Ninho do Urubu

Centro de Treinamento George Helal, usually known as Ninho do Urubu (vulture's nest in Portuguese) is the training ground and youth team headquarters of Brazilian football club Flamengo. It is located in the Vargem Grande neighbourhood, in the West Zone of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The construction on the complex began in 2011 and the club started to use the facilities in mid 2012. During 2015 and 2016, major additions were implemented at the complex, including more football pitches, a medical centre and Center of Excellence in performance (CEP), the total construction cost of the training complex is about R$30 million and the club plans to finished the entire complex in the end of 2016.^[1]

History

The terrain where the complex is located has been acquired on August 30, 1984 by president George Helal, but for many years the project has not got off the ground. At the time the land was purchased for Cr$300 million (Brazilian cruzeiro), with the real estate valuation the land was worth R$350 million, an increase of value of 6,900%. On May 21, 2011 during the management of Patricia Amorim as president was released cornerstone CT construction. total area is 140.000 m².

Facilities

Press room

On 30 November 2016 after the LaMia Airlines Flight 2933 airplane crash Flamengo announced that would name Ninho do Urubu press room Victorino Chermont. Victorino, one of the victims of the crash, was a journalist of Fox Sports Brazil and for many years worked covering Flamengo's team and known as a club supporter.^[2]

Rio 2016

During the Rio 2016 the facilities were used by Brazil U23 and Argentina U23 during the competition.^[3] The agreement to use the space was signed between Flamengo and the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee.^[4]

References