LOC chair Sorokin smoothly pulling strings
Russian President Vladimir Putin (centre), Fifa president Gianni Infantino (left), Russia's World Cup organising committee chief Alexei Sorokin (right) and officials visit the 2018 World Cup Park on Red Square in Moscow on June 28, 2018. PHOTO | ALEXEY NIKOLSKY |
What you need to know:
- In 2009, the soft-spoken Sorokin became the leader of Russia’s successful bid to host the World Cup.
- In January 2011, the Russian government and the national federation established the local organising committee for the tournament, and Sorokin, who is married with two daughters, was appointed the Chief Executive Officer.
IN MOSCOW, RUSSIA
The Fifa World Cup is the world’s biggest sports extravaganza, and that means it presents organisers with a potential logistical nightmare.
From accommodating the teams and providing standard training pitches to co-ordinating flights for teams to various match venues, Fifa World Cup hosts must be at their best to deliver a world-class tournament.
In Russia’s case, it has taken an army of workers pulling in the same direction.
At the centre of that army is the 2018 Local Organising Committee led by one man who has earned plaudits for a successful tournament thus far.
To host 32 teams, some teaming with complete with members of technical bench
But Alexey Sorokin, the chairman of 2018 Local Organising Committee, has been at the centre of the success achieved so far in hosting the tournament.
A graduate of the Moscow State Linguistic University and State Diplomacy, Sorokin is fluent in English and French.
His bio on Uefa.com reads: “Alexey Sorokin represents a new generation of sports leaders in Russia with his wide range of experience in international relations.”
“We have never had so many visitors to our country. This is a first for us, but we are doing our best. The Local Organising Committee is happy with the way things have gone so far, and people have shown interest in the tournament,” the baby-faced 46-year-old told a packed press conference journalists at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow at the conclusion of group stage matches.
“A total of 2.6 million tickets have been issued so far, with 2.4 million being used, representing 98 per cent uptake,” Sorokin added.
“There have been 1,740 volunteers working in stadiums, cities and trains across Russia.”
Sorokin was a project leader for the 2008 Uefa Champions League final in Moscow, and this led to his appointment as CEO of the Russian Football Union the same year.
In the run-up to the tournament, United Kingdom discouraged its citizens from travelling to Russia for the World Cup due to frosty relations between the two countries.
Confronted with the delicate matter of Russia’s diplomatic tiff with the United Kingdom and whether English fans are welcome to Russia to watch their team play, Sorokin said: “We welcome all football fans without discrimination. The UK ministers are welcome to the tournament. We have always said that.”
In 2009, the soft-spoken Sorokin became the leader of Russia’s successful bid to host the World Cup.
In January 2011, the Russian government and the national federation established the local organising committee for the tournament, and Sorokin, who is married with two daughters, was appointed the Chief Executive Officer.
Sorokin became a European member of the Fifa Council when he was elected at the Extraordinary Uefa Congress in Geneva in September last year.
The Local Organising Committee has had a busy period co-ordinating travel of teams to 12 tournament venues spread across 11 cities.
Moscow alone has nine airports, three of which are international.
