Some 900 journalists from 14 countries to cover mass wake in Chapecó
Approximately 900 media professionals from 14 countries have registered to cover the mass wake of the victims of the plane crash that took place Tuesday (Nov. 29).
Approximately 900 media professionals from 14 countries have registered to cover the mass wake of the victims of the plane crash that took place Tuesday (Nov. 29). According to the Chapecoense football club administrative board, another 800 requests for credentials were made by e-mail.
The ceremony is set to be held on Saturday (Dec. 3), at Arena Condá, when the bodies of the Chapecoense delegation members are expected to arrive in the city of Chapecó, western Santa Catarina state.
Media vehicles, including cars equipped with technology for audio and video transmission, have crowded the area surrounding the arena. Main local media companies have sent their anchors for broadcasting straight from the team's stadium.
The gate leading to the bleachers and the grass is shared by journalists and local residents coming to Arena Condá to pay their respects to the members of the Chapecoense delegation who died in the accident. This is where media workers have been collecting most of the testimonies from fans, published and broadcast worldwide.
Saturday, during the ceremony, journalists are to be given limited access to the grass area, where the wake will be held. The goal of organizers is to preserve the privacy of victims' friends and family members.
Emotion
Since the days following the tragedy, journalists from a number of countries have kept a close watch on the commotion and sadness taking over the city in Santa Catarina. The questions asked by Brazilian reported were interspersed with inquiries in several languages, especially Spanish and French.
Marcos López, a correspondent from Televisión Española (TVE) in Rio de Janeiro, showed how emotional he has felt since Wednesday, when his coverage started. “I've covered sports for a long time, so this tragedy hit me in a horrible way. During the tribute paid here at Arena Condá, on Wednesday evening, I cried a lot while I was working,” he recounted.
López said he was impressed with the close ties between the team and the residents of Chapecó. “Since it's a small city, I saw that people knew the players. It's not like São Paulo or Rio, where athletes are stars you can't reach. Here, it's like they're part of the family.”
Translated by Fabrício Ferreira
Fonte: Some 900 journalists from 14 countries to cover mass wake in Chapecó
