POSTED: Tuesday August 17th 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FIFA DELEGATION RECEIVED BY RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER PUTIN, VISITS LUZHNIKI STADIUM AND OTHER WORLD CUP FACILITIES

Bid for the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup - Visit of the FIFA Inspection Group, 16 to 19 August 2010

Moscow, 17 August 2010 - Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin welcomed the FIFA Inspection Delegation today at his residence near Moscow, reaffirming his country's readiness to host the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup™.

During the one-hour meeting with the FIFA delegation (cf. separate media release), Putin referred to the extensive infrastructure plans of the government. "Quote TBD"

Arriving from St. Petersburg, the FIFA inspection group had been transported from the airport straight to the Prime Minister's residence, Novoogarevo, on the outskirts of the Russian capital. From there, the FIFA experts proceeded to a reception house of the Russian Federation for the Bid Country presentation, conducted by Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov and senior members of the bid committee.

Shuvalov gave an overview of the estimated economic impact a FIFA World Cup™ would have in Russia, which is the world's largest country stretching over nine time zones and from Eastern Europe to Far East Asia.
Quote Shuvalov TBD

In the afternoon, the intensive schedule included a tour of Luzhniki Stadium. Currently rated a UEFA Elite Stadium, Luzhniki is foreseen as the stadium to host the opening and final matches of the FIFA World Cup. To this end, the arena would undergo major extension and refurbishing work, bringing the capacity up from the 78,394 seats to a forecast gross capacity of 89,318 as football-only stadium.

Beforehand, Moscow's Mayor Yuri Luzkhov, had addressed the FIFA delegates, detailing the outstanding facilities of his city and its region and emphasising its longstanding football tradition. "Moscow is home to the world famous teams, such as Dynamo FC, CSKA and Spartak FC.  There are over 300 football competitions organized every year and 80 stadiums within the city limits with capacities that exceed 1,500 seats."

As the federal capital and the economic heart of Russia, is home to over 10,000,000 people representing 130 nationalities and can also boast three UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Moreover, the FIFA delegation was made familiar with the proposed location of the International Broadcasting Centre at Expocentre Fairgrounds in central Moscow, the Manezh Exhibition Hall (Final Draw venue) and the Gostiny Dvor Congress Centre, proposed as venue for the FIFA Congress venue. After a dinner in the Patriarshie Chambers at the Kremlin, the delegation enjoyed a leisurely stroll across Moscow's landmark, the Red Square, which is foreseen as a Fan Fest location.

The tour will continue on Wednesday, 18 August with first a visit to Kazan, the host city of the 2013 Universiade and later that day to Sochi, which will host the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.

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Keywords · Russia 2018 2022 · Vladimir Putin · Harold Mayne-Nicholls

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Name: Julia Cooper
Organization: Russia Bid Committee for the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup™
Email:
Phone: +7 495 660 49 80
URL: http://www.russia2018-2022.com

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