With worries that preparations for the World Cup were running behind schedule, Marin said in the statement that it "made no sense" to stage the 2015 Copa America when Brazil has also to deliver the 2013 Confederations Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics.

CNN: Brazil passes hosting of 2015 Copa America to Chile

Broad, though, rejected the suggestion that England's heavy winter schedule in Australia before the World Cup, which featured a five-Test Ashes series, seven one-day internationals and two Twenty20 games over a three-month period, was to blame for their injury problems.

BBC: Cricket World Cup: Injury ends Stuart Broad's campaign

"Johannesburg is using the World Cup as a springboard to accelerate the city's development schedule agenda and to initiate projects that will provide a lasting legacy for its citizens, " says Sibongile Mazibuko, Johannesburg's executive for 2010.

BBC: World Cup to kick off SA economy

After the challenge 2010 hosts South Africa has faced getting facilities ready for the continent's first World Cup, and with 2014 hosts Brazil having already been criticised for falling behind schedule, England will hope they catch the eye of Fifa by representing a safe pair of hands.

BBC: Beckham hands over England 2018 World Cup bid

The final event in the women's schedule will be Saturday's slalom, in which American teenager Mikaela Shiffrin leads the World Cup standings ahead of Maze.

CNN: Worley upstages world champion Maze in giant slalom

He described it as "the mini-World Cup" and convinced me that the team were fresh and "up for it", despite their hectic schedule of late.

BBC: Steve Harmison takes a wicket