With 500 days left before Russia hosts the 2018 FIFA World Cup the host nation has held celebratory events to commemorate the countdown of days before the month long football extravaganza begins.
The World Cup will be held from the 14th of June to the 15th July in 2018.
FIFA, the global soccer governing board, said anticipation was high and hosting cities in Russia were raring to go.
In a statement released on its website the soccer authority stated that a number of eye-catching events had been held in Russia.
The Host Cities of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ are particularly looking forward to the start of the tournament and organised a series of eye-catching celebrations for the milestone date, involving fans, Russia 2018 Ambassadors, volunteers and regional and urban administrations.
“The winter weather did not hamper the footballing festivities and even gave the events a certain charm”.
“In Sochi, for example, supporters were treated to a fire-and-ice show, during which the performers created a structure depicting the number “500” using pyrotechnic effects”.
“Guests at the event, such as former USSR defender Evgeny Lovchev, could also take part in a football quiz, receive souvenir gifts and watch football freestylers in action”.
“The celebrations were held on the bridge facing the main square in the Rosa Khutor ski resort, where the BUD Alcohol Free countdown clock was launched in a special ceremony – the second countdown clock in the city (the first was launched last year in the Port of Sochi)”, it said.
BUD Alcohol Free Countdown clocks have also been launched in Kaliningrad and Ekaterinburg.
Kaliningrad, the westernmost Russia 2018 Host City, has set up their tournament timer in the square by the Monument to Mother Russia in the centre of the city. Five-time Olympic champion in synchronised swimming and Host City Ambassador Natalia Ishchenko was invited as the guest of honour for the ceremony.
This was mirrored in the Host City located furthest to the east, Ekaterinburg, where now there is also a visible reminder of the time remaining until the tournament begins.
Irina Zilber, Olympic gold medallist in rhythmic gymnastics and Russia 2018 Ambassador for Ekaterinburg, took part in a ceremony unveiling the timepiece in the city’s historic square.
Those who attended the celebrations were also able to get involved in table football competitions, test their footballing knowledge in special quizzes in the main marquee and try their hand at more active games.
Nizhny Novgorod hosted their celebrations for the 500-day mark in the centre of the city.
Host City Ambassadors Dmitri Bulykin, the former striker with 15 caps for the Russian national side, Daria Shkurikhina, who won Olympic gold in rhythmic gymnastics, and Pavel Zanozin, presenter and commentator on Match TV, also took part in the competition.
They were joined by footballers from local side FC Olimpiyets Anton Khazov, Artyom Abramov and Egor Evteev.
“The World Cup is not just about building stadiums, roads and airports,” Pavel Zanozin cheerfully observed. “It’s a huge celebration for everyone who lives in the Host Cities.
More than ten national teams will be competing in Nizhny Novgorod in a year and a half and their fans will be able to discover our wonderful city for themselves.”
Volgograd had their own unique take on the countdown clock, designing a sand timer with the hashtag #500days_to_go.
The clock began counting during the city’s volunteer forum, organized to coincide with the 500-day milestone to the start of the tournament. Now we can say with total confidence that Russia 2018 is getting closer than ever.
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