By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
March 18 – Vladimir Putin (pictured) is being urged to reprise his successful role in bringing the 2014 Olympics to Sochi and personally lead Russia’s bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup in December.
First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov, the man put in charge by Putin of Russia’s Bid Committee, has claimed his presence at the crucial FIFA vote in Zurich on December 2 could dramatically increase the country’s chances of being selected ahead of the other European candidates, England and joint bids from Belgium/Netherlands and Spain/Portugal.
Shuvalov said: ”You, Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin], have along with others received the invitation to take a relevant part in the ceremony.
“Everyone remembers your work when submitting our 2014 Sochi bid.”
Sochi were considered the outsiders in July 2007 to host the Olympics behind the favourites, Pyeongchang from South Korea.
But a flying visit to Guatemala City on the eve of the vote was instrumental in persuading members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to back Russia’s bid and award the Games instead to Sochi.
Putin the took the unprecedented step of addressing the IOC in English.
Putin, meanwhile, is urging Shuvalov to make sure that Russia has everything ready for its presentation.
He told him: ”You had better start now, don’t wait until the [necessary] paperwork arrives.”
Shuvalov said Russia’s detailed bid book would be sent to FIFA on May 14.
The World Cup host should have 11 to 12 stadiums capable of housing 40,000 people and one capable of housing 80,000.
Moscow’s Luzhniki stadium, which hosted the 1980 Olympics and the venue for Manchester United’s victory over Chelsea in the Champions League final in 2008, is the closest to the requirement with a current capacity of 78,000.
Russia intends to build several stadiums to meet the requirements.
Five World Cup-level stadiums are to be ready by 2013 – two in Moscow and one apiece in St. Petersburg, Kazan and Sochi.
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