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Putin visits football stadium construction site for FIFA World Cup in Samara

Putin also participated in laying a time capsule with a message to future generations

SAMARA, July 21, /ITAR-TASS/. President Vladimir Putin on Monday visited the stadium construction site for the World Cup to be held in 2018 in Russia.

The president toured the display of architectural plans for seven stadiums being constructed in preparation for the World Cup, accompanied by Acting Samara Region Governor Nikolai Merkushkin, Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko and Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative to the Volga Federal District Mikhail Babich.

Putin also participated in laying a time capsule with a message to future generations.

“We are starting the implementation of a new and equally major project - preparation of the FIFA World Cup in 2018. I am confident that we will also carry it out at the highest level. A wonderful location has been selected here in your city for building the future stadium,” Putin said at the ceremony.

He said the project would allow Russia “to show many of our cities to the world and will develop infrastructure in our cities, including transport, hotel, and communications infrastructure. We will need to do a great deal in order to lift our cities to a new level - including your wonderful city”.

Putin expressed hope that this project “will leave a wonderful legacy, allowing us not only to showcase the talent of our high-level athletes, our football players, but also allowing young athletes, such as the ones standing across from me, to build their athletic future, to be involved in sports and physical culture - not occasionally, but every day”.

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