Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev has ordered "changes to the terms of contracts on the construction of stadiums for the 2018 FIFA World Cup such as using Russian-produced rather than foreign-made equipment and materials," according to INTERFAX.
Other changes would be "simplification of technological solutions for the roofing of stadiums and of their external architectural design," under a directive by Medvedev published on the government's website. To preclude missing construction deadlines, the directive authorized the Sports Ministry "to make substantial changes to the contracts such as altering price quotations, deadlines or volume of work to be done" (INTERFAX, 4/13). INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL's Mark Baber reported the Sports Ministry "will now be allowed to change the price, timing and volume of works without inviting new tenders" in a move that will be a "blow to foreign companies" seeking to benefit from Russia's building boom, which includes 300 infrastructure projects for the 2018 World Cup in 31 cities.
The ruble "has been performing well of late, as the Russian economy defies wishful thinking by some anti-Russian analysts and continues to expand" (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 4/14).
