Moscow / Johannesburg, 7 June 2010 – Football star Andrei Arshavin and First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov will team up with a high-profile Bidding Committee delegation at the FIFA Bidder Expo after the conclusion of the 60th Ordinary FIFA Congress in Johannesburg on 10 June.
South Africa will be the next stop in Russia’s bid campaign to earn the right to host either the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup™. As part of the process, a delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister Shuvalov will present the merits of the Russian bid to the worldwide football family, united at the FIFA Congress and consisting of association members, confederation representatives, observers and various dignitaries.
Bid CEO Alexey Sorokin welcomed the bid ambassador and his contribution to the bid effort. “As we forge ahead with our candidature, a high level of communication has developed between the government and our football organisations, akin to one touch passing in the game. Proof of this is evident in our delegation to South Africa. In addition to First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov and Vitaly Mutko, Minister for Sports, Youth and Tourism, representing the government, we are thrilled to have such a well-known ambassador of Russian football as Andrei Arshavin join us in Johannesburg to further enhance our team.”
Also present will be Russian Football Union President Sergei Fursenko and Bid Sports Director and ambassador Alexey Smertin, Arshavin’s predecessor at the helm of the Russian national team.
2006 Russian footballer of the year, Arshavin gained international attention at the UEFA Euro 2008 championship. The versatile attacking midfielder, currently on the books of Arsenal FC in England, became the first player since 1946 to score four league goals in one match at Liverpool’s Anfield ground as Arsenal secured a 4-4 draw in April 2009.
Prior to the FIFA Congress, the Bid Committee has been invited to present its candidature to the association delegates attending the Congress of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) on 8 June in Johannesburg.
Russia’s presentations will be based on the Bid Book it submitted to FIFA on 14 May 2010 in Zurich. The actual bid book consists of three volumes with a total of 1,100 pages, which provide a comprehensive overview of Russia as a potential host country for the FIFA World Cup™.
Following the FIFA World Cup™, the next milestone for the bid is the inspection visit, when a delegation of FIFA experts will visit Russia from 16 to 19 August. FIFA will designate the host nations for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments at a special meeting of the Executive Committee on 2 December 2010.
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]
