Russia World Cup bid books stolen in South Africa

By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year

June 15 – Russia had two volumes of its bid book for the 2018 World Cup stolen during a special Expo held attended by Romam Abramovich and David Beckham in Johannesburg last week, they have revealed.

The books, which continued technical data on Russia’s bid and the proposed social and global legacy if they are chosen to host the tournament, were stolen from a display cabinet at the Sandton Convention Centre at the Bidders Expo, which was attended by several major stars, also including Andrei Arshavin, Johan Cruyff and Ruud Gullit.

“They were lying on an illuminated stand, and visitors were allowed to touch them and look through,” Alexei Sorokin, the bid’s chief executive said in an interview with the Russian newspaper Rossiiskaya Gazeta.

“As a result, two volumes were stolen.

“The introductory volume and the volume devoted to stadiums disappeared.

“The same thing with the Dutch bid, by the way.

“Two volumes of the bid book were stolen from them, too.”

But Sorokin dismissed fears that Russia’s bid would be damaged by the theft.

“We have 500 copies of them,” he said.

“Two volumes of one copy were stolen.

“All participants had something missing from their display stands.

“It’s just a laughable incident and nothing more.”

With the 2018 World Cup almost certain to head for Europe, Russia have emerged as the favourites ahead of England and the joint bids from the Netherlands and Belgium and Spain and Portugal.

“I think, the Russian and British [sic] got most of the attention,” said Sorokin.

“The British had Beckham, we had [First Deputy Prime Minister Igor] Shuvalov, Abramovich and Arshavin.

“And also top sports officials, namely [Sports Minister Vitaly] Mutko and [Education Minister Andrei] Fursenko.”

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