2014 World Cup Official Poster

Brazil: 2014 World Cup poster unveiled

Brazil unveiled its official poster for the 2014 World Cup at a ceremony in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday.

Brazil has unveiled its poster for the 2014 World Cup. (NBC Sports/Screengrab)

SÃO PAULO, Brazil — Brazil unveiled its official poster for the 2014 World Cup at a ceremony in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday.
The poster, designed by the Crama Agency, shows a map of Brazil between two soccer players going after a ball, reported Reuters.

"The official poster is an important step to showcase Brazil and the FIFA World Cup in the host country and abroad," said retired soccer star Ronaldo, one of the three members on the World Cup's local organizing committee. "It is important to convey the message of a country that is modern, innovative, sustainable, happy, united and, of course, passionate about football."
Twelve other posters, one for each host city, were also presented, according to NBC Sports.

FIFA's official release said:
"The artwork depicts the beauty and diversity of Brazil through a colorful, emotional and vibrant design. The creative concept at the heart of the poster is 'An entire country at football's service – Brazil and football: one shared identity,' which inspired (creative agency) Crama to shape the winning design. This is evident throughout the poster, particularly where the players‘ legs challenging for the ball reveal the map of Brazil."
The presentation was supposed to take place Monday, 500 days before the tournament kickoff, but was delayed after a nightclub fire in Santa Maria killed 235 people.

Fabiana Passoni, a Brazilian singer, winner and example

Thomas Reaoch, Brazil business connector, cross-cultural trainer, social media coach and lecturer, has mentioned Fabiana Passoni, Brazilian singer who lives in Los Angeles, in his blog and radio show - Talk2Brazil - the only talk show about business in Brazil:

Fabiana Passoni is Talk 2 Brazil´s Person of the Year 2012.

Her life story is full of challenges as well as success. Fabiana Passoni is an excellent example of a woman who can manage her personal and professional roles, radiate optimism, share a bright outlook for the future and serve as an example of dedication and perseverance for all.

Fabiana Passoni, the best Brazilian Female Singer living in the U.S. Chosen by the Brazilian International Press Awards' 2012 Colégio Eleitoral composed of U.S. based Brazilian groups and community organizations as best Brazilian Female Singer living in the U.S. confirms Fabiana's ability to connect her fans to her music. Her recent single Lovin' You (2012) enjoyed several months in the Smooth Jazz charts. Another single, Rock With You was released in August 2012 . Fabiana Passoni has a new album Dim The Lights to be released in January 2013.

Fabiana's three-year battle with breast cancer put her on a journey not only of survival but a discovery of her own personal musical style. With joyful rhythms and a velvety voice, Fabiana achieved her style with the acclaimed 2011 release of Naturalmente Brasil featuring 12 original tracks. Composed in the midst of her battle with cancer, chemotherapy and pregnancy, Fabiana's dreams of continuing her career never faltered even among many setbacks. Her spirit propelled her rebounding success.

Fabiana Passoni participated in a new musical called "Loving the Silent Tears" which had its red carpet premiere at the Shrine Auditorium on October 27, 2012. She starred along with Grammy winners Jon Secada, Jody Watley and Broadway stars in an impressive cast of top talents representing a dozen countries. It featured music from Oscar, Grammy, Tony and Emmy Award-winning composers. The grand production was created by 2-time Oscar winner Al Kasha and directed by the Tony-nominated Vincent Paterson (director of Michael Jackson's BAD and Madonna's Blond Ambition Tours).

In her role, Fabiana presented a taste of Brazilian music and culture. She stated, "I am proud and honored to have been invited for a part in the musical 'Loving the Silent Tears."

Born in Poços de Caldas, Brazil, Fabiana Passoni began singing when she was 6 years old. Her father would sit on the couch composing songs while teaching her the art of interpretation and how to play to an audience. With her father's musical influence as her foundation, Fabiana also received formal vocal training with Francisco (Chico) Campos, a famous Brazilian voice trainer.

Fabiana ran a successful music school in her hometown in the late 1990's before travelling to the United States. While in New York City, Fabiana began singing bossa nova jazz fusion to American audiences. Legendary artists such as Ella Fitzgerald and Leny Andrade influenced her approach to music while she was slowly developing as a singer songwriter. She finally found her voice after moving to Los Angeles in 2007 composing songs for her debut album, É Minha Vez.

For more about "Loving the Silent Tears" www.silenttearsmusical.com

Listen to the Talk 2 Brazil interview with Fabiana Passoni PLAY or DOWNLOAD Broadcast on Aug.13, 2012

São Paulo, one of the three best travel destinations in Brazil, recommended by Condé Nast Traveller

Photo by PA Photos

Destinations to watch in 2013

Brazil

The World Cup is still more than a year away, the Olympics nearly four. But after the resounding success of London 2012, the eyes of the nation - and, indeed the world - are already turning to Brazil.

Even Michael Palin's epic series could not unearth every delight of this vast country. It is like an entire continent, from its thrilling, teeming metropolises to its virgin rainforest and empty stretches of beach that run for hundreds of miles.

Rio de Janeiro is already gearing up for the 2016 Olympics. Its 2013 carnival in February is tipped to be the biggest and most popular yet. And considering what a spectacle Rio Carnival is, imagine its opening ceremony (we got a taste for it at London's closing ceremony in August, and it put our Spice Girls in the shade somewhat).

But it's no longer just Rio that's got a lot to offer tourists. São Paulo is an incredibly exciting city to visit right now; it's Brazil's biggest city, its financial capital and design capital, where the country's movers, shakers and money-makers network among its chi-chi bars, restaurants and boutique.

That is, when they're not mooching around in Havaianas at their beach houses in the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha or on one of Bahia's stretches of coast, all powdery white sand and palm trees where, other than the fishermen, you won't see another soul. Unless you're looking for the party; if so head there December to February for beach parties full of bronzed beauties sipping caipirinhas as the sun goes down and the beats are turned up.

STAY
In Rio de Janeiro, at party-central Copacabana Palace, more drop-dead-fabulous than ever since its recent refurb; or in the peaceful hills at the edge of the city at the recently opened TuaKaza Hotel.

At the Sao Paulisto's latest weekend retreat of choice, Botanique, in the hills.

Near the Bahian surfer town of Itacaré at Txai, one of the country's best beach resorts, or in Fernando de Noronha at Pousada Maravilha.

Finally Brazil

Finally Brazil shows up as one of the best travel destinations in 2013. The recommendation was confirmed by Seth Kugel, a journalist that lives between São Paulo city and New York, who points out Rio as the booming city in Brazil and number one amongst several other fantastic destinations in the world.

Published:

January 11, 2013 - The New York Times

The 46 Places to Go in 2013

Whether you travel to eat or shop, surf or ski, new adventures await.

Rio de Janeiro

Because the whole world will be there in 2014.

Christophe Simon/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Fifty-three years after Brazil’s federal government decamped to Brasília, and decades after São Paulo took over as the country’s business capital, Rio is staging a comeback. With the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics (plus an oil boom) providing the impetus, the tropical city perhaps most famous for its Carnival hedonism is on its way to becoming a more sophisticated cultural hub. In January, the Cidade das Artes, or City of the Arts, was inaugurated as the new home of the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra. On March 23, Casa Daros — an outpost of the Zurich-based Daros Latinamerica Collection — will open in a renovated 19th-century building with an exhibition of Colombian artists. March will also mark the opening of the Rio Museum of Art in Praça Mauá, a once decrepit port area now being revived. (The Santiago Calatrava-designed Museum of Tomorrow, also in the port area, is scheduled to follow in 2014.) Shopping, a Rio obsession, got a boost in December when the luxe VillageMall opened; it will soon house the city’s first Gucci outlet and South America’s first Apple Store. Special events also dot the coming year’s calendar, including the Catholic Church’s World Youth Day in July, the biennial Rio Book Fair starting in late August, and September’s Rock in Rio. And, of course, there’s soccer: the finals of the Confederations Cup, considered a dress rehearsal for the World Cup, will be held in a completely overhauled Maracanã Stadium on June 30. — Seth Kugel

For the complete article: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/01/10/travel/2013-places-to-go.html