With about one month to go before the countries bidding for the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup™ will submit their bid books to FIFA in Zurich, Russia has accomplished another major milestone in its quest to win the right to host football’s biggest event.
Russia’s Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, has personally signed all governmental guarantees that are requested as per the FIFA Bidding Agreement, since the full cooperation of the government of the host country is indispensable for the successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup™. The guarantees apply to a wide range of relevant issues such as security, tax and customs breaks, entry rules for athletes, referees and fans, intellectual property and its protection, and the construction of new stadiums. The relevant documents will be an integral part of the official bid books that will be handed over to FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter in Zurich on 14 May 2010 by Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov.
Prime Minister Putin personally oversaw the progress on these important guarantees after making them an item of the agenda of the meeting of the Government Presidium of the Russian Federation held on 24 March in Moscow.
A dedicated stadium construction guarantee includes a reference that “with the support of the government of the Russian Federation” ten new World Cup-specific stadiums will be built as presented in the Bid Book schedules.
In his statements at said Government Presidium meeting, Putin furthermore emphasized Russia’s readiness to go beyond the mere sporting infrastructure. “The World Cup preparations will not only require a large number of new sports facilities. They will also mean that we must develop – and are certain to do so if our bid is accepted – additional infrastructure: airports, roads, hotels and other tourist facilities in at least 10 major Russian cities, if not more.”
“All of that would remain to be used by our people for decades to come”, the Russian Prime Minister concluded.
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:
