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Mr Infantino, friends,

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Today, the 2018 FIFA World Cup is starting a tour around our country,

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a tour around Russia.

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It will last for 123 days, and the total distance to be covered during 

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the journey will amount to 26,000 kilometres.

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This will be the longest tour of the most important 

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football trophy in history.

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And, hopefully, it will be the most exciting one.

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Because our country is second to none in terms of scale and diversity 

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of nature, culture and traditions.

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Symbolically, the tour forestalling the grand football event starts 

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from the legendary Luzhiniki Arena.

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This stadium is known to all generations of sports fans and is 

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connected with names of renowned athletes,

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and hundreds of sports records and achievements.

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I am certain that the thrilling atmosphere of exciting battles 

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and remarkable victories has been preserved at Luzhniki 

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following its grand-scale renovation.

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The stadium will rightly become the main venue for the upcoming World 

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Cup: it will host both the opening and the final matches 

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of this long-anticipated contest.

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Such beautiful, comfortable, technically advanced arenas will be 

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waiting for football players and fans in each Russian city 

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participating in the World Cup.

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Despite the extensive experience of hosting major international 

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competitions, we are taking meticulous care in preparing 

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for the World Cup. Football has always been the most popular mass sport 

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in Russia and has the largest number of fans of all ages.

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Our country has done a lot for the development of football as well.

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It has given rise to such outstanding members of the football family 

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as Lev Yashin, Igor Netto, Renat Dasayev and Nikita Simonyan.

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I am sure that there will be new football heroes and new victories.

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I am sure that the national team will delight its fans.

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I am convinced that the 2018 FIFA World Cup will give a strong impulse 

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to the development of football and its material legacy will become 

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a centre of attraction for a multi-million football brotherhood,

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as well as for young athletes who are as talented,

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full of strength and desire to show their worth, as the 1,

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500 sports schools students from across Russia who have 

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gathered here today.

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It is you and your peers who will carry on developing football 

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in the not too distant future, performing in adult national contests,

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defending the colours of famous clubs,

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representing your Fatherland at international contests.

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Now that Russia is hosting the planet’s main football tournament,

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we will have an opportunity to see our players better.

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We are looking forward to these exciting matches,

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honest battles of masters and the most sincere emotions.

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Today’s ceremony is only drawing this event nearer.

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Good luck to all participants in the upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup,

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and to all football fans –victories and outstanding achievements.

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Have a happy journey!