Volunteers set for star-studded launch of Brazil 2014 uniforms

Providing a perfect example of the amiability and dedication that help give all big events a special flavour, 15 of the volunteers who will be on duty at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ will be taking to the catwalk later this week at Fashion Rio, Rio de Janeiro’s international fashion week.

Led by the presenter Fernanda Lima, Brazilian top model Lais Ribeiro, 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/ Japan winners Cafu and Juliano Belletti, and synchronised swimming twins Bia and Branca Feres, the volunteers will present their Brazil 2014 uniforms at 4pm today at Rio’s Marina da Gloria.

“I haven’t done any modelling since I was at school,” Dioguina Monteiro said, one of the volunteer models. “It’s been a long time, but well, we won’t talk about that.”

Dioguina shied away from giving her age but is proud to be on duty again at the Maracana this coming June and July, having worked as a volunteer at last year’s FIFA Confederations Cup. Looking ahead to Thursday’s show, she said: “I’m really excited about it. It’s going to be a real thrill to present this uniform. I’m very passionate about volunteering for big events and I’ve done a few already.”

Equally animated about the upcoming fashion show is Rodrigo Hermida, the head of the Brazil 2014 Organising Committee’s (LOC) Volunteer Programme.

“We are very happy to have this show at Fashion Rio, where haute couture will come face-to-face with football and volunteering,” Hermida said, who is responsible for the process of selecting 14,000 volunteers from the more than 150,000 applicants.

“It’s going to be a show with a spontaneous feel and we’ve got a real mix of volunteer-models, with people of different ages, nationalities and looks,” he added. “It’s a way of reminding ourselves that what really counts is the desire to give people a warm welcome and to contribute to the success of the event.”