- Title: Russia's Sochi Olympic stadium renovated ahead of 2018 World Cup
- Date: 6th October 2016
- Summary: SOCHI, RUSSIA (OCTOBER 6, 2016) (REUTERS) WOMAN WITH PRAM / FISHT OLYMPIC STADIUM FLAG WITH SIGN READING 'WELCOME TO SOCHI' CONSTRUCTION WORKERS NEXT TO STADIUM WORKER FIXING TILES CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES NEAR STADIUM ENTRANCE FIELD VARIOUS OF SEATS VARIOUS OF SPEAKERS BEING INSTALLED SCREEN VARIOUS OF WORKERS INSTALLING SPEAKERS VARIOUS OF RUSSIAN PARLIAMENT DELEGATION AT STADIUM GRASS ON FIELD MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT DELEGATION WALKING SEATS FISHERMEN WITH STADIUM SEEN AT BACKGROUND TOURISTS ON BEACH VARIOUS OF VIEWS OF BEACH SOCCER-THEMED GRAFFITI ON WALL NEXT TO SEA
- Embargoed: 21st October 2016 17:27
- Keywords: Sochi World Cup soccer stadium Fisht Olympics Confederations Cup
- Location: SOCHI, RUSSIA
- City: SOCHI, RUSSIA
- Country: Russia
- Topics: Sport,World Cup
- Reuters ID: LVA00152VCO5B
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:The Russian sports ministry said on Thursday (October 6) that the upgrade work on Sochi's 'Fisht' Olympic stadium will be completed by mid-December, Russian news agencies reported.
According to the minister Vitaly Mutko, the stadium is expected to host several events before 2017 Confederations Cup matches next summer. 'Fisht' is also expected to host World Cup matches and training sessions in two years time.
A Russian parliamentary delegation visited the stadium on Thursday and reported the facility would be ready for acceptance inspection by the end of November.
The stadium that was built to host the opening and closing ceremonies for 2014 Winter Olympic Games is now updated to have a capacity of 45,000 seats. Local media reported earlier that the upgrade costs totalled over $8 million.
Russian organisers have repeatedly said the World Cup will be delivered as planned.
There have already been problems with some stadiums, particularly the one in St. Petersburg which is way over budget and will now cost an estimated 43.8 billion roubles ($684.7 million).
World Cup matches will be held at 12 stadiums across the country. Some teams will stay and train in smaller towns. Krasnodar, Asov, Taganrog, Svetlogorsk, Gelendzhik, Anapa, Astrakhan, Voronezh, Grozny, Kaluga, Tolyatti and Ufa are named among options.
Russia won the right to host the 2018 World Cup in 2010 and developed an ambitious plan for constructing stadiums and hotels. According to Interfax news agency, the original government decree, signed in 2013, set costs at 664 billion roubles. It was reduced several times since then as falling prices and Western sanctions imposed on Moscow over its role in the Ukraine crisis squeezed the country's economy. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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