Medvedev signs decree for World Cup preparations

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed a resolution regarding preparations for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup and 2018 FIFA World to be hosted by Russia. On Monday, during a meeting with deputy prime ministers, Medvedev emphasized the importance of these international events and drew the attention of deputy prime ministers in charge of the preparation process to this document. The government approved the budget for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in 2018 to the tune of 664.1 billion rubles. Official website of the organizing committee has already posted the breakdown for the funding.  Slightly more that half of the total amount, 336.2 billion rubles, will be allocated from the federal budget; 86.2 billion rubles will come from the federal budget and active federal target programs; finally, federal budget and federal target programs are expected to cover the remaining 250 billion rubles. Meanwhile, the preparation program for the FIFA World Cup has been approved. This program involves 292 facilities and events, including 12 stadiums, 113 training centers, 62 hotels, 11 airports, utility and transport facilities, power and telecom infrastructure. Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the federal law introducing a number of provisions and legislative changes to facilitate preparation for hosting 2018 FIFA World Cup and the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. Confederations Cup, which traditionally precedes the World Cup, will be held in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan and Sochi. A stadium Arena Otkrytiye, which is under construction in Tushino region of Moscow, is chosen as the capital's  arena for these internatonional events.  After the competitions, it will become the home stadium for Spartak Moscow, a major soccer club of the Russian capital. In June, Russia's Minister of Sport Vitaly Mutko announced that Russia might increase spending in order to beef up security at the 2018 FIFA’s World Cup. Source: Itar-Tass