Rio de Janeiro, May 23 (IANS): Football's governing body FIFA has offered a glowing report of Brazil's Mineirao and Mane Garrincha World Cup stadiums.
In comments posted on Twitter Thursday after visiting the venues in Belo Horizonte and Brasilia, FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said the stadiums had already been proved successful after opening before last June's Confederations Cup, reports Xinhua.
"(The) Mineirao hosted 48 matches and six international shows with more than 1.5 million people," Valcke said. "Now the final touches are being applied to transform (the) arena."
Valcke added that the Mane Garrincha in Brazil's capital reflected the tournament's positive legacy.
"There have been 777,000 visitors (there) in the past 12 months - more than in 36 years at the previous stadium," he said.
Valcke is currently touring Brazil's 12 World Cup venues as local organisers rush to finalise preparations before the tournament begins June 12.
Earlier this week he hailed the pace of work at Curitiba's Arena da Baixada but criticised installation delays for temporary structures at Porto Alegre's Beira-Rio.