Alexei Sorokin, leader of the 2018 World Cup Organization Committee, stated today the budget destined to put together the tournament will be cut short, since the currency exchange has made it more expensive to import materials to improve or construct the different venues.
The budget for the 2018 World Cup was established at $16 billion dollars, most of it from public resources. When the Russians were awarded with the tournament's organization, the budget was considered to be of $10 billion dollars, representing a $6 billion increase from 2010 -the year when Russia was unveiled as host . Sorokin explained the media why these cuts are necessary to keep things moving:
"We can't continue making imports to complete the work already started. If we can't substitute those imports with materials we can buy in our country, then we will have to consider seriously these budget cuts," Sorokin told the press.
As an example, Sorokin spoke about the new stadium in Kaliningrad, which was supposed to be built on an island. Architects did not consider the grounds being too soft for them to build over them, so the OC is considering to build the venue in some other portion of the city. Sports minister Vitaly Mutko warned this city about the cost increases, and urged them to solve the matter by the end of the week.
