Maracana strike no threat to FIFA deadline, says government

 　　RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Rio de Janeiro's state government insists Maracana Stadium remains¹ on target to be ready for June's FIFA Confederations Cup, despite a workers strike that threatens further delays to the venue's 450 million US-dollar revamp.

　　Construction work was halted on Monday as employees demanded higher wages, meal vouchers² and private health insurance for their families.

　　The iconic arena³, which is undergoing its first major facelift since hosting the 1950 World Cup final, was originally scheduled to be ready by December last year.

　　World football's governing body FIFA has twice granted deadline extensions for the venue's completion but last month warned the current April 15 cut-off date is final.

　　"This is a normal conflict between an employer and its employees. They are negotiating several matters," Rio's home secretary Regis Fichtner said.

　　"Today the work stopped and I hope that tomorrow they will be back on the site. I think common sense will prevail and that there will be no delay to the working schedule."

　　Rio de Janeiro's heavy industry workers union warned the 24-hour paralysis⁴ could be extended if workers' demands were not immediately met.

　　"This is a warning for the construction consortium," union director Wagner Antunes Siqueira said.

　　"We are going to wait for negotiations⁵ on Friday. If there is no agreement, we will hold an assembly to vote on an indefinite strike."

　　The stadium's project developer, Consorcio Maracana Rio 2014, has increased staff in recent weeks and scheduled three round-the-clock shifts as the FIFA deadline approaches.

　　Of the six venues⁶ selected to host Confederations Cup matches, only Fortaleza's Castelao and Belo Horizonte's Mineirao are ready.

　　The Confederations Cup will be held from June 15-30, featuring each of the FIFA's six continental⁷ champions, host nation Brazil and European Championship runners-up Italy.

1 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

2 vouchers   

n.凭证( voucher的名词复数 )；证人；证件；收据

参考例句：

• These vouchers are redeemable against any future purchase. 这些优惠券将来购物均可使用。
• This time we were given free vouchers to spend the night in a nearby hotel. 这一次我们得到了在附近一家旅馆入住的免费券。 来自英语晨读30分（高二）

3 arena   

n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台

参考例句：

• She entered the political arena at the age of 25. 她25岁进入政界。
• He had not an adequate arena for the exercise of his talents.他没有充分发挥其才能的场所。

4 paralysis   

n.麻痹(症)；瘫痪(症)

参考例句：

• The paralysis affects his right leg and he can only walk with difficulty.他右腿瘫痪步履维艰。
• The paralysis affects his right leg and he can only walk with difficulty.他右腿瘫痪步履维艰。

5 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

6 venues   

n.聚集地点( venue的名词复数 )；会场；（尤指）体育比赛场所；犯罪地点

参考例句：

• The band will be playing at 20 different venues on their UK tour. 这个乐队在英国巡回演出期间将在20个不同的地点演出。
• Farmers market corner, 800 meters long, 60 meters wide livestock trading venues. 农牧市场东北角，有长800米，宽60米的牲畜交易场地。 来自互联网

7 continental   

adj.大陆的，大陆性的，欧洲大陆的

参考例句：

• A continental climate is different from an insular one.大陆性气候不同于岛屿气候。
• The most ancient parts of the continental crust are 4000 million years old.大陆地壳最古老的部分有40亿年历史。