Despite a "faltering economy," int'l tension over Ukraine and an investigation into its World Cup bid, Russia is "confident everything will be ready" by the time the World Cup kicks off on June 14, 2018, according to REUTERS. Sports Minister of Tatarstan Republic Vladimir Leonov said, "The dream will come true." Russian organizers said that their tournament "will be delivered as planned." Of the 12 stadiums being built or updated, "from the exclave of Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea to Yekaterinburg on the border where Europe meets Asia, three are already complete and work has begun at eight more." Builders are "due to break ground at the last one, in Kaliningrad, at the end of this month." Russia expects to spend more than 630B rubles ($11.2B) on preparations including an "overhaul of the transport system and building hotels, training grounds and health facilities." Nizhny Novgorod Governor Valery Shantsev, whose
main city will host World Cup matches, said that work done for the
championship would have a "positive long-term legacy." Shantsev: "The new infrastructure will benefit everyone, with new roads and other improvements." Shantsev cited a recent poll showing "overwhelming support
for hosting the World Cup" and said, "We believe it will change people's
lives for the better" (REUTERS, 7/13).
