There was a very important announcement a few days ago in connection with the 2018 World Cup. Did Putin say that he did indeed approve the paying of a few bribes to bring the World Cup to Russia? Of course not, please! Did the last remaining person of importance at Fifa announce that the World Cup will be moved from Russia because of all the controversy surrounding it? Impossible, there is nobody with any power left at Fifa. Did Russia's Sports Minister/Fifa Executive Committee member/Head of Russia 2018 organising committee announce that he has passed his English speaking exam. No. Even though Vitaly Mutko did vow to improve his English by 2018 we have no news of how that is coming along.
The news, as you've probably surmised by now, was of the ridiculous kind, about something that has been repeated at recent World Cups and European Championships and therefore which the Russians felt was an important new tradition to keep alive. A lucky meerkat named Suri, resident at the Yekaterinburg Zoo, will be the official predictor of match results at the 2018 World Cup.
The zoo's press service, in what they probably feel is the most important announcement they have ever had to make, let it be known that, "Suri is an experienced foreteller. He began his career in 2012, during the European Championships in Poland and Ukraine. At the time he correctly predicted the victory of the Russian team over the Czech team." A very solid resume then.
It would be easy to assume that the zoo's announcement was delivered with a touch of humour. However, this is Russia and I feel it is also equally right to assume that this was done with the utmost seriousness.
And as you head off to the modern version of the Encyclopedia Britannica, Google, to look up what a meerkat is, do also take the time to search for an image of a turaco. The newly born (at the same zoo) long tailed bird will be named in honour of the World Cup. Apparently, as the good people in the zoo press service (or one very excited employee) informed the curios masses, the name will only be decided on once the sex is known. In a further example of how much free education one can receive by by being a football lover, the sex of this bird can only be determined though a blood test.
I will look out for any pictures of Putin, bare chested of course, parading through the zoo with Suri on one shoulder and Vladimir the turaco on the other. And please do not question (this from the zoo press service) how the name Vladimir is "World Cup related".
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