Ufa hosts international conference on exchange of experience in sporting events transport maintenance

UFA, 15 May 2015. /Bashinform News Agency, Elvira Latypova, Arina Rakhimkulova/. The sports complex "Ufa-Arena" hosts an international conference on the exchange of experience in the organization of transport support of major sporting events. 17 national delegations headed by the Ministers of the Member States, Observers and Dialogue Partners of the SCO, heads of regional and international organizations and interstate integration groupings such as ASEAN, ESCAP, the United Nations and the CIS gathered in the capital of Bashkortostan.

"The main task today is through conversations, to exchange experience in organizing transport maintenance of large-scale sporting events, and discuss a possibility of using available transport infrastructure", the Russian Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov said.

According to him, now the active phase of preparation for the FIFA World Cup 2018 has already started.

"World Cup matches will be held in 11 cities of Russia, located in four time zones. The average distance between the cities is 600 km, and between the most western and eastern points - more than 3,000 km," the Minister marked.

In connection with such long distances, the main transport will be aviation.

"We are modernizing infrastructure, especially airports. We do not leave unattended renovation of the road network - it will ensure the accessibility of stadiums, places of residence, and training of members of the championship", Maxim Sokolov informed.

"Preparation for international sporting events acts as a catalyst for the development of transport infrastructure not only at the places of events holding but also across the country", he considers.

The Deputy Prime Minister of the Government RB Marat Magadeev stressed that "we have quite a solid experience in international sports events hosting - the World Championships in Summer Biathlon, ice hockey championship among youth teams, the World Children's Games. We have experience in the organization of logistics solutions of transport issues".