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Recife named in 12-strong World Cup fan fest list

A picture of Recife, in northeastern Brazil, taken on June 18, 2013

FIFA on Thursday announced 12 World Cup fan fests, including the northern city of Recife, where authorities had previously said it would not go ahead on cost and security grounds. Fan fests -- huge street parties for ticketless fans -- proved successful on their launch at the 2006 World Cup in Germany and continued in South Africa in 2010. Brazil's 12 host cities were committed to hosting the parties during the June 12 to July 13 tournament, but in February Recife said it would not hold one owing to the cost. Some officials are also fearful that the venues could become focal points for protests of the kind that marred last year's Confederations Cup. FIFA's director of marketing, Thierry Weil had insisted on all 12 venues hosting an event, giving free admission to "secure, family-friendly locations where both local and international fans can watch World Cup matches. After FIFA had indicated last month it was looking at two alternatives in neighboring towns, football's world body on Thursday released a full list of 12 venues including Recife's Quai da Alfandega. FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke was meanwhile inspecting the Iracema beach venue in the northern city of Fortaleza, accompanied by Local Organization Committee member Ronaldo. "Fortaleza has a fantastic location for the FIFA Fan Fest," said Valcke. "Standing on the beach this morning it was hard to imagine that in less than six weeks time, tens of thousands of football fans will be celebrating the FIFA World Cup here." World Cup fan fest sites: Belo Horizonte: Expominas Brasilia: Taguaparque Cuiaba: Exhibitions Park Curitiba: Pedreira Paulo Leminski Fortaleza: Iracema Beach Manaus: Ponta Negra Natal: Forte Beach Porto Alegre: Pôr-do-Sol amphitheatre Recife: Quai da Alfandega Rio de Janeiro: plage de Copacabana Salvador: Aeroclube (under evaluation) Sao Paulo: Anhangabau Valley