The João Saldanha Open Media Centre (OMC) will open tomorrow, 9 June, with the presence of Governor of Rio de Janeiro Luiz Fernando Pezão, Mayor of Rio de Janeiro Eduardo Paes, Sport Minister Aldo Rebelo, the Minister of the Secretariat of Social Communication of the Presidency (SECOM) Thomas Traumann and Culture Minister Marta Suplicy.

The press conference will be the first to be held at the Centre. The conference is scheduled for Monday at 3:00 pm, at the Rio OMC, located at the Copacabana Fort in the Posto 6 area.

The government officials will welcome journalists working on the coverage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, and will talk about the preparations for the official opening of the tournament on 12 June. Materials prepared by the federal government to aid the press in its World Cup coverage activities will be available at the event: What You Need to Know About the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, Media Guide and Story Ideas. The Journalist Guide prepared by Rio de Janeiro City Hall will also be available.

The press conference will be followed by a cocktail to welcome journalists sponsored by Apex-Brasil, whose president, Maurício Borges, will also be present.

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João Saldanha Open Media Center

João Alves Jobim Saldanha was a prominent figure in Brazilian football and journalism. Born in Alegrete, Rio Grande do Sul in 1917, he moved to Rio de Janeiro at the age of 14, where soon his passion for the famed Brazilian sports club Botafogo led him to shape the history of the club, first as a player and then in 1944 as a director and coach. Biographers claim that he was the person responsible for changing the trajectory of the so-called “Lone Star” club by convincing the club’s president to hire the famous midfielder Didi. The 1957 team was unbeatable and became the Rio champion after a 9-year lapse.

Known for his extroverted personality, Saldanha was a storyteller. Whether they were funny, controversial, critical or fantastic, “Fearless João” was always the center of attention whenever the topic was football or politics. He was a member of the Brazilian Communist Party and ever active for or against the government. His engagement sparked one of the most controversial cases in the history of the Brazilian national team, when he was fired from his position as manager of the team that would become a three-time world champion in Mexico in 1970. 

A year earlier, Saldanha had taken over a team discredited and plagued by criticism. This team, which included stars like Pelé, Tostão, Gérson and Rivelino, injected a new spirit into preparations for the World Cup the following year. Mário Zagallo, however, ended up replacing Saldanha as commander. According to João Saldanha himself, he was dismissed because he did not select players indicated by the then President Garrastazu Médici.

Saldanha did not abandon football after his experience with the Brazilian national team. He became a renowned sports commentator, active on the radio, newspapers and television. His iconic style and phrases were always a trademark, whether in his articles or among his friends.

Saldanha, who was also an art and cinema critic, a gastronomist and wine expert, died in Rome in 1990.