I. Metshin about the World Cup-2018: “Such events raise the city to a new level, it is important to keep it”

(KZN.RU, June 9, Ksenia Shvetsova). Preparations are being completed for the World Cup in Kazan. It is going to be one of the largest and most grandiose sports events that will take place in Russia for the first time. On the eve of the championship, the city repaired more than 2.5 million square meters of roads, the capital of Tatarstan was decorated with flowers, graffiti, new public spaces appeared. In just a couple of days, the first stage of the renewed embankment of Kaban Lake will open. Such events raise the city to a new level, which affects the quality of life of every Kazan citizen, said Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, at the Business Monday.

The first game in Kazan will be held on June 16. The teams of France and Australia will meet at the stadium “Kazan Arena”. On this day, about 5 thousand guests are expected to arrive. More than 200 thousand tourists in total are expected in Kazan, reminded Damir Fattakhov, the first deputy head of the Executive Committee. A thousand city volunteers, selected during the bid company from more than three thousand applicants, will meet them at railway stations, central streets of the city, in parks and near metro stations.

The city has a navigation system. According to D. Fattakhov, 33 flags and 230 Toledo are installed at the airport and on the way to it, 19 navigation cubes are installed on the most popular routes.

196 hotels will take guests of the city, in 18 thousand places are prepared. According to preliminary data, the average loading of hotels for the Championship period will be from 70-80%.

Particular attention in the preparation for the World Cup is given to catering companies located on popular tourist routes. D. Fattakhov said that the restaurateurs were recommended to extend the work of institutions for the time of the championship, prepare a menu in the languages of the teams playing in Kazan, and also consider the possibility of holding thematic events. “The majority of entrepreneurs have adjusted their work”, said the speaker.

The Mayor noted that a great role in the preparation for the championship was played by the fact that Kazan already has the prepared infrastructure due to the sports events that were held earlier in the city. The main works this time were directed to the hospitality zones and the site of the Fan Festival. On June 12, residents of the city will be able to assess the large-scale work that has already been completed. The territory of the future Fan Fest will be the main venue of the holiday.

“Yesterday we visited the site with an inspection. There are some small flaws, but in general everything is ready. Kazan now has completely new public spaces that had previously been closed to citizens and guests. For example, it is a square in the Dekabristov Street with an area of almost 6 hectares”, said I. Metshin and added that the second stage of the work is also planned on this territory.

The tourist police will also be a great help during the championship, said the Mayor. A tourist police was created on the basis of combat units of the patrol and inspection service on the orders of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Russia. The employees of the tourist police have been trained, they are oriented to the locality and are ready to provide any assistance to non-resident and foreign tourists.

A thousand army of volunteers, service personnel, security and law enforcement officials, everyone must know exactly their duties for each day of the championship, said the Mayor. He also marked that there is a day in the work of the Fan Fest site when it will be open from 10 am to 02 am. It will be a test for both catering workers, volunteers, and all others responsible for its conducting.

“For the previous events, we did everything without some heroic efforts. We implemented a plan for all events calmly in a working time”, said I. Metshin. “But this time the work is very difficult. This is the same as if we were conducting Sabantui not for one day but for the entire month. With all our experience of such responsibility, we never had that one when we must work for a month non-stop without a single weekend. Therefore, the better we get ready for this, the more detailed the rules of action for each person will be – the more success it will be”.

In general, the World Football Championship will be a new step forward for Kazan and will present the city with many significant infrastructure facilities that will be left to the residents and guests of the capital of Tatarstan, said the Mayor. “Such events raise the entire city to a new level. It is important to hold up to this level. And we will be thinking about new heights that we will take in the future”, concluded I. Metshin.

The World Cup will be held from June 14 to July 15. Kazan will host 6 matches of the group stage, 1/8 and 1/4 of finals.