Pele became as famous as he did because he was good looking, spoke excellent English and therefore made for good television. He was a good player, in a great team but was, in my opinion (and I saw him play) not the best - that was Garrincha who unfortunately (for him anyway!) was plug ugly, didn`t speak English and died in poverty at a relatively young age. Sorry to go on but this idolisation of Pele really gets on my ****at times .
You want to be careful being seen reading books in Brid - they`ll think you`re some sort of Wessie show-off!
Pele is Brazil's world wide ambassador for all sport including the olympics. If I remember right he received the torch at the end of the London ones. Its all about a small rise in transport costs. However the rises represent an increase many of the poorest cannot afford and could be equated to an increase in taxation among the huge masses even if it is a few pence. There is a lot or rich companies/people in that country who could absorb an income tax increase much easier. Social issues getting mixed up with sport again but had not been for having to fund the upcoming sporting events Brazil could have gone back to sleep.
Sport itself is a social issue. A\lot of Brazilian people now think of Pele as an over priviliged tosser
