STRELNA, July 25. /TASS/. Russia will do everything possible to make the 2018 FIFA World Cup a ‘grandiose sports event,’ Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with FIFA Head Sepp Blatter on Saturday.
"Mr. President, as I have promised you, we’ll do everything possible to ensure that those football players and fans both in our country and in the entire world who will come here will feel at home and those who will watch the event by television will feel that they are also present at a grandiose international sports event," Putin said at a meeting with Blatter ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Preliminary Draw.
The Russian authorities are glad to receive a representative delegation from the FIFA and various countries, Putin said.
"I know that large-scale preparatory work is being done for the World Championship. I’m very glad to have this opportunity to tell you about what Russia is doing to prepare for the 2018 World Cup," Putin said, addressing Blatter.
Russia is also glad to acquaint representatives of national football federations "with what we’re doing and how to ensure a high level of holding this large-scale international sports event," Putin said.
Russia won the bid to host the 2018 World Cup over four years ago in a tight race against the joint bid from England, Portugal and Spain and the joint bid on behalf of Belgium and the Netherlands.
Russia selected 11 host cities to be the venues for the matches of the 2018 World Cup and they are Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sochi, Kazan, Saransk, Kaliningrad, Volgograd, Rostov-on-Don, Nizhny Novgorod, Yekaterinburg and Samara.
The matches of the 2018 World Cup will be held between June 14 and July 15 at 12 stadiums located in the 11 mentioned above cities across Russia. Two of the stadiums are located in the Russian capital.
The traditional Preliminary Draw for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, to be held in 11 different cities across Russia in less than three years, kicked off with an astounding show in the country’s second largest city of St. Petersburg on Saturday night.
"I am glad to welcome you all here," Russian President Vladimir Putin said opening the ceremony of the draw along with FIFA President Sepp Blatter. "Today is the historic day for the sport number one in the world and it is the sport of football."
"Football is one of the most popular sports in Russia and all over the world," Putin said. "Our country has long and strong traditions of football. I am sure that we will be growing new talents. Russia’s organization of the 2018 FIFA World Cup will help to further popularize the sport of football in Russia."
"We will do everything to provide security at the championship," the Russian president said. "I would like to reiterate that all obligations undertaken by Russia will be implemented. I wish the good luck at the Preliminary Draw."
The draw for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Preliminary Competition will be held at the historic Konstantinovsky Palace, a stronghold of Russia’s rich culture located on the Gulf of Finland’s stunning shoreline. It used to serve in the 18th century as one of the residences of Russia’s imperial family.
A total of over 200 nations have signed up for the Preliminary Draw, which is the first major kick-off event ahead of the global tournament itself.
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