Football spirit: Volunteers the unsung heroes of the FIFA World Cup – PHOTOS



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Two years ago, the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow had hosted the finals of the best European club competition, the UEFA Champions League of Uefa. The 2008 Uefa Champions League final was an all-English affair between Manchester United and Chelsea, which the Sir Alex Ferguson Red Devils won 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in 120 minutes.

 The mascot of the FIFA World Cup 2018 Fifa Zabivaka poses with volunteers before the 16th round of the 2018 Russia World Cup between Spain and Russia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on July 1, 2018. PHOTO | KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV | AFP

The mascot of the FIFA 2018 FIFA World Cup 2006, Zabivaka, poses with volunteers before the first round of the 2018 Russia World Cup between Spain and Russia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on July 1, 2018. PHOTO | KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV | AFP

The Russian Allexey Sorokin was project manager for this match, and this role would prepare him for bigger duties since he was appointed Director General of the Russian Football Union the same year

. Sorokin, a graduate of the Moscow State Linguistic University and a state diplomat, who is fluent in English and French, has naturally been named president and general manager of the local committee. 39, organization of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. [19659004] The Local Organizing Committee of the 2018 World Cup (COL) was established by the Russian Government and the Russian Football Federation in January 2011 and was in charge of planning and organizing the 2017 Confederations Cup and the 2018 World Cup.

Based on his badytical skills, his personal qualities and his command of English, the COL selected 17,404 volunteers, some of whom were destined for VIP areas, and trained them to serve in the tournament.

The sight of young men and women dressed in high chestnuts and blue pants meets you everywhere in the 11 host cities. The volunteers applied to be selected for the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017 and the FIFA World Cup 2018 on the FIFA website between 1 June 2016 and 30 December 2016.

 Volunteers in the quarter-finals of the 2018 Russia World Cup match between Sweden and England at the Samara Arena in Samara on July 7, 2018. PHOTO | MANAN VATSYAYANA | AFP

Volunteers stand apart during the 2018 Russia World Cup quarterfinal match between Sweden and England at the Samara Arena in Samara on July 7, 2018 PHOTO | MANAN VATSYAYANA | AFP

 Volunteers sport the banners Sweden and England before the quarter-final match of the 2018 Russia World Cup between Sweden and England at the Samara Arena Samara July 7, 2018. PHOTO | ALEXANDER NEMENOV | AFP

Volunteers sport the banners Sweden and England before the quarter-final match of the 2018 Russia World Cup between Sweden and England at the Samara Arena Samara on 7 July 2018. PHOTO | ALEXANDER NEMENOV | AFP

With 98% of the seats reserved for the group matches already played, the soft but firm Sorokin breathed a sigh of relief at the end of the group matches when it came out. a press conference at the Luzhniki stadium on June 29th.

"We have never seen so many people visit our country like this, so it's a first for us, but we're doing our best.The local organizing committee is pleased with how the Things have been going on here, "the 46-year-old in Moscow told AFP with Colin Smith, head of FIFA tournaments and events.

64 were played, and 24 teams out of an initial 32 were sent packing, leaving eight to fight in the quarterfinals of the competition on Friday and Saturday.

"We get good feedback from the teams, all the indicators are that we had a successful tournament right here, everything goes according to plan." From the planning stage at that moment, Russia has enthusiastically welcomed this tournament.It is fantastic to see the fans enjoy the action, brazilian and mexican fans mingle in subway stations and people of different nationalities gather to enjoy football. I am not surprised that Russia has succeeded, according to statistics published by Fifa, some 2,178,894 people had reached the stadium to watch live matches, including supporters, Fifa partners, delegates, journalists and journalists. The LOC made strategic decisions regarding the tournament, including the appointment of volunteers

"We recruited 17,404 volunteers to help in and out of stadiums, cities and hotels, "said Sorokin. , were the unsung heroes of the tournament. Working mainly as ushers, stewards and information center staff in press centers, the army of 17,040 volunteers spread across 12 stadiums in 11 cities made things work like clockwork, for Tasks ranging from bbadity

One minute they could in turn try to calm a raging girl who was separated from her parents in the Fan Zone, the minute after they formed a human shield to the Outside the stadium to separate them from rival sets of fans who, for all the meticulous plans of Fifa to separate them, threaten to break a fight after a match.

While they are expected, they must be prompt and professional, not to mention the language barrier. An unwritten rule is that they should use the tournament to sell their country to the world.

Stepanov Epanov, a twenty-one-year-old university student from the Ural region of Russia on the border of Europe and Asia due to his good command of the language English.

"I am learning English since the age of six and I am on vacation with my parents in countries where English is spoken, so the work is easy for me I have been volunteering since the beginning of the tournament, but my contract ends with the group matches. "Epanov, who studies Linguistics, tells me inside Spartak Stadium where he holds the position of" I'm in charge of the game. " information. "I am paid at the end, so it's good.I will apply for volunteering in other stages for the playoffs once my contract expired."

In Epanov, the elderly do not do not see the need to learn English because they do not see the utility in their lives. , the school attended determines if they learn English or not. However, older people do not see the value of learning English because it will not help them in life.

Outside the fan zone, a man on stilts identified as being Yuri going about his business. in the air. He is dressed in a suit that he tells me in the colors of the country flags of all the participating teams. In 11 fan zones spread across Russia where fans watch matches on giant screens, in the impressive network of metro stations, in the bus and train stations, you will find more volunteers who will tell you which bus or what train to take to connect. your destination.

For the first time in the history of the tournament, video badistant referees are used. There are also Audio Descriptive Commentary areas for the visually impaired.

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