world atlas

Happy New Year!(LOC) Monday 24 December 2012 © LOC The 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ Local Organising Committee (LOC) would like to wish all friends and fans of football a heartfelt Happy New Year. On behalf of the LOC team, we would like to thank everyone who has shown an interest and played their part in preparations for what will be the first tournament in FIFA’s history to take place in the world’s largest country. Russia is ready to amaze the world in 2018 by staging an unforgettable festival of football for all followers of this beautiful game. In the new year, the 2018 FIFA World Cup will begin to take shape: the first stadiums will be handed over in Kazan and Sochi; design work for the new arenas will get under way; federal legislation on the staging of the FIFA World Cup in Russia will be passed and work will begin on the tournament’s official branding. We would like to offer all members of the footballing family our sincere best wishes in fulfilling their aspirations and achieving their goals. Very best wishes The Russia 2018 LOC http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/russia2018/news/newsid=1977112/

Rugby: New stadium is real game-changer By Michael Burgess 5:30 AM Sunday Dec 23, 2012 An artist's impression of the Tokyo stadium to be open in time for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. If the All Blacks reach the final of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, they will be playing in the most technologically advanced stadium the world has ever seen. The old national stadium in Toyko, the site of Peter Snell's glorious Olympic double (800m and 1500m) in 1964, is due to be knocked down by 2014 and replaced by the new 80,000 seat venue. The new design features a retractable roof and fully adjustable seating, which slides out to make room for an athletics track, or draws in to bring spectators close to the touchline for a rugby or football match. "I think it will be the most modern stadium in the world," Japan Rugby Football Union chairman Tatsuzo Yabe told the Herald on Sunday. "We can change the shape by moving the seats - that is one of the most important things and means fans will be as close as possible." Japan has a history of being able to construct sleek, modern stadia. They built several new venues for the 2002 FIFA World Cup and already boast a facility in Hokkaido that can switch to either a baseball or football venue. The budget for the new stadium is a cool 130 billion ($1.85 billion), which would also be the most expensive stadium on the globe, surpassing the recently constructed New Meadowlands Stadium in New York, which hosts NFL teams the Giants and the Jets. The winning design was submitted by London-based Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid, after a worldwide competition that eventually attracted 49 submissions. The criteria was strict - apart from the 80,000 capacity, retractable roof and adjustable seating it also had to be environmentally efficient, complement the surrounding landscape, allow for smooth traffic and be ready for 2019. Hadid was the architect of the London Aquatic centre used at the recent Olympics, a focal point of the 2012 Games. "We hope that the new stadium will become a tourist attraction in its own right," says 2019 Rugby World Cup Organising Committee CEO Koji Tokumasu. "It should be a spectacular structure and is a superb location with five metro stations within five minutes' walk." It is ambitious undertaking and there are already some concerns about the budget, especially as the cost of the Hadid-designed Aquatic centre in London blew out from an original estimate of £72 million ($141 million) to £270 million. Still, the Japanese approach differs markedly from New Zealand's stop-gap, half-measure approach for 2011 in partially renovating Eden Park. "The National Stadium was built in 1958 so we had to update it," says Tokumasu, "you have to progress otherwise you will never get future FIFA World Cups or other big worldwide events. The most important thing in today's economy is to not spend too much money that will not last after the World Cup. If you make a stadium with extra seats and it stays forever, that will be good. But if it is just temporary that is no good." Construction of the new stadium, which will also host the 2020 Olympics if Japan's bid is successful, is expected to be completed by 2018. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10855823

Rotterdam 2018 Candidature file ( pdf ) https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:MJ9gL7hg9eEJ:www.rijksoverheid.nl/bestanden/documenten-en-publicaties/rapporten/2012/12/11/rotterdam-2018-candidature-file/rotterdam-2018-candidature-file.pdf+&hl=en&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESilTQeQQCeCzD2sbDTNJXVhFyTxXO-xtJYseWfapO3l85oA_BYrHpgqkJecy1IB0wC1INaPi-Y5UrLC5vBj10a2jaVVMJ45RJ4GZBAcqdTzpJn02qDQw78eYvxaZl0nZ3HlWdK3&sig=AHIEtbTHVIwtq6Mnf6s7he_Dcs9NZfFDZg

Yahoo! and Gree partner Tokyo 2020 bid 21 December 2012 | By Ian McPherson Internet portal Yahoo! and mobile social gaming company Gree have become official partners of Tokyo’s bid to host the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Japanese companies join sports brands Asics, Mizuno, Descente, travel companies JTB and Kinki Nippon Tourist, security firm ALSOK, Kintentsu International, All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines as official bid partners. According to an official press release, Yahoo! and Gree will promote the bid through ‘a dedicated online portal that will be jointly managed by Yahoo! Japan and Gree, and displayed in media advertisements, subway stations and other communication channels.’ Yahoo! Japan president and chief executive Manabu Miyasaka said: “Yahoo! Japan will fully support the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic bid as problem solving engine. Under our slogan ‘What can the internet do for Japan,’ we look forward to continue providing a unique service that enables people to share and express their passion for the Olympics and Paralympics. “By leveraging the internet’s unique interactive capabilities, we intend to unite people’s passion for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Yahoo! Japan is committed to creating an exciting and engaging communication environment for all sports fans,” Miyasaka continued. Gree founder and chief executive Yoshikazu Tanaka added: “Hosting the Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo would bring a major boost to Japan’s economy and industry, but not only that, it would give people in Japan a new dream and a renewed sense of optimism, and provide an arena for showcasing Japan’s cultural and technological strengths to the world. At Gree we are firm believers in the values guiding the Olympic movement, which reaches beyond borders and cultural differences to bring people around the world together in peace. We’re excited to be working with the Tokyo 2020 Bid Committee and Yahoo! Japan to bring the Games to Tokyo and play our part in making this vision a reality.” Tsunekazu Takeda, International Olympic Committee (IOC) member and president of both the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) and Tokyo 2020, commented: “I am delighted to introduce Yahoo! Japan and Gree, two of Japan’s information technology giants. Their enlistment as official bid partners underscores the Japanese business community’s strong desire to contribute its know how, technologies and creativity toward a fantastic Tokyo 2020. I look forward to working closely with our current and future partners who share our enthusiasm for hosting the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.” http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/yahoo_and_gree_partner_tokyo_2020_bid

Tokyo 2020 bid receives backing from all Olympic and Paralympic International Federations Wednesday, 19 December 2012 By Tom Degun December 19 - The Tokyo bid for the 2020 Games has received a major boost after it was today confirmed that all 28 Olympic and all 16 Paralympic Summer Sport International Federations currently scheduled to compete at the event have accepted the Japanese capital's sports venue plans. Since being shortlisted as a Candidate City for the 2020 event by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) earlier this year, the Tokyo bid team has worked to develop a dialogue with the International Federations to improve the bid and the Candidature File that will be submitted early next year on January 7. Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) President and Tokyo 2020 bid leader Tsunekazu Takeda said that the full backing of the International Federations gives them huge momentum heading into next year. "I would like to personally thank all International Federations for their cooperation," said Takeda, who is also an IOC member. "Our plan is the result of Tokyo 2020's will to place the needs of sport and athletes firmly in the centre of the Games. "The approvals from all International Federations for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games prove Tokyo's outstanding capacity." Tsunekazu Takeda says the full backing of the International Federations is a huge boost for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic bid Tokyo is currently bidding against Istanbul in Turkey and Madrid in Spain for the right to host the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics. The IOC will select the host city on September 7 next year at the 125th IOC Session in Buenos Aires, and Tokyo 2020 bid sports director Yuko Arakida feels his team is in a strong position following the approval of the International Federations. "From an early stage, Tokyo 2020 has sought guidance from the International Federations to ensure that the needs of every sport were met," said Arakida. "The close working relationships between the International Federations, the National Federations and our bid team have enabled a smooth and quick process. "We're very grateful to the International Federations for their participation leading to these sign offs, and are pleased to have developed an athlete-focused plan that suits their needs and we are sure that Tokyo will provide excellent exposure for all sports." http://www.insidethegames.biz/olympics/summer-olympics/2020/1012167-tokyo-2020-bid-receives-backing-from-all-26-olympic-and-paralympic-international-federations

Byrom plc. appointed as official accommodation agency for 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ (FIFA.com) Friday 14 December 2012 © LOC FIFA is pleased to announce the appointment of Byrom plc. as its official accommodation agency for the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup™ in Russia following an open public tender process conducted by FIFA. In total, 18 companies from Australia, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Switzerland and the UK showed an interest in the public tender, with five entities from France, Poland, the UK and Switzerland submitting an offer to FIFA. The tender process took more than 12 months. “Following an extensive review of the excellent documentation submitted by all bidders, we believe that Byrom plc., with its vast experience in major sporting events, offers the best match to meet our needs in setting up the accommodation project for the 2018 FIFA World Cup,” explained FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke. Byrom plc. acted as FIFA’s official accommodation agency for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ and will perform the same role for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. Byrom has been involved in, and assumed various responsibilities for, a number of major sporting events, including all FIFA World Cups since 1994 as well as other major FIFA Eevents since 1998, all Ryder Cups since 1997, the Commonwealth Games in 1998, the Asian Cup in 1996, and the Pan-American Games in 2007. Enrique Byrom, CEO of Byrom plc., commented: “We are delighted and honoured at by our appointment as the official accommodation agency for these prestigious FIFA events. Byrom plc. is committed to continuing to use our considerable experience and expertise in the accommodation services sector to support FIFA, and the various stakeholders in Russia, in their efforts to achieve sustainable tourism legacy objectives.” The mandate includes the evaluation of the available hotel room inventory, verification of existing hotel contracts already in place for the events, rate negotiations on the Russian market, the procurement of additional or alternative accommodation inventory, the management and non-exclusive sale of the existing accommodation inventory, the allocation and sale of accommodation inventory to FIFA and certain national and international customer groups of FIFA, and the provision of related services to FIFA and its customer groups prior to and during the above-mentioned competitions. The overriding aim is to ensure the highest possible occupancy rate for hotels and enhance cooperation across the hotel and tourism industry in the host country. At the same time, FIFA also aims to ensure fair rates on reasonable terms to make this these events accessible to as many visitors as possible, thus contributing to the overall legacy by portraying Russia as an attractive travel destination beyond 2018. http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/russia2018/organisation/media/newsid=1971738/index.html

from SSC

Sarajevo officially want to bid to host 2022 Winter Olympics -------------------------------------------- | POSTED: 09.11.2012. 06:18 | AUTHOR: S. DEGIRMENDIĆ SUPPORT THE IDEA FAHRUDIN RADONCIC, LEADERS SBBBIH The Olympics is the biggest development project BiH Radoncic: Launch a massive work PHOTO: ARCHIVE Announcement of the leaders of the Alliance for a Better Future of BiH Fahrudin Radoncic that as the largest development project BH candidacy next year will be to organize the Winter Olympics 2022nd year, has met with the approval of the BiH public. Radončić the notion that the very mass-candidacy papers to run and final out of the lethargy in which our country is there for years, agrees and Enes Terzic, former coordinator of the 14th Operations Center Olympic Games, held in the 1984th in Sarajevo. Centre world Terzic, as one of the most deserving people that even after 28 years of the Sarajevo Olympics speaks in superlatives, first mentioning of running again for organizing the Sarajevo Winter Olympics expressed optimism that the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina could be again " center of the world. " Terzic: Great idea noteworthy - This is a great and, above all, the development of ideas that they need all the support. Congratulations Radoncic what this initiative was obviously ready to put into practice. He is a businessman who has proven in several fields, and if this work we selected the best shots, and those incapable of this project apart, I believe we can successfully organize the Olympics 2022nd - Terzic said. additional impetus to this initiative are definitely a good experience from 1984. year. Organizing Olympics in Sarajevo contributed to a booming economy and tourism, not only in the capital city of Bosnia than in the wider region. Also important is the fact that he then built a large number of whole residential areas, as well as numerous sports facilities, with the adequate rehabilitation, again able to host the best athletes of the world. Radončić welcomes the idea and Marijan Kvesic, a member of the Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Kvesić emphasizes that both nominations and the Olympics were a good opportunity not only for the development of BH sport but also the whole society. Kvesic: Support initiative - We have plenty of Olympic capacities that should modernize and invest in infrastructure, but I think that this is a long-term profitable investment, because our mountains after the Games and other attractive tourist destination - says Kvesic. Overture good support Radončićevoj idea of running for the Sarajevo Winter Olympics 2022nd it shows Vinko Radovanovic, the mayor of East Sarajevo. He along with Sarajevo Mayor Alija Behmen said candidacy to organize the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) 2017th year, and that two of the organization should receive a confirmation In less than a month in the Israeli city of Eilat. Radovanovic: Double Celebration - I think that this event was a good test and an overture to the Olympics 2022nd in Sarajevo, and certainly supports the initiative for that nomination - says Radovanovic. Impressive numbers 18th May 1978th Sarajevo in the Athens Olympic Games Organizing accepted 567 projects are realized before the Olympics in Sarajevo in 1984. The 49 teams of National Olympic Committees participated in the 14th Winter Olympics 2,500 athletes and their escorts were in the Olympics in Sarajevo 7283 Winter Olympics journalists accompanied the 1984th 30,000 people were directly involved in organizing the 14th Winter Olympics 12,500 guests attended the official Olympics 2 billion people a day accompanied by a television broadcast from Sarajevo Could sometimes can today in 1968. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, based in Paris (OECD), the special project Sarajevo region declared a potential and attractive area for development zimskosportskog and inland tourism in Europe. Otherwise, Sarajevo was the first city in the history of the Winter Olympics, which as a region in development appeared in the role of the organizers of this great event. And then, even today, the organization of such games was some sort of exclusivity rich and developed countries. However, many believe that if the Sarajevo could then, and can now be hosting the biggest sporting snowy fairytale in the world. St. Moritz, Innsbruck LAKE Placid and cities that have twice hosted the Winter Olympics. --------------------------------------------------------------- note 1: it's old news ( one month ago ) but no one posted it here. note 2: the article have been translated by Google. here is the original article in Bosnian/Croatian ( not sure what language ) : http://www.avaz.ba/vijesti/teme/olimpijada-je-najveci-razvojni-projekt-bih

Russia to spend billions to please fans at World Cup 2018 06.12.2012 Leisure of Russian football fans will be organized for 3 billion rubles. This is the amount the Russian Ministry of Sports proposed to allocate for a program that would allow uniting the fans in different Russian cities during matches of the World Football Championship in 2018. The money would be spent on creation of fan zones - sites where championship games would be broadcast. It is planned to build these zones on the entire territory of Russia with the exception of Far East region where they are unlikely to attract attention of fans given the time difference and, respectively, inconvenience with matches broadcasting. The fan zones will be organized under the auspices of FIFA. The sum of 3 billion rubles requested for the initiative is significant. For comparison, for acquisition of equipment for quickly erectable sports facilities on the entire territory of Russia in 2013 the federal budget allocated the sum that is almost twice as small - 1,7 billion rubles. However, organizers believe that the expenses for construction of fan zones would be fully recouped at the expense of sale of souvenirs and beer on their territory. It appears that the organizers expect the main income from beer sales. Despite the fact that since 2005 sale of beer, as well as other alcohol beverages, is prohibited in all sports facilities of the RF, this fall before FIFA World Cup-2018 it was planned to reconsider this ban. The officials want to bring beer back to stadiums and mass sports actions. The rules of FIFA allow sale of beer in fan zones. Another issue discussed at this time is whether fans should pay an entrance fee to access fan zones. On the one hand, this would help to substantially increase profits, but on the other hand, this would adversely impact attendance of fan zones. Meanwhile, their popularity is very important for the organizers. After all, its main goal is not the economic benefit, but the decrease of level of fan aggression during the Championship. The idea to gather fans in one place and give them access to beer, at first glance, seems ambiguous. However, the consensus is that FIFA has had positive experience in this regard. The football federation has ample experience of creating such fan zones around the world. Incidentally, in terms of profitability they are second only to the sale of tickets to the matches, Izvestiya reported quoting the president of the public movement "All-Russia fan association," Alexander Shprygin. "For the development of the game, for its popularization, it is really good. Such a step as creation of fan zones will promote popularization of football," a Soviet and Russian football coach, two-time winner of the title "The Best trainer of Russia" Gadji Gadjiev told "Pravda.Ru." "As for aggression that may manifest itself during these games, I would only worry about such possibility if our team was playing. If we broadcast games, for example, between Italy and France, then there is no point to fear aggression." In order to prevent emergencies and manifestations of aggression, Gadjiev recommended that the organizers and law enforcement bodies conduct preventive and educational trainings, as well as take into account positive experience of foreign countries. "In England they managed to do it," he reminded. "We remember that the aggressive English audience was disqualified for three years from all international club competitions. This served as a good lesson. Look at the fans now: full stadiums and a hundred percent order." The only serious violation during mass broadcasts of football matches in the RF took place in 2002. Then on Manege Square in Moscow during the games between Russia and Japan mass riots ensued. According to law enforcement officials, seven to eight thousand people participated in these riots, 75 people were injured, 49 hospitalized. In addition, there were mass cases of vandalism: 107 damaged cars, several damaged trolleybuses, 36 broken shop windows and other damages. Hopefully, creation of fan zones for World Cup-2018 will not lead to similar results in Russian cities. http://english.pravda.ru/business/finance/06-12-2012/123041-football_fans_world_cup_2018-0

Russia 2018: A dream taking shape (FIFA.com) Sunday 2 December 2012 © LOC Two years ago, on 2 December 2010, the FIFA Executive Committee made a historic decision, awarding Russia the right to host the 2018 FIFA World CupTM. For the first time in over 80 years since its first edition, the planet’s most important football tournament will be taking place in the world’s largest country, adding momentum to the game’s development across an area of more than 17 million square kilometres. The euphoria which followed the Russian bid’s triumph has been replaced by an appreciation of the scale of the work that needs to be done in order to achieve what is an ambitious goal: staging a FIFA World Cup. The first significant step on the path to hosting FIFA’s showpiece event was the naming of the tournament’s Host Cities. The announcement was made live on television during an eye-catching ceremony on 29 September. The whole country looked on as FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter and the programme’s other guests named the cities that will be staging matches at Russia 2018. The ceremony was accompanied by jubilation and celebratory fireworks in all the cities, clear evidence of the sense of anticipation that people are feeling about the huge festival of football set to take place in Russia in 2018. One of those special guests was Brazilian legend and Korea/Japan 2002 winner Roberto Carlos, who had this to say of the experience: “Taking part in the ceremony where the list of the Host Cities for the World Cup was announced was one of my brightest memories from the past year. I was touched by how Russia’s people came together in support of the idea of hosting the tournament. "The people who came along that evening to take part in the celebrations were so full of genuine joy and warmth that I was left in no doubt: Russia will stage a wonderful tournament for admirers of football from right round the world. I’ve been living and working here for almost two years now, and in that time Russia has become my second home.” In our country we have such hospitable and warm-hearted people that I am in no doubt: Russia will stage the best World Cup in history.Igor Akinfeev That evening, among the multitude of guests taking part in the ceremony were two young heroes who can genuinely say that they too contributed to that historic victory in Zurich on 2 December 2010. Twin brothers Artem and Maxim Shpinev, who played the role of Sasha Denisov in the Russian bid’s 'Sasha, wake up!' clip, had a central role in what was a very important event on the road to Russia 2018. The boys helped some of the other people taking part in the ceremony to announce the Host Cities. But in their hearts, just like thousands of other boys right across the country, what they are hoping for is to be playing in the planet’s most important football tournament. “It was really cool to be on the same stage as President Blatter, Roberto Carlos and Fabio Capello,” said Artem. “We even managed to get their autographs as mementoes. Now we’re dreaming we’ll have the chance to get the autographs of our favourite footballers, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, when they’re here in Russia for the World Cup. "Even better than that would be to be playing for Russia in 2018 ourselves. By that time, we’ll both be exactly 17. To be honest, sometimes we even dream that we’re stepping out on to the pitch at Luzhniki wearing the national team shirt. Just like that clip with Sasha." Preparations for Russia 2018 are still at a very early stage, with the tournament almost six years away, but FIFA has already handed the Russia 2018 Local Organising Committee (LOC) exclusive privileges regarding the use of FIFA World Cup branding. Russia has become the tournament’s first host nation to use a temporary FIFA World Cup emblem before the launch of the tournament’s official logo, scheduled for the second half of 2014. In addition, for the first time in FIFA World Cup history, the Host Cities have launched official posters at such an early stage. In decorating the posters with images such as a winged snow leopard, a mythical bird, a stone flower and multi-coloured waves lapping at the walls of the Kremlin, the Host Cities have displayed their identity and individuality, while preserving a united passion for football. The temporary Russia 2018 emblem and the posters produced by the tournament’s Host Cities are designed to create a FIFA World Cup atmosphere early on while preparations are in progress, and to give supporters and indeed all Russians the chance to get a sense of how the tournament is drawing closer. An opinion poll commissioned by the Russia 2018 LOC and carried out by VTsIOM in 42 of the country’s regions suggested that Russians are following preparations for the FIFA World Cup with interest. Almost two-thirds of Russians, 65 per cent of those surveyed, are aware to at least some extent that Russia is preparing to host the world’s largest sporting event in 2018. Moreover, 89 per cent of those polled believe that our country will be able to organise and stage a successful tournament. “The World Cup is more than just 64 matches featuring the planet’s best national teams; it’s about the unbeatable atmosphere created by fans and volunteers, and the people living in the host cities,” said Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev, who was the first Russia 2018 ambassador to be appointed. The 26-year-old enthused that “as a Russia 2018 ambassador, I believe my main mission is to engage as many of Russia’s football supporters as possible in the preparations for this awesome event. In our country we have such hospitable and warm-hearted people that I am in no doubt: Russia will stage the best World Cup in history.” 2012 saw the start of full-scale preparations for FIFA’s flagship event. In March, the Russia 2018 LOC set up 'Arena-2018', a specialist organisation which will monitor and advise on stadium design and construction. The organisation will be making sure that the deadlines and successive stages of the design, construction and reconstruction of stadiums are met, and that FIFA’s requirements are observed. With six years still to go until the tournament, five stadiums are already being built – the arenas in Kazan, Saint Petersburg, Saransk and Sochi, and Spartak Moscow’s stadium. Work on the design of four arenas, in Volgograd, Ekaterinburg, Nizhny Novgorod and Rostov-on-Don, will begin before the end of the year. Also optimistic about Russia 2018 and the benefit it would have on the national game was the president of the Russian Football Union Nikolay Tolstykh, who had this to say: “Russian football is developing dynamically, and that’s something that lots of fans and specialists right around the world have pointed out. We have a strong national team, talented youngsters and competitive clubs. And there’s no doubt that staging the 2018 World Cup will help Russian football move to a fundamentally new level. There’ll be modern sports infrastructure, in the form of new stadiums, training sites and team bases. "Football will attract young specialists who, thanks to the World Cup, will already have experience of taking part in competition at the very highest level. In that sense, there isn’t any other event which brings as many benefits as the World Cup can bring. And it’s nice to see such effective work from the Russia 2018 LOC, which has a superb and productive relationship with the Russian Football Union.” Russia’s national team coach Fabio Capello, who has begun the qualification cycle for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil with four confident victories, was equally enthusiastic about the potential benefits of Russia 2018. “The World Cup will provide major opportunities for the development of football in Russia. And I’m not just talking about new sports infrastructure, although of course that’s extremely important as a foundation for securing important victories. I’m talking about the national team putting on a successful performance in front of their supporters. The work to build that team is already under way, on the road to the 2014 World Cup. And as the manager of the national team, I can see a lot of potential in our young players, many of whom are capable of playing a leading role in the team in 2018,” he said. This year, experts from the Russia 2018 LOC have been involved in drawing up a list of the facilities to be included in the investment programme which will provide funds to develop the infrastructure required for the tournament. This programme will help make the tournament as successful as possible and ensure there is a legacy for many generations of Russians to come. From the moment tournament preparations began, the Russia 2018 LOC has been receiving huge support from the Russian government. The drawing-up of draft federal legislation on the FIFA World Cup provides evidence of this support. In late September, the bill was tabled for consideration by the State Duma and was passed in its first reading. “The opening match of the World Cup is still five-and-a-half years away, but the LOC and the host cities are already engaged in preparing for the tournament, said the CEO of the Russia 2018 LOC Alexey Sorokin. “We have a full understanding of FIFA’s requirements in terms of World Cup infrastructure and operations. We are set to examine other countries’ experiences of hosting major events, in particular the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2014 FIFA World Cup, both of which will be taking place in Brazil. Time is one of our advantages, and we intend to make use of it to put together a World Cup which will make all of Russia’s football fans proud,” he added, in summing up the LOC’s work in 2012. http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/russia2018/news/newsid=1960668

Russia drawing up major infrastructure programme for 2018 (LOC) Friday 30 November 2012 Vitaly Mutko, chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ and Russia's Sports Minister, held a series of meetings in Moscow 27-30 November with the heads of all 11 regions which will be hosting matches during Russia 2018. The meetings were attended by the heads of regional ministries involved in preparations for the tournament, the chief executives of city councils, experts from the Russia 2018 LOC and representatives of the relevant federal ministries and government departments. The aim of the meetings was to draw up an exact list of the facilities to be included in the investment programme which will provide funds to develop the infrastructure required for the tournament. The list of facilities included in the investment programme includes stadiums, training sites, team bases, airports, road infrastructure, hotels, security infrastructure, public utility and medical infrastructure, communications and information technology infrastructure, environmental facilities and the facilities required for the fan festivals. In total, the preliminary list for the investment programme covers around 1,000 facilities. The final list of facilities which will receive funds under the investment programme will be submitted to the Russian government for its consideration. The investment programme is scheduled to be approved in the spring of 2013. "We've got a lot of work to do to put the infrastructure in place by the 2018 World Cup," Mutko told the meeting in his welcoming address. "Delivering this programme successfully will guarantee a massive legacy in the form of modern sports, transport and general infrastructure for many generations of Russians. But making sure that the infrastructure is used effectively once the tournament is over is something we need to concern ourselves with right now, while the facilities are still being planned and designed," he added. In selecting facilities and projects for inclusion in the investment programme, specialists from the Ministry of Sport and the Russia 2018 LOC focused on striking a balance between considerations of cost, tournament quality and legacy. As a result, the designs for the stadiums in some of the host cities will be based on using prefabricated structures, in order to meet the capacity requirements for the 2018 FIFA World Cup stadiums. These structures will be dismantled once the tournament is over, so that stadium capacities can be reduced to reflect the requirements of the host cities. The same approach will be applied to the reconstruction of airports in a number of cities. In order to ensure the required throughout capacity, organisers are considering using temporary passenger terminals. At the same time, the host cities will draw on the experience of organisers of other major other sporting events which took a similar approach to infrastructure development. In particular, as part of the 'Observer' programme, representatives of the Russian host cities visited Kharkiv during UEFA EURO 2012 in order to study arrangements for a temporary terminal at the local airport. The development of a major investment programme was one of the most important outcomes of 2012 for all those taking part in preparations for Russia 2018, along with the announcement of the host cities for the tournament. The investment programme to develop the infrastructure required for Russia 2018 will help make the tournament as successful as possible. http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/russia2018/news/newsid=1960159/index.html

Bomb Squad Called to World Cup Arena Spartak stadium (archive) © RIA Novosti. Ramil Sitdikov 20:37 26/11/2012 MOSCOW, November 26 (R-Sport) - Bomb squad officers have been called to the site of a World Cup 2018 stadium in Moscow after construction workers found an object thought to be an unexploded aerial bomb. The device was found less than 300 meters from the Spartak stadium’s south stand during work to build the 43,000-capacity stadium. “A device similar to an aerial bomb has been found,” a statement on the stadium’s official website said. “Stadium employees are awaiting the arrival of specialists in defusing aerial bombs. A police cordon is around the bomb.” Work on the stadium had not been interrupted, the statement said. Moscow was bombed by the German air force during Second World War battles near the then-Soviet capital in late 1941 and early 1942. Last month, a construction worker at the site died in a fall. The arena in northwest Moscow is scheduled to be completed next year, and has been proposed as a venue for the 2017 Confederations Cup. RIA Novosti

Flare Spat Won't Affect Russia 2018 - Minister Anton Shunin © RIA Novosti. Vladimir Fedorenko 13:34 24/11/2012 MOSCOW, November 23 (R-Sport) - Russia's sports minister insists the country's World Cup 2018 plans won't be blown off track by a controversial flare-throwing incident that has shaken Russian football to the core. Champions Zenit St. Petersburg are appealing a default 3-0 defeat handed down by the Russian FA after their league match with Dynamo Moscow was abandoned when Dynamo goalkeeper Anton Shunin was injured by a flare thrown from the crowd. It brought football hooliganism under the spotlight once again in a country that is preparing to stage the sport's marquee event in 2018, but Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko called for calm. "This cannot influence the 2018 World Cup," he said in televised comments. "It affects the image of the country - everything we do affects the image of our country. But on the issue of organizing the World Cup, here we can be absolutely calm." Zenit's general director Maxim Mitrofanov has threatened to pull the club out of the championship over the decision, which also saw the club fined and ordered to play two home games behind closed doors. Dynamo were also fined and told to play one game without spectators. Referring to the Shunin incident, FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke said in St. Petersburg earlier this week that "I can assure you nothing like this will happen at the World Cup." Police have arrested a female fan they suspect of throwing the smoke bomb that injured Shunin. The Russian government is trying to push through legislation that would toughen sanctions for football hooligans. RIA NOVOSTI

Russia 2018 to Attract More Visitors than Brazil Alexei Sorokin © RIA Novosti. Alexander Utkin 15:50 22/11/2012 MOSCOW, November 22 (R-Sport) - Russia is set to attract more fans from abroad than South Africa did in 2010 or Brazil will in 2014, organizers for the 2018 edition said Thursday. Alexei Sorokin, head of the organizing committee, said up to 1 million foreign supporters were expected to attend the games in 11 cities. "It's hard to predict the exact figures until the draw is made," Sorokin said. "But we are expecting very good attendances." FIFA had assured Sorokin's team that "more foreigners will come to Russia than traveled to South Africa and will travel to Brazil," and Sorokin explained why. "It's not far from South America, Asia is our neighbor, and Europe's right next door," he said. Sorokin said foreign fans are expected to make up one-third of the overall stadium audiences. About half a million supporters traveled to South Africa in 2010 - far fewer than originally expected - while Brazil has said it expects upwards of 600,000 visitors in 2014. RIA NOVOSTI

Tokyo 2020 sizing up London 2012 and looking for comparibles Sports Features Communications November 16 – A high level delegation from the Tokyo 2020 bid is also attending the London 2012 debrief in Rio November 17-21 as many of the pointers from last summer’s successful Olympics will be brought to light. The focus of the fact finding mission will be to find the parallels between the two cities that will enhance the Tokyo bid plan they will consign to the IOC on January 7th. The Tokyo team will be led by ceo and Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) Vice President, Masato Mizuno, together with Tokuaki Suzuki, Tokyo 2020 Deputy Director General of International Relations and Communications, Itaru Fukuda, Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) Senior Director for Venues Planning, Akiko Nagano, TMG Deputy Director of Planning Division, Kenji Manaka, TMG Senior Staff Member of Planning Division, and Koji Nakamura, as well as TMG Staff Member for Venues Planning. "We know based on what we saw first-hand in London this Summer that when a world-class capital city hosts an event such as the Olympic Games, infrastructure that is already in place is tried and tested,” said ceo Mizuno. “In addition, of course, new buildings and temporary venues must be ready on-time and on-budget. Thousands of volunteers must be in place to help make the Games, and spectator engagement must be primed. “Most would agree that the London Games were outstanding. Just as London was ready nearly seven years ago, Tokyo is ready to deliver a spectacular celebration in the heart of one of the world's most dynamic cities." The debrief will target three main areas: Vision development & implementation; Product and experience; and Delivering the Games. Mizuno added, "We are delighted to attend the IOC Debriefing of the London 2012 Games, and appreciate the invitation from the IOC. Having the chance to meet face-to-face with the LOCOG members will enable us to grasp exactly what is expected from the Host City, and we intend to demonstrate what sets Tokyo 2020 apart. “The Olympic Family's insights will be invaluable as we finalise our Candidature File, and we anticipate that many of our concepts will be validated based on the information shared in Rio." Tokyo, Istanbul and Madrid are all three bidding for the chance to host the 2020 summer Olympics. The IOC will convene in Buenos Aires in September to choose their final winner. sportsfeatures

Sad news Russian worker killed at site of 2018 World Cup stadium Tuesday, 13 November 2012 By Duncan Mackay November 13 - A Russian builder was killed today after a crane collapsed at the construction site of the 2018 FIFA World Cup stadium in Kazan, local authorities said. The 25-year-old man was using the crane as a platform to carry out work when the part he was standing on detached and sent him falling 35 metres to his death. "At 2.40 Moscow time on November 13 at the site of the under-construction football stadium on Chistopolskaya Street in Kazan, the boom of a crane broke off," the regional Investigative Committee said in a statement. "As a result, a 25-year-old builder died." Last month, a 48-year-old steel worker was killed at the site of the new Spartak Moscow stadium, another World Cup stadium. The arena in Kazan will host football at next year's Universiade Games and will serve as the home ground of local club side Rubin Kazan. insideworldfootball

Interesting design , I would like to see stadium like this become a reality somewhere but I don't think they will choose it

RFU look to maximise on World Cup legacy after learning from mistakes of 2003 By ALEX LOWE PUBLISHED: 00:16 GMT, 1 November 2012 | UPDATED: 10:01 GMT, 1 November 2012 The Rugby Football Union have learned the lessons from 2003 and tonight launched plans to maximise the legacy of hosting the 2015 Rugby World Cup on home soil. When England returned triumphant from Australia nine years ago, the RFU were not ready to deal with the immediate spike in interest in the sport. There were not, for example, enough coaches in the grass-roots game to handle the upsurge in participation numbers and the RFU are determined not to make the same mistake again. \ Making it count: RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie, England's World Cup winner Jason Leonard and Rugby Development Director Steve Grainger with the Webb Ellis trophy With three years to go until the Rugby World Cup final at Twickenham, the RFU revealed a seven-point plan to make 'the oval ball the ball of choice' in England. 'The key learning from 2003 was that we didn't plan in advance. The coaches and referees just weren't there,' said Steve Grainger, the RFU's development director. 'That is absolutely what we are doing now.' The RFU will invest £25million into 500 grass-roots clubs and a further £1million into qualifying 6,500 new referees and coaches and bringing 5,000 volunteers into the game. The All Schools programme is aimed at giving a million children a chance to play rugby, with a target of introducing the sport to 750 secondary state schools by 2019. Missed opportunity: England missed the chance to capitalise on Sir Clive Woodward's 2003 World Cup winning side 'The World Cup in 1991 was in England and we saw how the public's perception of rugby changed," said Jason Leonard, who played in that tournament and eventually won the World Cup in 2003. 'But with the legacy planning for this World Cup, we are going to hit the ground running. It is getting volunteers and clubs involved. 'I think this will be the best ever World Cup and we have got to make sure we push that all the way through. This is a great opportunity for English rugby.' Although the RFU are looking to use the 2015 World Cup to spread the game and capture new players and supporters, it is unlikely that England will play any Test matches away from Twickenham in the build-up to the tournament. 'We need to look at methods of engaging with the World Cup around the country over the next three years. We have to think about ways of creating interest and getting people excited,' said RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie. 'We have to look at where do England play, when do they play? You would never say never but there is a strong financial reason why England matches are played at Twickenham. 'It is not just as easy as taking a match somewhere. There are all sorts of other things we can look at for games beyond the England senior team.' Daily Mail

Host cities study Poland's EURO 2012 experience (FIFA.com) Monday 29 October 2012 © LOC Between 23 and 27 October, senior representatives from the regions and cities which will be hosting the FIFA World Cup Russia™ visited Poland's UEFA EURO 2012 host cities: Warsaw, Wroclaw and Gdansk. The delegation was in Poland to gain experience of how to organise a major football tournament. This was the first working visit since the Host Cities for the 2018 FIFA World Cup were announced in late September. The trip gave representatives of the Russian cities the opportunity to talk to their Polish counterparts at seminars and meetings, and also to ask questions about tournament preparations. The Russian delegation also visited the tournament stadiums, the venues for the fan fests, the training bases and hotels where players and guests stayed during EURO 2012, major transport hubs and other tournament infrastructure. A key aspect of the visit was a seminar in Warsaw, entitled "From the European Championships to the FIFA World Cup - Poland's experience". The seminar was attended by the head of the EURO 2012 office in Poland, Dariusz Buza; the director of the office for security and crisis management, Ewa Gawor; a Polish deputy foreign minister, Beata Stelmach; the chairman of the PL.2012 association, Marcin Herra; and representatives of companies involved in the planning and staging of the tournament. "We're very pleased to welcome representatives of the 2018 FIFA World Cup host cities toPoland, and to share our experience of hosting EURO 2012. We will be happy to help our Russian friends in every way as they prepare for the World Cup, and we will give their endeavours our wholehearted support," said Beata Stelmach, one of Poland's deputy foreign ministers. This visit forms part of the process of studying the experience accumulated by Poland and Ukraine in planning and staging EURO 2012. Representatives of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Host Cities had previously been to Poland and Ukraine just before and also during the tournament. http://www.fifa.com/...8975/index.html

It's official now Fernando, logo launch will be in spring next year UEFA EURO 2016 steering group meets in Paris Published: Tuesday 23 October 2012, 16.52CET UEFA President Michel Platini said the second meeting of the UEFA EURO 2016 steering group in Paris had gone "very well" with good progress reported on ongoing projects. UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino, UEFA President Michel Platini and FFF president Noël Le Graët at the second meeting of the UEFA EURO 2016 steer The UEFA EURO 2016 steering group has held its second meeting in Paris, the capital city of host country France. Set up in April 2011, the steering group for the tournament in four years' time comprises the four major organisational stakeholders: UEFA, the French Football Federation (FFF), the French government and the host cities. It is a forum for discussion and for ensuring that information on the progress of key organisational projects is shared. Two or three meetings a year are envisaged. The steering group consists of: UEFA President Michel Platini; Jacques Lambert, president of EURO 2016 SAS; UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino; UEFA Deputy General Secretary Theodore Theodoridis; Borislav Mihaylov, UEFA Executive Committee member and president of the Bulgarian Football Union (BFS); Peter Gilliéron, UEFA Executive Committee member and president of the Swiss Football Association (SFV-ASF); Noël Le Graët, president of the French Football Federation (FFF); Valérie Fourneyron, French minister of sport, youth, education for all and community life; Maurice Vincent, chairman of the Club des Sites (host city association) and chairman of Saint-Étienne Métropole. Martin Kallen, director of operations for UEFA Events and CEO of EURO 2016 SAS, has observer status. The final round of UEFA EURO 2016 will be staged in France – the third time that the country has hosted the tournament – from mid-June to 10 July 2016. The field is being increased from 16 to 24 teams, and the tournament will feature 51 matches – 20 more than at UEFA EURO 2012 in Poland and Ukraine. Fifty-two national associations will contest the qualifying competition, and France qualify directly as host country. The qualifying draw will take place at the Palais des Congres Acropolis in Nice on 9 March 2014. "The meeting went very well," said Michel Platini. "After a general survey of the various projects, we decided notably that the final round draw will take place at the Palais des Congrès de la Porte Maillot in Paris in December 2015, and that the International Broadcast Centre (IBC) will be located at the Parc des Expositions at la Porte de Versailles in Paris. We were also informed about the latest developments concerning the stadiums, and the French association will provide the definitive list of venues for the UEFA Executive Committee meeting on 24 January 2013." UEFA EURO 2016 is the catalyst for a huge modernisation programme that will give France a new generation of sports infrastructures. "The state is placing enormous importance on the event, and we are truly proud to be organising EURO 2016," said sports minister Valérie Fourneyron. "We want to unite the entire nation around the tournament. The EURO represents a legacy for tomorrow for the entire country, as well as for our youth." The ten French cities selected to hold matches at UEFA EURO 2016 are Bordeaux, Lens, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Paris, Saint-Denis, Saint-Etienne and Toulouse. The host cities have formed the Club des Sites, the host cities' association. An estimated 2.5 million supporters are expected in the stadiums, compared with 1.4 million for UEFA EURO 2012. The prospect of staging UEFA EURO 2016 has given rise to an ambitious stadium construction and renovation project for the stadiums where final-round matches will be played. "The association's role is to provide nine stadiums," said FFF president Le Graët. "Currently we have ten, and we will be within the schedule. I am delighted that work for the Lyon project has begun, and that the Lens regional authorities have decided to be involved in the renovation of that stadium." UEFA – the competition rights holder – and the FFF have set up a joint venture, EURO 2016 SAS. Responsibility for the operational organisation of the tournament has been delegated to this company under a single directorate. EURO 2016 SAS is a company under French law, with the legal form of a simplified joint stock company, owned 95% by UEFA and 5% by the FFF. UEFA has two direct organisational tasks – sports-related organisation of the tournament (schedule, disciplinary matters, refereeing, doping controls, etc.) and marketing and management of the event-related commercial rights (audiovisual, marketing, licensing, hospitality, tickets). The FFF is responsible for private security for the tournament, while EURO 2016 SAS is responsible all other operational tasks on behalf of UEFA and the FFF. UEFA EURO 2016 timetable Spring 2013: Launch of the tournament logo and branding 9 March 2014: Draw for the qualifying competition September 2014: Start of the qualifying competition June 2015: 'One year to go' events December 2015: Draw for the final round March 2016: Finalists' workshop Mid-June 2016: Opening match 10 July 2016: Final http://www.uefa.com/...id=1879680.html All euro-2016 stadiums will be ready - Platini October 23 2012 at 05:35pm Paris - All stadiums selected to host matches in the 2016 European Championships will be ready in time, UEFA president Michel Platini insisted Tuesday. “The federation will deliver them,” Platini said alongside fellow steering committee members, organising committee head Jacques Lambert, French football federation head Noel Le Graet, French Sports Minister Valerie Fourneyron, and Maurice Vincent, the mayor of St Etienne acting as representative of the host cities. “Euro-2012 is finished, long live Euro-2016,” Platini said, adding: “But pay attention, people badmouthed Ukraine and Poland but in the end it was a success beyond all expectations. They set the bar very high.” Federation head Le Graet played down any fears over the stadiums, specifically in Lyon and Lens. “Lyon will be completed. It's a stadium that is indispensable for French football,” Le Graet said of the planned 'Stade des Lumieres' (stadium of light). “I'm very happy that work has got under way and I think it will be ready on time,” which should be mid-2015, according to Lyon club president Jean-Michel Aulas. Le Graet added that concerns over the Lens stadium had been resolved, and that the eight other sites (Paris - Parc des Princes, Saint-Denis - Stade de France, Lille, Saint-Etienne, Marseille, Nice, Bordeaux and Toulouse) posed “no problem”. The draw for the qualifying campaign for Euro 2016 will take place in Nice on March 9, 2014. The qualifying phase for the tournament will run from September 2014 to November 2015. http://www.iol.co.za...62#.UIe2csXfDtk

Russia may simplify visa regulations for 2018 World Cup Image via elbrustours.ru Oct 21, 2012 MOSCOW, Russia - Russia law makers would considering more simplified visa regulations for foreigners related to the 2018 World Cup, a travel industry union said Sunday. A bill has been presented to the State Duma, or lower house of the parliament for the visa-free discussion, Russian Union of the Travel Industry said. The bill allowed foreign citizens involving in organizing and conducting the World Cup and the 2017 Confederations' Cup to skip the consular procedures and fees related to the visas, Yury Barzykin, Vice President of the union told local media. Meanwhile, certain kinds of foreigners, especially those participating in the games, could enter Russia during the competition period without getting a visa if certain documents are provided in advance, the bill suggested. Moreover, the bill would give certain foreigners the right of free travels between Russian host cities of the World Cup. For example, a ticket to a game of the World Cup could be taken as a "travel document," Interfax news agency quoted Barzykin as saying. The bill, if approved by the State Duma, would help boost the sports tourism in Russia during the World Cup years and encourage more sports fans and travelers to visit the country, Barzykin said. Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said previously that Russia would speed up preparations for the World Cup following the unveiling of the 11 host cities. The International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) and Russia last month announced 11 host cities of the World Cup, which include Kaliningrad, St. Petersburg, Moscow, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Saransk, Samara, Yekaterinburg, Rostov-on-Don, Volgograd and Sochi. Russia pledged to hold "a high quality championships" with full-scale preparation works, Mutko said. http://www.eturbonew...-2018-world-cup

KAZAN READY TO BOOST AQUATICS IN RUSSIA Kazan, the Russian city that will host the 2015 FINA World Championships, is ideally equipped to give aquatics a perfect launch pad in Russia, according to Vladimir Leonov, the director general of the 2013 Universiade, the next major sporting event to take place in the country. The ambitious Russian city is playing a major role in a decade of huge sporting events to take place in the country. Next year, during the torch relay ahead of the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Kazan will be the destination for the high-profile New Year’s Eve celebrations, and the city will also host football matches during the 2018 FIFA World Cup. In 2015, Kazan will stage FINA’s flagship event, the World Championships and, according to Leonov, visiting aquatics fans will be in for a treat after the facilities are given a test run during the Universiade, which is organized for university athletes. “The Universiade swimming tournament will be held at the Aquatics Palace,” Leonov said. “It’s a state-of-the-art venue, the construction of which largely contributed to Kazan’s winning of the 2015 FINA World Championships. “The Aquatics Palace is being constructed in full conformity with FINA’s requirements. We will use the Universiade swimming event to test operations ahead of the World Aquatics Championships so that we will be all set and perfectly ready to host them.” Aside from swimming events, the multi-sport Universiade will also stage water polo and synchronised swimming next year. Leonov believes the rapid rate of development in the Russian city will allow participants in various aquatics disciplines to enjoy a positive legacy after the Universiade and then beyond the FINA World Championships two years later. “Kazan is the sports capital of Russia and it gained its unofficial title in many respects thanks to winning the bid to host the 2013 Summer Universiade and the construction activities that have unfolded,” he said. “If there was only one large swimming pool before Kazan embarked on the preparations for the Games, today sports complexes with swimming pools are built across the entire city. It’s important for us to make these venues accessible to people; children and students play sports there, children and youth swimming lessons are regularly held. “Aquatics is becoming more and more popular among citizens and in many ways it’s a positive impact of our work. We think that after being staged at a new venue and in a new host city, the FINA World Championships will promote aquatic sports throughout the world, especially since it boasts one of largest TV audiences in the world.” As a precursor to the 2015 FINA World Championships, the 2012 FINA Convention will take place in Moscow, just a one-hour flight from Kazan. The convention will run from October 29 to November 1. The future for the Russian city in the international sporting arena looks positive, and Leonov expressed his confidence that “mega sporting events” such as the FINA World Championships will help to lift the profile of the Russian city to unprecedented heights and will “contribute to the social and economic development of Russia”. “We still have a lot to do, but we know that we are on the right track,” he said. http://aquaticsconve...atics-in-russia

Arena-2018 gears up for major work (FIFA.com) Thursday 11 October 2012 © LOC A working meeting took place in Moscow on 10 September 2012 between management of theRussia 2018 Local Organising Committee, Arena-2018 and Charles R. Botta, FIFA's leading consultant on stadium construction and design. The meeting focused on mapping out collaboration between Arena-2018 and the FIFA technical group responsible for monitoring timetables and schedules for the design, construction and reconstruction of stadiums for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™, as well as for monitoring compliance with FIFA requirements. At the meeting, representatives from Arena-2018 presented their most up-to-date information on the design and construction of stadiums for the FIFA World Cup. Those attending discussed the monitoring of stadium preparations ahead of the tournament. "Arranging accountability and communication between all sides is a key issue in our work because, during the design and construction process, the Host Cities will be asking a huge number of questions, and it's very important for us to speak the same language," explained Botta. "I'd like to say that I was really impressed with the outcome of the meeting. The Russia2018 Local Organising Committee and Arena-2018 have made excellent preparations and started this important work. In December 2012, representatives and consultants from Arena-2018, along with experts from FIFA's technical group, will be paying inspection visits to the tournament's Host Cities. And the following month, January 2013, they will present their first joint report to FIFA. "We already have things we can present to FIFA. Five of the stadiums for the tournament are already under construction: Spartak Moscow's arena and the stadiums in Sochi, Kazan, Saransk and St Petersburg," said Botta following the meeting. "In terms of the objectives facing all the people involved in the process, at this stage I would say it's about the Host Cities accepting Arena-2018 as their partner in getting the stadiums ready for the tournament." “Russia, like any country, has its own construction assessments and procedures,” he continued. “The lines of communication need to be put in place with the cities, and then it will be easier to make sure that the interests of all sides are taken into account, while observing FIFA's timetables and requirements. That's how it was in Germany and in South Africa, that's how we're working at the moment in Brazil, and I'm sure that we'll also be able to do the same in Russia." Arena-2018 was founded by the Russia 2018 LOC in April 2012. The organisation is responsible for monitoring the design, construction and rebuilding of the stadiums and ensure that FIFA requirements are met. http://www.fifa.com/...newsid=1783138/

Kuban Krasnodar fans protest 2018 World Cup hosting snub By Andrew Warshaw October 8 - Fans of Russian Premier League club Kuban Krasnodar have written to both Russian President Vladimir Putin and FIFA boss Sepp Blatter protesting that their city was not chosen as one of the host venues for the 2018 World Cup. The southern city of Krasnodar, which boasts two clubs, FC Krasnodar and Kuban, in Russia's top flight, was overlooked last week when FIFA and Russia 2018 selected the 11 cities that will host the 32-team tournament. Saransk, the smallest of the contenders and with little football tradition, was considered an outsider but made the list at the expense of Krasnodar. "We would like to express our outrage regarding the decision to exclude Krasnodar from the list of host cities for the 2018 World Cup," the Kuban fans said in an open letter addressed to Putin, Blatter and Russia 2018 chairman Vitaly Mutko. "We also express our mistrust in those officials who had been in charge of picking the host cities. "There is no other city in Russia where the number one sport is as popular as it is here. "Despite the fact that Krasnodar's population is only 750,000 and our club has never won any major trophies, our 30,000-seat stadium has always been filled to capacity. " http://www.insidewor...up-hosting-snub

Russia 2018 sets visa-free regime for World Cup ticket holders By Andrew Warshaw October 9 - Russia 2018 has reiterated plans to scrap visa requirements for fans – provided they have FIFA World Cup tickets Alexander Djordjadze, deputy chief executive and international relations director of Russia 2018, made the pledge during a special event in Moscow. "We [have] offered the Government a project on the visa-free regime for all those possessing tickets," said Djordjadze. "During the event, fans will be allowed to use their tickets as permits to visit the championship's host cities and those in the European part of Russia, including Kaliningrad and Yekaterinburg, on a free-of-charge basis." ... http://www.insidewor...-world-cup-fans