RIO DE JANEIRO, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's 2014 World Cup local organizing committee (LOC) has reaffirmed that Rio de Janeiro's Maracana stadium will be ready to host its first test event on April 27, more than six weeks ahead of the FIFA Confederations Cup.
Xinhua reported Saturday (March 16) that LOC had guaranteed during an event in Rio that the Maracana would be ready in time for the Confederations Cup.
The tournament, which will be held from June 15-30, is considered an organizational warm-up for the World Cup a year later.
A report in Britain's The Independent on March 14 claimed redevelopment work on the iconic arena might not be finished before Brazil's international friendly against England - the venue's official inauguration - on June 2.
Xinhua wishes to clarify that during last Saturday's event, LOC's general manager of operational integration, Tiago Paes, in fact guaranteed the stadium refurbishment would be completed before the June 2 friendly.
In addition, Paes said less than 5% of the stadium's operational schedule had been altered.