Facility Notes: Putin Demands 2018 World Cup Project Delays 'Be Quickly Overcome'

Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded delays in construction of 2018 World Cup projects "be quickly overcome." After chairing a meeting on Russia's preparations on Tuesday, Putin said that there have been "certain difficulties" at various facilities, and he highlighted the Baltic port of Kaliningrad, where "delays there should be fixed as quickly as possible." He "emphasized the need to ensure tight security at all World Cup facilities." Putin "ordered regional governors to consider the World Cup preparations as their priority" (AP, 12/9). ... Paris St. Germain is ready to invest €300M ($328.2M) “into its future training center in Grignon, a 350ha site west of Paris.” PSG officials will not comment on the strategic move, but Club Chair & CEO Nasser al-Khelaïfi said, “We have been working since the beginning with a long-term vision. That is why we absolutely must equip ourselves with the world’s most modern training facility” (LE PARISIEN, 12/10)