World Cup in Brazil: Little Break
Back to Brazil on time for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa I noticed that I haven't discussed about how it is to watch this competition in Brazil, where some say Soccer is a "religion".
I wouldn't put it at this level... because the existence of God is still under discussion, but soccer can be "scientifically proved".
Seriously now, yes, there are a lot of people who love soccer in Brazil; it is considered the "national sport" to the point that the Brazilian team who went to South Africa visited the President before leaving.
But what I want to talk about this time is about an interesting phenomenon that happens in Brazil during the World Cup (although I don't know if this happens in other countries with strong teams, or at least where the sport is popular, so I won't say it is unique to Brazil).
When Brazil plays, everything stops.
Truth be said, "almost everything" is more like it. Doctors, for example, are not allowed to stop, right?
Workers, whenever possible, try to manage their schedules to get a break when Brazil is playing. Students are often dismissed or simply don't go to class.
For example: a friend who is in high school will start classes earlier to finish earlier and be able to watch Portugal vs. Brazil (June 25th 11h here). When I was at university, I remember one time when the all students of a class I attended agreed to skip a class whose professor didn't agree to postpone the class - at the same time that the Brazilian team would play in a World Cup. (Fortunately, the professor accepted a deal before we did this.)
As a final note, public servants will have official breaks when Brazil plays as shown below (link to original text here).
PORTARIA Nº 491, DE 7 DE JUNHO DE 2010
O SECRETÁRIO EXECUTIVO DO MINISTÉRIO DO PLANEJAMENTO, ORÇAMENTO E
GESTÃO, no uso de suas atribuições, com vistas a possibilitar que os servidores públicos federais
acompanhem a transmissão dos jogos da Seleção Brasileira de Futebol na Copa do Mundo FIFA
2010, resolve:
Art. 1º Estabelecer, em caráter excepcional, os horários de expediente dos órgãos e entidades da
Administração Pública Federal direta, autárquica e fundacional, nos dias de jogos da Seleção
Brasileira de Futebol na Copa do Mundo FIFA 2010, de acordo com as seguintes regras:
I - nos dias em que os jogos se realizarem às 15:30 (horário de Brasília), o expediente encerrarse-
á às 14:00;
II - nos dias em que os jogos se realizarem às 11:00 (horário de Brasília), o expediente será
interrompido às 10:30 e recomeçará às 14:30.
§ 1º O disposto no caput não se aplica nos casos de serviços essenciais de natureza contínua.
§ 2º As horas não trabalhadas deverão ser objeto de compensação na forma do disposto no inciso
II do art. 44 da Lei nº 8.112, de 11 de dezembro de 1990.
Art. 2º Esta Portaria entra em vigor na data de sua publicação.
If you can't read Portuguese, it means that work will end at 14:00 on days Brazil plays at 15:30 (Brasilia time) and there will be a break from 10:30 to 14:30 when Brazil plays at 11:00. Most likely they will hork extra hours later, though.
I wouldn't put it at this level... because the existence of God is still under discussion, but soccer can be "scientifically proved".
Seriously now, yes, there are a lot of people who love soccer in Brazil; it is considered the "national sport" to the point that the Brazilian team who went to South Africa visited the President before leaving.
But what I want to talk about this time is about an interesting phenomenon that happens in Brazil during the World Cup (although I don't know if this happens in other countries with strong teams, or at least where the sport is popular, so I won't say it is unique to Brazil).
When Brazil plays, everything stops.
Truth be said, "almost everything" is more like it. Doctors, for example, are not allowed to stop, right?
Workers, whenever possible, try to manage their schedules to get a break when Brazil is playing. Students are often dismissed or simply don't go to class.
For example: a friend who is in high school will start classes earlier to finish earlier and be able to watch Portugal vs. Brazil (June 25th 11h here). When I was at university, I remember one time when the all students of a class I attended agreed to skip a class whose professor didn't agree to postpone the class - at the same time that the Brazilian team would play in a World Cup. (Fortunately, the professor accepted a deal before we did this.)
As a final note, public servants will have official breaks when Brazil plays as shown below (link to original text here).
PORTARIA Nº 491, DE 7 DE JUNHO DE 2010
O SECRETÁRIO EXECUTIVO DO MINISTÉRIO DO PLANEJAMENTO, ORÇAMENTO E
GESTÃO, no uso de suas atribuições, com vistas a possibilitar que os servidores públicos federais
acompanhem a transmissão dos jogos da Seleção Brasileira de Futebol na Copa do Mundo FIFA
2010, resolve:
Art. 1º Estabelecer, em caráter excepcional, os horários de expediente dos órgãos e entidades da
Administração Pública Federal direta, autárquica e fundacional, nos dias de jogos da Seleção
Brasileira de Futebol na Copa do Mundo FIFA 2010, de acordo com as seguintes regras:
I - nos dias em que os jogos se realizarem às 15:30 (horário de Brasília), o expediente encerrarse-
á às 14:00;
II - nos dias em que os jogos se realizarem às 11:00 (horário de Brasília), o expediente será
interrompido às 10:30 e recomeçará às 14:30.
§ 1º O disposto no caput não se aplica nos casos de serviços essenciais de natureza contínua.
§ 2º As horas não trabalhadas deverão ser objeto de compensação na forma do disposto no inciso
II do art. 44 da Lei nº 8.112, de 11 de dezembro de 1990.
Art. 2º Esta Portaria entra em vigor na data de sua publicação.
If you can't read Portuguese, it means that work will end at 14:00 on days Brazil plays at 15:30 (Brasilia time) and there will be a break from 10:30 to 14:30 when Brazil plays at 11:00. Most likely they will hork extra hours later, though.
