A Just Russia Throws Hat Into Packed Sochi Race | News | The ...
Another name was added Friday to the election for Mayor of Sochi overcrowded, which will host the Winter Olympics of 2014, as Russia has just announced that its local leader in the running for the seat.
Viktor Kurpitko, just head of a branch of Russia in the resort of the Black Sea, is the latest entry to the country's hottest political show this year.
Several high-level candidates, including Boris Nemtsov political opposition and prominent businessman Alexander Lebedev, has announced plans.
Another big name linked to the race is Andrei Lugovoi, the deputy of the Duma, who face murder charges in Britain in the 2006 poisoning death of Russian émigré Alexander Litvinenko in London.
Andrei Lugovoi, who represents the ultranationalist Liberal Democratic Party in the Duma will decide next week whether to enter the race for Sochi, his spokeswoman told The Times in Moscow on Friday.
Even former Bolshoi ballerina Anastasia Volochkova said she is ruminating an offer.
"I think I would do a good job.In view of the Olympic Games, the idea of a ballerina that the mayor has something beautiful, good and clear on this, "said Volochkova RIA Novosti Wednesday.
Other potential candidates include Stanislav Koretsky, the head of a federation Sochi showdown, and two local retirees. United Russia has not yet announced a candidate but is expected to appoint as Sochi Mayor Anatoly Pakhomov.
The plethora of candidates' election gives the character a bit grotesque, but anyone who called United Russia is likely to win, "said Alexei Makarkin, an analyst at the Center for Political Technologies, said Friday.
Although Nemtsov, a native of Sochi, and Lebedev "want to turn the election into a serious campaign, the candidates look like Lugovoi made the choice does not matter, he transforms into a gossip column," has Makarkin said....
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What do you think about the 2018 World Cup bid situation? And, importantly, who do you think will win?
Jan 29, 2009 by Cookie_Monster_UK | Posted in Other - Soccer
At the current time there are confirmed bids from:
England
Spain & Portugal
Holland & Belgium
Russia
Qatar
Indonesia
WIth bids expected from:
Canada
USA
Mexico
Australia
China
Japan
The bids will be for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. I personally see the 2018 bid being held in Europe. Both 2010 (SA) and 2014 (Brazil) under the now scrapped confederation rotation policy could be seen by FIFA as risks- Europe will be seen as a reliable decision.
I think the Spain/Portugal bid holds a lot of clout, however there is a possibility that FIFA voters may be put off by a joint bid (Japan/S.Korea wasn't looked upon with so much love and affection). Also, they're two footballing mad nations and already have an infrastructure in place, in both in terms of coping with an influx of supporters on their country, and also in terms of footballing infrastructure too- the necessary stadia are in place.
And the same can be said about England too- however will England we looked upon with scepticism?
Russia, in terms of hosting the biggest showcase on earth, looks far behind- could be fair to say only 2 cities (Moscow and St. Petersberg) could cope with stresses of a World Cup. Travelling distances could also be an issue. But, as you may or may not know, Russia pulled out a white rabbit that was the 2014 winter Olympics from the hat that was the IOC in getting Sochi to play host- so you never know!
Holland and Belgium: Held a successful Euro 2000 however may struggle as the footballing criteria isn't met yet and work would have to be done to meet FIFA spec.
Having carefully analyzed the countries in the running, I would say that Australia is in a good position to receive the 2018 bid, and either England or Mexico for the 2022 bid.
I believe that Australia's surprisingly good performance in the 2006 WC, its economic stance, infrastructure capability, and history of never having held a world cup before makes them a top contender for a nomination.
Next, I would say that England is definitely a top contender for a bid having already the infrastructure, football history, transportation, and simply is always reliable and logical choice that hasn't hosted the WC in some time now. Some setbacks might include, that England is holding the next Summer Olympics 2012, therefore FIFA may decide to grant some other country an opportunity to set a world event.
Lastly, I believe Mexico will contend England's bid. Given that Australia takes the 2018 nomination FIFA may decide that some diversity may be welcome after an English speaking country having hosted the previously WC. Not only that, Mexico has proved to be a reliable country to host World Cups twice. Moreover, many Mexican clubs are currently undergoing or have plans to improve their venue infrastructures. Its close proximity with the US may also help it grab media attention from the US, thus also helping promote football there too.
emanyio712 | Feb 05, 2009
In otherwords, the trips to China with hat in hand is a little late. Taking into consideration the actions of North Korea over the past 10 years with the and more »
Auch das Olympiade-Projekt vom Winter 2014 in Sochi und das Aufziehen eines Silicon-Valley-Projekts bei Moskau könnten interessante Aufträge nach sich
