(ATR) Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin promises FIFA inspectors his country will waive visa requirements for players and fans if it is successful in its bid for the 2018 World Cup.
"We are ready to give additional governmental guarantees regarding the visa-free regime for participants and guests of the World Cup," Putin was quoted by Russian media today.
Putin's comments came on Tuesday during a meeting with FIFA inspectors in Moscow, the second day of their four-day visit. Yesterday, they spent time in Saint Petersburg touring venues and listening to presentations from bid officials.
Russia has previous experience of waiving visa entry requirements for football. Visa restrictions were lifted by the Russian government for Manchester United and Chelsea fans with tickets for the UEFA 2008 Champions League final that took place at Moscow's Luznhiki Stadium.
Putin also vowed today that all the host football stadiums listed in Russia's bid book - 13 of the 16 proposed stadiums are new venues - would be built or renovated regardless of whether it won the 2018 bid race. England, Holland-Belgium, Spain-Portugal and USA are also vying to stage the tournament.
"We will reconstruct and build all the same major facilities, which should be used for the World Cup, regardless of whether or not we are granted the right to host the World Cup," Putin was quoted by Itar-Tass.
Under Russia's bid book plans, the World Cup would be hosted in 13 cities grouped in four clusters as part of efforts to limit the distances fans would need to travel between venues.
The Russian government is preparing to invest billions in developing the country's football stadium infrastructure. Funding of new stadiums and renovations will also come from private investors and municipal sources.
Of the 16 stadia, four venues in the Moscow area would stage games. The showpiece would be Luzhniki Stadium, located at the centre of Moscow’s 145-hectare Olympic complex, which would host the opening match, a semi-final and the final.
"There is much to be done, but it is good from the FIFA point of view," Putin said in remarks that underlined the potential legacy benefits of a FIFA World Cup in Russia. "I refer to the football development in this part of the world, including Russia."
He told FIFA inspectors the stadiums in Moscow "are already under reconstruction... you have already seen the stadium reconstruction in Saint Petersburg".
The Russian premier said the World Cup bid committee would need "your permanent assistance and support, consultative and friendly... as we are doing with the International Olympic Committee during preparations for the Sochi Olympics-2014".
"The World Cup in all other countries and in Russia to a higher degree will contribute to the infrastructure development of sports in general and football in particular," Putin was quoted by Itar-Tass.
"This meets fully the FIFA philosophy when taking such decisions, World Cups have not been held in Eastern Europe at all," he underlined. "This event would be particularly important for this part of the world," Putin believes.
He also said Russia had the capability to hold the World Cup "at the highest organizational level".
On Wednesday, the FIFA commission led by Chilean FA president Harold Mayne-Nicholls travels to Kazan and Sochi.
Written by Mark Bisson.
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