Two weeks after officially launching its bid for the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup™ in Moscow, Russia is driving forward its campaign with a well-noted presence in Kazan at the First Nationwide Sports Forum "Russia - a Country of Sports."
Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov, Sports Minister and RFU President Vitaly Mutko and Tatarstan Prime Minister Rustam Minnikhanov paid a visit on 22 October to the bid exhibition booth for an update on Russia's efforts to win the right to host the supreme football competition.
Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev formally opened the Forum on Friday 23 October with a key note address in a plenary session, congratulating Rubin Kazan for its recent Champions League away victory over holders Barcelona at Nou Camp. In his speech, Medvedev emphasized a number of topics, including sustained efforts for the development and improvement of youth sport, calling these matters as very important.
Major football development program already under way
Russian football has already embarked upon a major development program in this respect. As of 2005 the Football Union of Russia, together with the regional authorities, has been implementing a national investment project "Stadia for Kids", which allowed to improve the logistics and infrastructure for grassroots and youth amateur football within a very short period of time. Hundreds of football pitches with artificial turf were built in sports academies. To compare: in 2004 there were only 80 standard football pitches with artificial turf in Russia. In 2009 over 400 football pitches with artificial grass fulfilling the highest modern requirements are in existence.
$340 million investment
The approval of the federal program for football development on the governmental level has become a huge support to the football development all over the country. In accordance with this program over $340 million will be allocated from the federal budget until 2015 for the football development.
Football as social phenomenon
One of the strategy's priorities is the project "Football as social phenomenon". Through this project the Football Union of Russia supports disabled persons, children from lower-income families, orphans and veterans of Russian football. It establishes systems of social protection for acting and retired football players, system of motivation and awarding for football experts dealing with kids and youth as well as additional conditions for the professional growth of football coaches. Annual expenses for the implementation of this project amount to over 60 million Rubles.
For more information:
Russian Football Union Media Office
Phone: +7-495-926-13-00
Fax: +7-495-926-13-05
E-mail: info@rfs.ru
International Media Coordinator
Andreas Herren
Mobile: +41 (79) 799 0046
E-mail: andreas.herren@externuscomm.ch