Rostov-on-Don's football costs exceed 100 billion roubles

The preparations for the FIFA World Cup in Rostov-on-Don have already cost over 100 billion roubles, said Igor Guskov, First Deputy Governor of the Rostov Region.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in late 2010, FIFA decided to hold the World Cup-2018 in Russia. Rostov-on-Don, where in the summer of 2018 four group matches and one 1/8 final match will be held, is running large-scale preparations for the tournament.

"All the works are in the final stage; a very small percentage of the budget should be spent," the TASS quotes Mr Guskov saying on February 15.

The preparation for the World Cup will affect the inflation level in the regions that will host matches and lead to price growth, the Central Bank of Russia warned in the fall of 2017.

Speaking today at the Russian Investment Forum in Sochi, Vasily Golubev, the Governor of the Rostov Region, gave a more precise estimate of the volume of works performed: "I would assess the readiness by 90%. For example, the airport is ready by 100%; the stadium – by 95%; and the fulfilment of some programmes related to training areas, landscaping and transport services is nearing the completion," the "Argumenty i Fakty" quotes Mr Governor as saying.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.