Issue nº 139
Editorial
Dear reader,
Throughout the planet, in the most varied situations – political, social, economic and religious – people go to sports stadiums to cheer, play, enjoy and celebrate life. The bigger the event, the more people involved, the greater their sense of belonging to a group and a nation – their passion for sports reflects their love for their country. This was the case in Rio de Janeiro at the 2007 Pan American Games, and will certainly be repeated in 2014, when Brazil hosts the FIFA World Cup Championships.
Odebrecht has a long track record in the construction of sports facilities and made a decisive contribution to fulfilling Rio de Janeiro’s dream of hosting the Pan American Games by building João Havelange Stadium and refurbishing the Maracanã Sports Complex. In 2008, the company continued working in that area and delivered Florida International University’s new 18,000-seat football stadium, which can be expanded to hold up to 45,000 fans. This was a dream come true for Southern Florida’s biggest public university, as well as a further source of pride and motivation for its students.
Pride is a feeling that the residents of Iquitos, the biggest city in the Peruvian Amazon, are also sharing. An extensive treated water supply project is making working conditions easier while preventing public health problems. And something very similar is also happening in the Brazilian cities of Nova Iguaçu, Macaé and Rio das Ostras, in Rio de Janeiro State, where urban development projects are introducing infrastructure solutions. Among other benefits, they will put an end to chronic flooding and swamping that has long tormented local residents. Also, on the South Coast of São Paulo State, the installation of a marine outfall that has broken the South-American record for polyethylene pipe length will clean up the beaches in that part of the country.
For Odebrecht members, taking part in projects like these, which improve the communities’ quality of life and residents’ pride in the places where they live, work and study, is a source of tremendous satisfaction. It reinforces our certainty that the spirit of service will achieve the expected results. The development of that spirit is one of the pillars of the Odebrecht Entrepreneurial Technology (TEO), whose original milestone publication is marking its 40th anniversary in 2008. The Group’s founder, Norberto Odebrecht, wrote What Do We Need? in 1968. To commemorate that date, Odebrecht S.A. Vice President Marcelo Odebrecht has written an article featured in this issue in which he reiterates: “It is up to each and every one of us to internalize and assimilate TEO and apply it in all walks of life. That way, we will ensure the Survival, Growth and Perpetuity of the Odebrecht Group.”