Police operations in the slums have drawn media attention worldwide.

From a corruption scandal until the arrival of the army to the favelas of the tourist areas of Rio de Janeiro. Brazil prepares to host the 2014 World Cup, but the time seems to run in their favor.

For a country that is synonymous with soccer, World Cup preparations become a subject of global interest.

If this is added the resignation of former Minister of Sports amid allegations of bribery billionaires and the incursion of the military in favelas supported by tanks and helicopters, Brazil has attracted attention around the world, but not always positive comments.

It does not help that FIFA, world football's governing body, continued to express concern about the delay in construction of stadiums and works to improve the infrastructure in general.

However, with the arrival of the new sports minister, a politician considered impeccably honest and competent, and earned praise in the Brazilian media operations to "pacify" the favelas, the country is surprisingly optimistic preparations for the quote from 2014.

And that feeling will notice these days in Rio de Janeiro between Brazilian officials attending the convention unites business and finances of football.

FIFA Concern

Silva's resignation amid allegations of corruption made alarm bells at FIFA.

But just a month ago, the picture was not so encouraging.

In October, the former Minister of Sports Orlando Silva resigned on charges of misappropriating more than U.S. $ 20 million fund to promote the sport among disadvantaged children. Silva, who was responsible for directing the preparations parala Cup worldof 2014 Olympic Games in 2016, flatly denied the accusations and called "criminal" to his main accuser. It was the fifth Brazilian cabinet minister to leave office this year on corruption charges, but said he left the government in order to "defend his honor . " Silvano output only increased the level of alarm that had been lit in the Cup. But the Brazilian president, Dilma Rousseff, faster chips moved to appoint Aldo Rebelo as new Minister of Sports, which for many was a safe bet.

"Rebel is a very respected and honest political (...) The first thing was to break existing contracts with all NGOs," said political science professor at the University of Brasilia David Fleischer.

"The Brazilian people are always optimistic, and certainly so is the fact that everything will be ready for the World Cup despite the adverse conditions," he says.

But you have to convince FIFA that.

In testimony before a parliamentary committee earlier this month Brazil, FIFA's General Secretary Jerome Valcke said Brazil was late in the preparations and that "can not miss a day." He added that driving between Brazilian cities is a "nightmare" and to leave the airports of the country "takes half a day."

Therefore, both Ravelo and his colleagues still have much work ahead in the twelve cities hosting World Cup.

Control of the favelas

Pere information despite the departure of Smith and delays in the works, the news about Brazil that has occupied more time in the media in recent months has been the incursion of the army in some favelas of Rio de Janeiro.

And given the scale of operations, it is not surprising.

Much of the 12 stadiums that will host the World Cup is under construction.

In the last raid to the "pacification" of Rocinha favela, one of the largest in Rio de Janeiro, involved 3,000 soldiers and armed police.

The objective of the operations was to regain control of the favelas of drug gangs.

But compared to past strategies to "arrest and go", police have now decided to have a permanent presence in the favelas in the hope that this will prevent the bands re-establish and to offer a better quality of life to residents.

For now, the goal of the 40 favelas police are closer to those facilities to be used in the World Cup and the Olympics.

And now, it seems that the tactic of "peace breakthrough" has been a success and that, in most cases, security forces have had little or no resistance from drug gangs.

However, with more than 600 favelas expand the hillsides of Rio, where they live 1.5 million people - one third of the population of the city - the concern of some analysts is that the drug gangs and their crimes violent partners, will only move to a new place.

Marcelo Pedrosa, director of international markets Embratur, the Brazilian Ministry of Tourism, says the fear of crime should not be a concern for foreigners visiting Rio de Janeiro.

"It's a distant perception, but not a real experience," he says.

"For example, during the riots in London in the summer, the perception of the world was that nobody was leaving his home because of your fear. But obviously that was not the case."

Lomanto Marco Antonio de Britto, director of products and destinations Embartur adds that the work of pacification in the favelas shows the seriousness with which Brazil tackles the security preparations before the World Cup.

"Great Opportunities"

Back at the Copacabana beach, where the movers and shakers from the world of business and finance meet in football Soccerex Global Convention in the conference center Forte de Copacabana, the focus is to see how much the Cup world will benefit Brazil.

The Soccerex CEO, Duncan Revie said: "Rio is an exciting city and there is a real sense of all the possibilities that the World Cup will not only Rio, but throughout Brazil.

"As preparations intensify, so does the need for knowledge and interest in the business potential of the event - it feels like the perfect time for Brazil to attract businesses and people who make the decisions in the market the world. "

The event was attended by representatives of the football teams and sports-related companies worldwide, such as management agencies, stadium builders, sponsors and manufacturers of sportswear. That makes Soccerex is seen as the place to interact and reach agreements.

A British company is present in the exhibition Places Travel, which specializes in bringing sports teams to games or events around the world.

Dave Freeman, manager of the company, says: "Being in Rio gives us the opportunity to better understand the complexities of the city and gain an advantage over our competition.

"Brazil is a country made for football, the opportunities are enormous."

The country only has to be ready in time.