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36 • Touchline • Issue 18
he FIFA 2014 Football World Cup kicks off on the
12th June, bringing together 32 teams and fans
from around the world “All in one rhythm”, as the
organiser’s advertising slogan says, revelling in a
festival of sea, sun and Caiprinha cocktails.
Most sports fans are looking forward to this particular
football World Cup, which takes place in what many would
describe as their second favourite footballing nation behind
their own. International risk and insurance companies will be
particularly interested in events in Brazil, as they will have
provided billions of dollars’ worth of coverage for the month-
long carnival of football. The event promises to be engrossing
or even “espectacular”, as they say in Brazil, so what could
possibly go wrong? The answer, of course, is plenty.
Only two things in life are certain: death and England getting
knocked out of the World Cup on penalties in the second
round (with the bullish assumption that England negotiate
the Group stage), but the insurance community won’t know
for certain what its final liability for the event is until the
last fans and players land back in their home country – and
maybe not even then.
From TV screens going blank during the game, to travel
problems, terrorist attacks and freak weather conditions, the
Lloyd’s and London insurance markets play a key role when it
comes to managing the risks of big tournaments.
This summer’s tournament will carry its own particular risks.
Not everyone in Brazil is football mad. There have already
T
COVERING THE CUP
ON AND OFF THE PITCH
FROM TERRORIST ATTACKS TO HEATSTROKE, THE INSURANCE
INDUSTRY IS COVERING A VAST ARRAY OF RISKS AT THEWORLD CUP
BY PAUL THOMAS