By David Gold
October 5 – Saransk in Russia is gearing up to be transformed for the FIFA World Cup in 2018, with $2 billion (£1.2 billion/€1.5 billion) set to be invested in what is the smallest city hosting matches during the tournament.
The figure being invested is a tenth of the overall budget for the World Cup, which Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko, also the chairman of Russia 2018, revealed had doubled at the weekend.
The city, which has a population of 300,000, and was one of those uncertain to be selected for the World Cup prior to last Saturday’s (September 29) announcement by FIFA.
However, it beat Krasnodar and Yaroslavl to win the right to host matches.
“It’s not only Saransk that will be transformed, but the entire republic,” said a statement from the Government of the republic of Mordovia, of which Saransk is the capital.
“The sources of finance will be the federal and regional budgets and also private investment.”
The investment will transform all federal highways, upgrade rail infrastructure and the city’s airport – which will require a temporary terminal.
The upgrades are planned to help World Cup commuters travel to Moscow in five hours by rail.
Vladimir Volkov, the Governor of Mordovia, said: “The town is well arranged, the people are very hospitable.
“Economy-class student housing, a stadium, all this will appear for the World Cup.”
Saransk is also constructing a new 45,000-capacity stadium for the tournament, which will reduce in size after the World Cup.
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