21 June 2013
An infrastructure programme worth $20bn is being put together by the Russian government in preparation for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The programme will consist of building nearly 300 different facilities deemed crucial for the global tournament, including 12 stadiums, 113 training sites, 62 hotels and 11 airports, writes Sportsbusinessdaily.
Half of the $20bn will come from the federal budget but it is not yet known where the remainder will come from.
Major French construction companies, such as Eiffage and Vinci, are already eyeing up the potential contracts in Russia and Qatar, host to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Vinci has already submitted a bid for an arena in Moscow.
Qatar pledged to spend as much as $65bn on its infrastructure in preparation for the 2022 games and has plans to build stadiums with solar-powered air conditioning.
Members of the Qatar World Cup organizing committee have visited Eiffage’s new Lille stadium, built for the 2016 European championships, which boasts a retractable roof and sliding pitch.
The stadium has also received interest from Russian investors.
Bloomberg reports that Eiffage has lost money building the state-of-the-art stadium and is keen to find business outside of France.
Source: Sportsbusinessdaily
