Moscow, 17 August 2010 – In a meeting today with the FIFA Inspection Delegation, Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin reiterated his country’s commitment to host the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup™ and said that Russia was ready to introduce a visa-free regime for fans attending World Cup matches.
This was one of the key messages Russia’s head of government, Vladimir Putin, transmitted to the FIFA Inspection Delegation during their visit at Novo Ogarevo, the Prime Minister’s residence outside Moscow. Putin and the delegation headed by Harold Mayne-Nicholls of Chile touched upon a variety of World Cup-related topics during the meeting, which lasted for more than one hour.
According to News agence ITAR-TASS Putin said: “We are ready to give additional governmental guarantees regarding the visa-free regime for participants and guests of the World Cup and the travelling of the foresaid categories of people between the cities, where World Cup matches will be held,” he underlined.
Putin pledged to the FIFA officials that if Russia were granted the right to host the World Cup in 2018 all necessary football facilities would be built “timely, at the highest level and meeting your requirements.”
“We will reconstruct and build all the same major facilities, which should be used for the World Cup, regardless of the fact, whether or not we are granted the right to host the World Cup,” Putin stated.
“There is much to be done, but it is good from the FIFA point of view,” the Russian premier noted. “I refer to the football development in this part of the world, including Russia,” he elaborated. “Certainly, we need your permanent assistance and support, consultative and friendly, as well as common work, as we are doing with the International Olympic Committee during preparations to the Sochi Olympics-2014,” the premier addressed to the FIFA officials.
The prime minister also pledged that necessary funds for the development of infrastructure and construction of sports facilities will be envisaged in the budget and private investments will be attracted either.
He recalled that the World Cup could be held at 16 stadiums in 13 cities, which would be divided into four clusters. “The stadiums in Moscow are already under reconstruction, you have already seen the stadium reconstruction in St. Petersburg,” the premier noted. The FIFA Inspection Commission will also examine the infrastructure in Kazan and Sochi, where matches are also planned, Putin noted. The prime minister briefed the FIFA officials on the major work, which is being done as preparations to the Sochi Olympics. “The infrastructure is being developed actively there, major sports facilities are under construction, major sporting arenas are under construction right on the Black Sea coast, where football matches can be held,” he pointed out.
Putin expressed confidence that Russia would be able to hold the World Cup “at the highest organizational level.” “I hope that you will be interested to study our capabilities, and I believe that you will have an interesting trip,” the prime minister told chief of the FIFA Inspection Commission Harold Mayne-Nicholls.
The World Cup would be a great event for Russia, the prime minister said. “About six million people play football in Russia, and there are much more football fans, therefore we decided to make a bid to host the World Cup in 2018,” he remarked. “Meanwhile, the World Cup in all other countries and in Russia to a higher degree will contribute to the infrastructure development of sports in general and football in particular,” Putin hopes. “This meets fully the FIFA philosophy when taking such decisions, World Cups have not been held in Eastern Europe at all,” he underlined. “This event would be particularly important for this part of the world,” Putin believes.
For more information:
Russia Bid Committee for the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup™
Julia Cooper, Communications Manager Phone: +7 495 660 49 80
E-mail: [email protected]
Andreas Herren, International Media Coordinator Mobile: +41 (79) 799 0046
E-mail: [email protected]
