By David Gold
June 12 – A new session looking at the social impact of the 2018 World Cup on Russia, which will feature a number of high profile speakers including former Russian national team captain Alexey Smertin, has been announced for the Inside World Football Moscow Forum, entitled “The Social Context: Will the World Cup change Russia?”
This discussion will look at how Russia can use the World Cup to alter its perception abroad and influence change domestically.
The World Cup should initiate a raft of social programmes and volunteering opportunities, and these have the potential to transform Russian society in the long term, which the session will discuss.
Speaking on this panel will be former Russian national team captain Smertin, who enjoyed an illustrious playing career for Lokomotiv Moscow, Bordeaux, Fulham and Chelsea among others.
He will be discussing how to engage more closely with supporters, as well as on the issue of hooliganism.
Smertin is joined by Peter Lidov, the director of public relations at Russian mobile phone operator MegaFon and Szymon Konop, key ppojects audit manager for Euro 2012 in Poland.
Lidov will be talking about the work MegaFon do throughout Russia to support childrens’ homes via the medium of sport, whilst Konop will discuss how volunteering and other social benefits can be achieved through hosting the World Cup, drawing on the long term legacy Poland expects to enjoy from jointly hosting next year’s European Championships with Ukraine.
The panel will be moderated by Weber Shandwick chairman and chief executive Colin Byrne.
For more details on the Inside World Football Moscow Forum, please click·here.
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