[Venezuelanalysis.com's Chris Carlson reports on the opening ceremony of the South American football tournament known as Copa America which began on Tuesday in Venezuela with a colorful opening ceremony in the city of San Cristobal. Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez arrived at the Pueblo Nuevo stadium in San Cristobal on Tuesday accompanied by his friends and supporters ex-football star Diego Maradona and Bolivian President Evo Morales to inaugurate the first Copa America held in Venezuela in the 90-year history of the tournament. To see a video of the Copa America inauguration in Spanish click here. --Ed]
The Americas Soccer Cup Begins, With Demonstrations in Venezuela
By Chris Carlson - Venezuelanalysis.com
June 27, 2007
Mérida, June 27, 2007 (venezuelanalysis.com)— The South American soccer tournament known as America's Cup, or Copa America, began yesterday in Venezuela with a colorful opening ceremony in the city of San Cristobal. Meanwhile, opposition journalists and students marched in Caracas Wednesday to mark one-month since the private television channel RCTV went off the air.
Chavez arrived to the Pueblo Nuevo stadium in San Cristobal last night accompanied by his friends and supporters ex-football star Diego Maradona and Bolivian President Evo Morales to inaugurate the first Copa America held in Venezuela in the 90-year history of the tournament.
"Welcome to this homeland of Bolivar," yelled Chavez to the crowd of more than 40 thousand football fans. "Venezuela opens its heart to all visitors. After 90 years the Copa America came to Venezuela, the cup of happiness, the cup of the people," he said.
Chavez, Morales and Maradona gave the opening plays of the tournament passing the ball between them amid cheers from the crowd. Chavez welcomed both Morales and Maradona to Venezuela and the three left the field having officially inaugurated the 42nd Copa America. The ceremony concluded with festive music and fireworks.
Peru gave the first surprise of the tournament a few hours before with a 3-0 victory over Uruguay in the Andean city of Merida. After the inauguration in San Cristobal, Bolivia and Venezuela ended in a tie, 2-2.
(click here to view entire article)
"Rangel emphasized that the Chavez government has not closed any media and has not detained any journalists, 'however, these people still dare to say that there isn't freedom of expression in Venezuela.'
"According to Rangel, the fight for freedom of expression in Venezuela is just beginning. 'It is battle for all people to rescue freedom of expression, to make media that is truly at the service of the majority and not of the powerful economic groups.'"
I think that Mr. Rangel needs some logic lessons. First, he criticizes the opposition for saying that there isn't freedom of expression in Venezuela, and then he says that the battle for freedom of expression is just beginning (presumably because only the "powerful economic groups" enjoy it). Which is it?
Posted by: Henry | June 28, 2007 at 02:29 PM