Did the World Cup Achieve Its Goal? Visitors’ Perception of Russia Shaken to Its Core
The World Cup continues, there are still two more weeks to go until the final match. However, the championship has already improved Russia's global image.
Pavel Zarubin reports on the details.
The ball flies above the dome of the Kremlin's main building. Soccer in Russia is even on Red Square now.
Vladimir Putin: "Goal! Good job, well done".
Young soccer players try to beat a robot goalie. No matter how hard they try, it almost always deflects the ball away.
— It knows where we'll kick it.
Vladimir Putin: Of course, it does.
— You see.
— Who's up next?
— I'll go next.
— Go ahead.
President Putin and the FIFA President, Infantino, also tried to beat the robot, accompanied by the expressive boys' shouts.
"Now, for the best part".
"Go ahead".
They told Putin about a woman who scored a goal, but only because her shoes followed the ball. The President decided to try again.
"Goal!"
The playground's owners said that you have better chances aiming for the top corner. Gianni Infantino also decided to try.
"Goal!"
Meanwhile, fans from all over the world continue to have fun on Red Square. Now they're everywhere, seeing Russia in all of its forms. The resort-city of Svetlogorsk, by the Baltic Sea, rarely gets hot in June, but right now, during the World Cup, it's over 80 degrees, and the beaches are crowded. This is also due to the huge presence of foreigners. Britons, Belgians, and Russians are on this narrow strip of shore together.
"They're trying to get a tan in Russia a few hours before the game in Kaliningrad. They handle everything perfectly. The hotel called a cab to come to get me from the beach, I'm going to the stadium soon".
Water temp, air temp, atmospheric pressure.
— Is over 65 degrees normal?"
— That was data from this morning, it's probably higher now.
— Or not.
— No, the water is warm. It's about 67-68 F, we just haven't changed it on the board yet.
— Do Brazilians go swimming in 67-degree water?
— They do, they're by the Baltic Sea for a couple of days, they love it.
After Germany's team dropped out of the World Cup, the Germans went for a swim, too.
"I swam for five minutes, it's very cold".
A Belgian fan, Neila, dipped her toes in the water, creating memories of Russia.
Neila: "It's great. I'm very surprised. I was a little nervous before coming here. But I love it here, it's awesome, and I'll definitely be back eventually".
"Ice cream! Corn on the cob! Corn on the cob!"
Grilled corn, steamed corn. A tasty smoothie. The British guests obviously don't understand what all of these signs say, but this is what they tell us while sitting at a seafront café.
— We love it.
— You love it?
— It's a beautiful place, the people are friendly, the food is delicious, I love it all. We don't listen to what they say about politics.
The volunteers who help them out around here are truly incredible.
— How old are you?
— Eighty years old.
— Eighty?
— Yes.
— You look amazing.
— Because I'm a volunteer.
This van from Belgium has already traveled halfway around Russia.
"We were in Sochi, then in Moscow, in Kaliningrad. We traveled 5,000 miles without any problems".
After a few days here, many Britons have changed their opinions about Russia from what they've been told at home.
— Have you heard about the Russian propaganda?
— Oh, yeah, it's absolutely ridiculous.
— This is me, nice to meet you.
— Yes, it's nice to meet you, too.
— Are you scared to be here?
— No, not anymore. I was scared before, but I'm fine now.
— Yes, it's nice to meet you.
— It's me, nice to meet you.
— Many people have told me to be very careful here. But once I came here, I saw that the people are amazing and very kind.
— We'll come again, yeah? It's like a fairy tale, it's an incredible country. The negative image of Russia, created by the West, is baseless. Everything they say is false, Russia deserves to be hosting the World Cup.
Not long before the World Cup, the British BBC told their viewers in all seriousness about Russia where a smile is a reason to be questioned by the police.
"After he stopped me, I asked him why he stopped me. And the cop said to me, "Because you were smiling." That's what he said, literally, because it's strange to walk down the street and smile. It looked alien and suspicious".
German television tried to be more objective about Russia before the World Cup. They showed its good sides, but also mentioned the West's favorite topics as well. The allegedly oppressed homosexuals, the supposedly bullied pro-opposition intellectuals, and the people who stand in lines for cheap beer.
"Older buildings have an advantage. At least they have windows. This building has been here for 10 years, and it's still missing windows".
A new airport and Belgium beer in a Belgium pub — this is what the foreigners who came to Kaliningrad saw.
"I didn't see anything dangerous, except the women, they're truly dangerous".
Staff who speak English.
"We understand each other, and that's what matters".
— I expected it to be worse.
— What exactly would be worse?
— I thought that Kaliningrad would be dirty. But it's very nice, I like it.
"We had some concerns before the trip, but they were quickly alleviated".
Some of the concerns were about aggressive Russian soccer fans. There are plenty of videos of people sitting with their back to the camera, telling threats.
"We went to Marseille to fight and put the last nail in the coffin for British soccer hooliganism".
"There's been a lot of controversy about Russia and England, just look at your screen. Spy poisonings, NATO expelling Russian diplomats, concerns for the safety of fans at the World Cup".
17-year-old Theo Ogden from England uses his blog to quote what the British media says about Russia. But he still went to Russia with his father for the World Cup.
Theo Ogden: "I'll walk around with my flag on my back to see how people react. People are just having fun and chatting. There aren't any insults or problems".
They've been to almost all of the cities hosting the World Cup. They've traveled by planes and cheap trains, went to provincial regions, ate at regular cafes, and rented standard apartments.
Theo Ogden’s father: "I'm happy, this is a real Russian balcony".
In one of those apartments, in front of a "babushka rug", the young Brit made a video about how his Dad and he have tempted fate in every possible way in Russia, but still haven't come across the promised "Russian aggression".
Theo Ogden: "This middle-aged Russian guy came to us and asked, "Samara Arena?" We said, "Yes". Then he told us to get in the car and that he'd drive us there for free. My dad didn't give him anything because it could've offended him. There another situation too: we met an elderly man on our way home. He was accompanied by two huge guys who could be easily taken for Russian hooligans. These so-called hooligans were helping the old man walk down the sloped street. This is something you'll never see about Russia. All you hear about is that Russia is sexist, Russians are hooligans. You'll never see good Russians, and it's a shame they don't show them, but they need their ratings".
They've been scared of horrible Russia back home, but they're not scared here at all for some reason. This is an endless celebration.
"Russia, thank you. Russia, thank you. Russia, thank you".
It's so impossible to deny the obvious, even BBC showed positive reports from Nikolskaya St. The Swedish officials who mentioned boycotting the World Cup now plan to come to support their team. Even the US President, whose State Department has urged not to visit Russia for safety purposes, speaks extremely well of the World Cup.
Donald Trump, the US President: "I think they're doing a fantastic job, it's amazing. My son loves soccer, and he enjoys watching the World Cup. Russia is doing a great job hosting the World Cup. It's fascinating to watch even for those who aren't into soccer".
Kaliningrad cab driver Anton says that his city and he will remember the World Cup forever with its 'round-the-clock emotions.
Anton: "They ran around all night, shouting "Serbia and Russia are brothers forever!"
The most interesting bits are yet to come: the finale of the World Cup.
Pavel Zarubin, Aleksandr Medvedev, Denis Lisitsyn, Aleksandr Makarov, Aleksandr Korostelev, and Aleksandr Berezhnoy. Vesti News of the Week.