A high-level delegation of the Russian Bid Committee for the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup™ has handed over today, 14 May 2010, its bid book to FIFA.
During a 15 minute ceremony at the Home of FIFA in Zurich, Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov formally presented the extensive bidding documentation to FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter and General Secretary Jérôme Valcke.
In his statement to the FIFA dignitaries First Deputy Prime Minister Shuvalov said: “We are happy to present you with our bid book for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup. This book not only meets all the requirements of FIFA, but represents the future of Russia. Our country fully shares the FIFA President’s approach, and believes that the tournament should facilitate development throughout the nation.”
In addition to the bid book, Shuvalov also gave a personal letter from Russia’s Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin to Blatter, addressed to the FIFA President and the FIFA Executive Committee. In the letter, Putin stated on behalf of the government that “all the infrastructure development plans described in the application will be implemented in due time and in full.”
FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter gratefully acknowledged the receipt of the documentation and the letter, declaring: “I am happy to see that the government and the leaders are behind the bid. It is a football bid, but without the guarantees given by the government and the authorities it is impossible to organise a World Cup.”
Blatter further stressed the importance of development through FIFA’s flagship competition. “You have spoken about your bid as being a big development for a huge country… I subscribe to that and I am happy that you do it and I am sure that at the end of the day, you will also do it even if you do not win.”
Apart from the First Deputy Prime Minister, the delegation also included the Minister of Sports, Tourism and Youth Policy and member of the FIFA Executive Committee, Vitaly Mutko, Russian Football Union President, Sergey Fursenko, Bid CEO Alexey Sorokin and Russia’s ambassador to Switzerland, Igor Bratchikov.
The actual bid book consists of three volumes with a total of 1,100 pages. Every set has a weight of almost 7 kilograms. The documentation provides a comprehensive overview of Russia as a potential host country for 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:
Andreas Herren, International Media Coordinator
Mobile: +41 (79) 799 0046
E-mail:
