The Brazilian government said it planned to turn to the private sector to upgrade three major airports as the country races to get ready for the 2014 World Cup of football and 2016 Olympics.

A government study in April found that many Brazilian airports being renovated for the international football event will not be ready on time.

At a meeting with officials from Brazilian World Cup host cities, President Dilma Rousseff announced that bids to upgrade two Sao Paulo airports – Guarulhos and Viracopos – as well as Brasilia’s airport, will be announced in December.

The three airports are managed by a Special Purpose Entity that will be 51 per cent owned by the private sector and 49 per cent owned by Infraero, the state agency which manages the country’s roughly 70 airports.

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