Moscow, 17 November 2010 – FIFA has positively noted the low legal risk as well as the hosting concept and the commercial market potential of Russia’s bid for the 2018 FIFA World Cup™. Risks in the operational area that FIFA has flagged up in their Bid Evaluation Report are already being addressed and will all be solved well ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup™, should Russia be awarded the honour to stage the event.
Thanks to the comprehensive and iron-clad guarantees submitted by the Russian federal government, FIFA has assessed the overall legal risk of the Russian bid as low. The hosting concept and commercial market potential have also been highlighted positively.
“We are very pleased about the trust that FIFA places in Russia and its government to fulfil all requirements needed to organise the FIFA World Cup as well as the recognition of the development and market potential our bid has”, Bid CEO Alexey Sorokin stated. “The unifying power of football will demonstrate to the world the social and political transformation of Russia, as well as benefitting people in Russia and abroad.”
In the overall operational domain and in certain operational areas FIFA has identified risks. “We have noted FIFA’s assessment in this respect, which reflects the status quo. Russia’s bid is resolutely geared towards the future. The additional guarantees signed by Prime Minister Putin regarding the construction of the stadiums, visa-free entry and free ground transport for ticket holders for the entire World Cup ensure that the risks mentioned by FIFA will be solved well ahead of 2018”, Sorokin emphasised. “This approach is also reflected in the special assessment conducted by the Ministry of Transport, which confirms that temporary airport terminals will be constructed. This is in addition to the $42 billion of investments into airports already planned for by the Government.”
Russia has a compelling case to be awarded the honour of staging the FIFA World Cup. It is a World in One Country and a land of incomparable natural diversity. Home of 143 million people, representing 180 different nationalities, Russia offers access to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and the Far East and is also a monumental historic choice as neither Russia nor a country of Eastern Europe has ever staged a FIFA World Cup.
The bid features 16 proposed stadiums in 13 potential host cities, offering a mixture of iconic historical stadiums that are refurbished and new, state-of-the-art arenas. 9 of these stadiums are already existing or under construction or renovation. The remaining stadiums will be finished at least one and a half year ahead of the 2018 World Cup. The comprehensive fan program concepts that among other aspects deal with transportation and accommodation matters as well as Public Viewing further enhance the bid.
The Russian Federal government has been extensively investing in infrastructure for several years now. Thanks to its large and stable economy, which has grown on average 7% of the GDP a year, Russia can afford to implement large-scale infrastructure investment programs, including those needed for the FIFA World Cup™.
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]
