State Secretary of Sports, Tourism, and Leisure Márcia Lins revealed Tuesday during Footecon, the International Football Forum being held in Rio de Janeiro, that she intends to keep the Maracanã open until August 2010 due to Flamengo's participation in the Copa Libertadores. This means the Rubro-Negro can play the final matches of the competition—if they advance—at the stadium. If Flamengo doesn't make it to the final, the schedule remains the same.

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The Maracanã was initially expected to close for construction work on the 2014 World Cup in December. However, the change in funding for the project has altered the plan. Previously, it would have been through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), but now it will be through a line of credit from the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES), which offers up to R$400 million for each World Cup venue in Brazil. In other words, public funds.

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Construction was scheduled to begin partially in March, but only on the outside. Games would continue as usual throughout the Campeonato Carioca. Now, Márcia Lins has announced that the stadium will remain open to host Flamengo's participation in the Libertadores.

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"We want to keep the Maracanã open until August because of Flamengo's participation in the Libertadores. We've already sent the new project to the organizing committee for analysis and feedback," said Márcia Lins.

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Júlio Delamare and Célio de Barros preserved

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In the new renovation project for the Maracanã complex submitted by the State Secretary of Sports, Tourism, and Leisure to the 2014 World Cup organizing committee, the Júlio Delamare Aquatic Park and the Célio de Barros Athletics Stadium are being maintained. In the initial proposal submitted to FIFA, the two designated municipal heritage sites would be demolished and rebuilt due to the need for an area within the stadium for sponsors, officials, the press, and FIFA's VIP guests.

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The second most visited tourist attraction in Rio de Janeiro, behind only Corcovado, Maracanã would gain a large leisure area under the new project. The stadium would be connected to Quinta da Boavista.