VCU news

By Mike Porter

Experts at Virginia Commonwealth University are available to speak with the media about a variety of topics related to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

• R. Andrew Chesnut, Ph.D., the Bishop Walter Sullivan Chair in Catholic Studies at VCU, has written extensively about religion in Latin America, particularly Brazil. He is available to comment on life and culture in Brazil, the host country of the World Cup.
  
  "Brazil is No. 1 in three of the great world religions – Catholicism, Pentecostalism and soccer," he said. "Even before the cup has started we're seeing the great nexus between faith and football in Brazil, the epicenter of global Christianity. The Catholic church there is handing out 'red cards' criticizing the Brazilian organizers of the cup for spending billions on sport instead of public services. An interfaith group has rallied against sex tourism and is canvassing the major cities where the games will be played. In the Pentecostal camp, billionaire Bishop Edir Macedo, head of the controversial Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, has called on congregants to boycott the cup."
  
  
• Carrie W. LeCrom, Ph.D., interim executive director of the Center for Sport Leadership, can discuss sport leadership, global sport issues, international development through sport and sport sociology.
  
  
• Marcus Messner, Ph.D., a social media expert and assistant professor of journalism in the Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture in the College of Humanities and Sciences, is available to speak on the role social media will play in the World Cup.
  
  "The World Cup in Brazil is the first one that will see the use of social media as mass phenomenon as adoption rates have increased significantly since the last tournament four years ago in South Africa," he said. "Especially the use of Twitter and Instagram by fans and players alike will provide real-time coverage on social media as well as insights into events and happenings beyond the tightly scripted PR messages by FIFA organizers."
  
  
• William Pelfrey Jr.,Ph.D.,associate professor and chair of Homeland Security/Emergency Preparedness, was part of the national security evaluation team at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta in 1996 and researches terrorism. He can discuss security issues, possible terrorist attacks, response to terror attacks and the coordination of international law enforcement agencies to investigate attacks. Pelfrey also played soccer in college and hopes for American success in the World Cup.
  
  "The key security issue confronting the World Cup is the disparate nature of the venues. Scattered across the entire country, there are 12 soccer venues, plus 32 base camps (one for each qualifying team). These are hard targets with clearly defined locations and dates of activities. Additionally, there are thousands of soft targets, including formal and informal gathering spots for fans. Brazil is facing a tremendous security undertaking and will be very fortunate if the World Cup occurs peacefully."