Mutko confident of Russian success as FIFA inspectors arrive

By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year

August 16 – Russia will do everything possible to host the World Cup in either 2018 or 2022, the country’s Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko vowed as FIFA’s inspection team arrived in St Petersburg to begin its four-day visit.

The delegation will visit St. Petersburg, Moscow, Kazan and Sochi during its stay.

The group, led by Harold Mayne-Nicholls of Chile, was welcomed at St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport by Mutko, the chairman of the Bid, who is also Russia’s Minister for Sports, Tourism and Youth Policy, Sergei Fursenko, the President of the Russian Football Union (RFU), and Alexey Sorokin, the Bid’s chief executive.

Mutko who, like Fursenko, hails from St Petersburg, was delighted to welcome the FIFA Inspection Group to his home town and to Russia.

“The essence of this visit is to go to four cities of our bid, which are Saint Petersburg, Moscow, Kazan and Sochi, in order to see on site what we have written in our Bid Book and to check again the facts and numbers we have given,” Mutko said.

“This will allow us to demonstrate Russia’s and the cities’ capabilities.

“We are determined and willing to host the FIFA World Cup and able to fulfil the requirements.

“We are eager to bring the World Cup to Russia.

“I believe we will succeed in this task.

“We are looking forward to a good and fruitful visit.”

The inspection group travelled on to Smolny Palace, the City Hall, for a presentation on the Host City.

Mayne-Nicholls (pictured right) told the Russian welcome party: ”Our team is very happy to be here in your country during four days for a learning process.

“We will be pleased and honoured to visit the four cities to be inspected.

“We will be asking for all the information necessary for an objective and realistic report which will be submitted to the members of the FIFA Executive Committee.

“We are ready to inspect.”

The opening day schedule also included a visit to the construction site of the World Cup Stadium in St. Petersburg, a walk on the iconic Palace Square, selected as a fan fest site and a tour of Mariinsky Theatre, which is proposed as the venue for the preliminary draw.

Tomorrow, the inspection tour will continue in Moscow, followed by visits to Kazan and Sochi on Wednesday (August 18) and back to Moscow on Thursday (August 19) before returning to Zurich.

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