Projeto Tóquio

The Projeto Tóquio ("Tokyo Project") is a Portuguese language term traditionally used by Brazilian media and clubs' staff and supporters in the context of winning or attempting on winning the Copa Libertadores football (soccer) competition and then compete in the FIFA Club World Cup (or, previously in the Intercontinental Cup) in Japan.pt icon [http://www.gazetaesportiva.net/reportagem/futebol/rep166_papao.htm "Papão - Nada de Projeto Tóquio" - Gazeta Esportiva] ] Thus, when a club gets eliminated from the competition, it is said by the media that the team has postponed its Tokyo Project.pt icon cite web | title = História do Clube | url=http://www.mixhomepage.hpg.ig.com.br/historia.htm | accessdate = 2008-02-08 | publisher=Mix Home Pageo ] The term Projeto Tóquio was first used in 1986, during São Paulo's 1986 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A campaign, as a way to make the club more popular.pt icon cite web | title = São Paulo no Mundial - O maior teste do Projeto Tóquio | url=http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/fsp/esporte/fk1112200520.htm | accessdate = 2008-02-08 | publisher=Folha de São Paulo ]

The project normally starts after the club win the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A or the Copa do Brasil (which qualify their winner to compete in the following year's Copa Libertadores), and the clubs usually spend large sums of money to win the Copa Libertadores. In 1998, Vasco da Gama spent US$ 10 million to win the competition,pt icon [http://www1.uol.com.br/esporte/ultimas/fut041298129.htm "Desmotivado, Vasco joga por título nos Estados Unidos" - UOL Esportes (December 4, 1998)] ] and in 1998, Palmeiras, managed by Luiz Felipe Scolari, brought Júnior Baiano among other players, and successfully won the Copa Libertadores 1999.pt icon [http://www1.uol.com.br/esporte/fut310598089.htm "Palmeiras ganha um semestre para planejar Libertadores" - UOL] (May 31, 1998)] After winning the Copa Libertadores in 1997, Cruzeiro signed some players, such as Bebeto, Gonçalves and Donizete,cite web | title = Borusssia liquida o sonho do Cruzeiro | url=http://www2.uol.com.br/JC/0312/es0312h.htm | accessdate = 2008-02-08 | publisher=Jornal do Commercio ] just to play the match in Japan.pt icon [http://www.gazetaesportiva.net/historia/futebol/mudialinterclubes/copa.htm "Copa Toyota" - Gazeta Esportiva] ]

The name refers to the city where the Intercontinental Cup was contested from 1980 to 2001, which was played in Tokyo during that period.cite web | title = Intercontinental Club Cup | url=http://www.rsssf.com/tablest/toyota.html | accessdate = 2008-02-08 | publisher=RSSSF ]

ee also

* Sueño Libertador

References

Books

*

Websites