his biggest fans said goodbye to pele in style. from here, the coffin will be taken through the streets of santos ahead of a private family burial. katy watson, bbc news in santos. let s go to tim vickery, an expert in south american football, joining us now from rio dejaneiro. thank you forjoining us. i know you are in rio, but events from santos are in rio, but events from santos are being televised across the country, or they? are being televised across the country, orthey? have everseen anything it before? i country, or they? have ever seen anything it before? country, or they? have ever seen anything it before? i suppose there is a comparison anything it before? i suppose there is a comparison with anything it before? i suppose there is a comparison with the anything it before? i suppose there is a comparison with the death - anything it before? i suppose there is a comparison with the death of i is a comparison with the death of the formula 1 race driver senna in 1994, whi
katy watson there. joining me now is the south american football journalist tim vickery. we knew this was coming, of course, tim, but it must be a shock to everyone there. what sort of mourning period is brazil in for now? remember, we have the presidential brazil in for now? remember, we have the presidential ruler- have the presidential ruler taking over as president on sunday which is for the whole thing back little bit, kelly, his body, his coffin will be taken to the centre circle of the field at santos when he played for so long, he will lie there for 2h hours starting at 10pm local time on monday and after that, 10pm local time on monday and afterthat, he 10pm local time on monday and after that, he will be moved to after that, he will be moved to a nearby cemetery a vertical cemetery, hand picked by pele because it gives a view of the stadium president lula. it gives us all a chance to look back on a remarkable life. interesting there how much katie was stressing king. let
he didn t get involved in politics at the time. at times, he was criticised for not getting involved, but at the same time, that meant that he remained a universal icon for so many millions here. the president elect, lula da silva, who takes over from sunday, he said there was no number10 shirt like him. he really was the king here in brazil. and, of course, this country is now in mourning. katy watson reporting there. several landmarks around the world are being used to pay tribute to pele. here in london, the arch at wembley stadium has been lit in the green and yellow colours of brazil. and in rio dejaneiro, the statue of christ the redeemer has also been lit in the same national colours. earlier, i caught up with south american football journalist tim vickery, and started by asking him about pele s funeral plans. well, remember,
the great entertainers through his pure skill, talent and ability. he s played a huge part in football. the name pele isjust synonymous with football. pele spent most of his career playing for santos, and fans of the club have been gathering outside the stadium to pay their own tributes in the club s colours. away from football, pele also had a lasting effect on race relations in brazil, a country where just five decades before he was born, slavery was still legal. adjunior is a prominent afro brazilian, and a tv executive with trace brazil, and i asked him about pele s legacy regarding race relations in brazil. for us, for black brazilians, it was the beginning of a very ambiguous situation, because for so many times, people were saying that he didn t talk about race and stuff, but he lived in a world that was very different from the world where we live today. but for us, it s a very interesting situation today
i think that just shows how important he was for so many millions of people. whether you watched him play as a young footballer or you were a younger brazilian who was told about his phenomenal skills, he united this country, and i think that s so important in a country that has been torn apart by partisan politics these last few years. he didn t get involved in politics at the time. at times, he was criticised for not getting involved but at the same time, that meant that he remained a universal icon for so many millions here. the president elect, lula da silva, who takes over from sunday, he said there was no number 10 shirt like him. he really was the king here in brazil. and, of course, this country is now in mourning. katy watson there. earlier, i caught up with south american football journalist tim vickery and started by asking him about pele s funeral plans.