As much as 85 per cent of Danish and Dutch public investments in sport go into sports facilities like football fields, sports halls and aquatics stadiums. But simply building facilities does not make more people active and knowledge on how to make the most of the investments is sorely needed.

The turmoil surrounding Brazil's former national stadium reflects the conflicts that characterise the country in the preparations for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics.

Play the Game and the Danish Institute for Sports Studies can now reveal the title and themes for this year’s Play the Game conference, taking place in Aarhus, Denmark from 28-31 October 2013.

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the UEFA European Championship, the tournament in 2020 will be spread over several major European cities. The decision is overall welcomed but fans fear the lack of cohesiveness.

New ways of networking and increased awareness against corruption in sport may become the most important legacies of Brazil’s hosting of the biggest mega-events in the next four years.

The debate was heated and the media repercussion remarkable when 85 speakers and participants met in São Paulo last week to discuss legacy of mega-events, lack of sports democracy, FIFA relations and the need for a national Brazilian sports strategy.

There was a loud call for a national Brazilian sports policy as well as for transparency in sport when Play the Game held a seminar in São Paulo last week.

The legacy of the 12 new or refurbished stadiums for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil will all fall below international average if nothing is done to strengthen the plans for their after-use.