FIFA, world football’s governing association, has invited Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to appear in Zurich in December to speak on Russia’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
The countries competing for the honor will support their bids at FIFA headquarters Dec. 2, after which the federation will announce its choice.
Putin spoke in English when he addressed Olympic officials a few years ago to promote the country’s winning bid to hold the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, which apparently left an imprint on sports executives worldwide.
“Everybody remembers how you worked to present the bid for Sochi,” First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov said at a Presidium meeting.
Putin did not immediately react to the invitation. Thirteen countries have expressed their intention to compete for the right to host the Cup, some of them jointly.
(MT)
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.