I. Metshin: "We will do everything that Kazan with dignity hosted 2018 World Cup after 1000 days"

(Kazan City KZN.RU, September 18, Adelia Galieva). Today there are exactly 1,000 days before the start of the grand event in the sports world - FIFA World Cup in Football 2018, which matches will take place in 11 Russian cities, including the capital of Tatarstan. In Kazan Mayor Ilsur Metshin and Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Tatarstan Vladimir Leonov gave start to the countdown. Symbolic pressing of the countdown bottom was held at the stadium "Olymp" at the finals of the Kazan tournament of amateur football league on the Cup "1000 days before the start of the FIFA World Cup 2018 Russia".

The Mayor of Kazan welcomed the participants of the tournament and noted the importance of the championship not only for the city and its inhabitants, but also for the whole of Russia. "This is an exciting event for the whole country! We have won the right to take the 2018 FIFA World Cup - the most extensive, a great event in the sports world in the number of viewers, of the participating countries, the number of television time, and most importantly - for the emotions that this holiday gives "- said the head of the city.

Ilsur Metshin also stressed that the city will approach for the championship with all the responsibility. "Kazan will be very seriously prepared for this event, despite the fact that the experience of the Universiade, the World Cup in water sports and a number of other championships, cups of Europe and the world is behind. Under the leadership of the President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, together with the Government and citizens, we will do everything to ensure that in 1000 days Kazan will host the football World Cup, and that this holiday will always remain with us! For us it is a great pride and another opportunity to declare to the whole globe that Kazan is the best city in the world! "- said the Mayor.

Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Tatarstan Vladimir Leonov also congratulated all those gathered at a sports festival that the city will take one of the titled of world events. V. Leonov said that the year before Kazan will hold four matches of the Confederations Cup and six matches of the group stage, 1/8 and ¼ as part of the World Cup. "We are all very happy people that we live in a wonderful time in this beautiful country, and in this city!" - said the head of the ministry.

After words of welcome Ilsur Metshin and Vladimir Leonov with participants of the tournament pressed a symbolic red button, launching the countdown to the start of the championship. In parallel the numbers of counting down of the days until the start of the international competitions appeared on media facades of "Kazan Arena" - the first stadium built for the football championship in Russia.

The participants of the Kazan football tournament of amateur league, which marked the start of the countdown to the start of the championship, were about 1,000 people aged more than 14 years. It is symbolically that the festive and sporting events were held in the stadium "Olymp" - one of the sites of the city, where amateur football is developing. According to the organizers, the choice of place reminds that professional football is primarily based on the development of mass sports.

Also, as part of the celebration of the 1000 days before the start on the ground in front of the Family Center "Kazan" official hash tag # Rossiya2018 of the championship was placed.

It should be noted that today 1,000 days before the start of the championship is celebrated not only in Kazan. The ceremonial start of the countdown was given in Moscow at Manege Square and in all the other cities where matches will be held.