Volgograd is Ready for FIFA Guests: New Stadium, Volga Embankment and Infrastructure All in Place
Starting today, FIFA World Cup guests can enjoy visa-free entry to Russia. Simply present your FAN ID at the passport control. FAN ID holders will be able to make use of this policy until July 25th. The highly anticipated sports event starts in just ten days. The World Cup is already in Moscow. It's currently being displayed in Gorky Park, where anyone can take a picture of it. 11 Russian cities will be hosting FIFA games.
What can FIFA fans and athletes expect to see in Volgograd? Aleksandr Buzaladze with the story.
There's no better place to talk about victories than at the foot of Mamayev Kurgan, including victories in soccer. The beautiful Volgograd Arena stadium, located right here, only confirms this. In just three years, they were able to build this highly complex structure from scratch. The two-level roof resting on a cable frame was installed by seven lifting cranes. Together, they were able to lift almost 5 million tons of cables, beams, and panels. A unique poly membrane sheet will protect FIFA fans from rain and wind. We're impressed and very proud of this roof structure.
For around half a century, Olga Paramonova has been Volgograd Rotor's biggest fan. Anyone who likes soccer knows her, and she knows everything about soccer and stadiums.
Olga Paramonova: "Now, according to good old tradition, let's welcome Rotor Volgograd".
Volgograd is to host games between Poland and Japan, England and Tunisia, Saudi Arabia and Egypt as well as Nigeria and Island. By the way, the Nigerian team has a practice venue in Yessentuki. Yessentuki Arena has prepared a perfect practice field. The team will be provided with changing rooms, shower rooms, and comfortable bedrooms at a health resort.
Volgograd is almost ready to host the soccer festival. In a few days, barriers will be removed from the famous rotunda by the riverside station. A large FIFA World Cup opening festival will be held here. The mirror-like road surface reflects flecks of sunlight. The city offers convenient road interchanges, new hotels, a picturesque Volga river embankment, and a cozy memorial park. Yelena Isinbayeva, ambassador for Volgograd’s bid to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup, is proud of the city's new look.
Yelena Isinbayeva, FIFA bid ambassador and two-time Olympic pole-vaulting gold medalist: "It's incredibly beautiful. Now people can enjoy taking strolls around the city".
Thanks to Volgograd's connoisseurs of fine food, foreign guests will have a chance to savor Chicken Kiev, a specialty of Volgograd Oblast.
- All of a sudden, butter started gushing out of it! I was taken by complete surprise the first time.
Volgograd is preparing the next generation of soccer players. Fortuna, the only female soccer team in Volgograd Oblast, has already defeated a lot of boys.
- When they first see a team of girls, they laugh. But then they lose... and cry.
The soccer festival starts soon. The locals want to present the city in the most favorable light. Entire families volunteer to help organize the event. At the stadium, you can see mothers, fathers, nieces, grandmothers, and grandchildren.
- We are waiting for you in Volgograd!
Aleksandr Buzaladze, Andrei Chistyakov, and Dmitry Shutas for Vesti.