 332 assists. Chris Harris Jersey. The Austrian winger is in the final season of the seven-year, $50 million contract he signed with the Sabres prior to the 2007-2008 season. A one-time Second-Team NHL All-Star, Vanek has scored 271 goals and 270 assists in 645 career games with the Sabres and Islanders. He represented Austria at the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, registering one assist in four games for the 10th-place squad. Collberg, 20, was selected in the second round (33rd overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft by the Canadiens. In 40 games with the Swedish Elite Leagues Frolunda this season he has scored three goals and added six assists. He scored one goal and added five assists in seven games for Swedens silver medal-winning 2014 World Junior team. ' ' ' |
