A stamp depicting the Volgograd Arena defaced in Volgograd Region

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August 26 a solemn ceremony of defacement of the stamp dedicated to the stadium being built in Volgograd for 2018 FIFA World Cup was held at the venue construction site.

Among those who were first to deface the stamps depicting the Volgograd Arena were Eugene Harichkin, Vice-Governor, Vitaly Likhachev, Volgograd Chief Executive Officer, Alexander Nikitin, ambassador of 2018 FIFA Host City of Volgograd, Sergey Kamin, Volgograd stadium construction project director.

“The nearer the championship is drawing the more infrastructure facilities are built in Volgograd. It’s not just the stadium, but also renovated roads and transport, hotels, a lot of sport venues. It’s our wish that glory of our hero-city, athletic accomplishments and unrivalled stadium spread across the world. Such philatelic events help promote the glory of the city and country beyond the borders of the nation,” underlined Eugene Harichkin.

As part of the philatelic programme dedicated to the 2018 World Cup, four stamps were released for postal circulation each in 400,000 copies, featuring the following stadiums: Volgograd Arena, Yekaterinburg Arena, Rostov Arena and Samara Arena.

As noted by Alexander Nikitin, Volgograd ambassador to the 2018 World Cup, in the Volgograd Region a magnificent stadium that leaves a long-lasting impression is being built.

“I haven’t seen the stadium for two years - well, it’s impressive, a superb stadium! Today I was one of those who defaced the stamps with its image and I believe I’ve made history, I’m really happy,” said Alexander Nikitin.

As noted by Sergey Kamin, Volgograd Arena construction project director, the grandstands has been completely erected at the stadium by now, the surfaces are being ground. At the same time the building facade and roofing elements continue to be mounted, erection of the entrance lobbies and booking offices has been started. Also, the floors are being filled and utilities are being installed in the spaces beneath the grandstands. Around a thousand people are working at the site, all works are carried out according to the approved schedule.

It should be reminded that selection of Volgograd as a host city for 2018 FIFA enabled the construction of large infrastructure facilities. Promoting such projects is a priority under the long-term region development strategy as outlined by Andrey Bocharov, Governor. Local and federal programmes of getting the Volgograd Region ready for 2018 FIFA World Cup include 69 activities, including not only the construction of the 45,000-seat stadium, but also airport revamp, renovation of highways, construction of a belt road, preparation of hotels and training sites.