With just over 2 years to go until the start of Russia 2018, one would expect the normal bad news coming out of the host nation about delays in stadium construction, problems with the new train stations or airports and a lack of hotel rooms. But not in Russia. All the updates are always so positive it makes you wonder why Russia doesn't host every major sporting event. It also makes me think about why so many millions of rubles, or dollars, or euros are spent on new stadiums. If the World Cup is given to a country with a strong footballing background, doesn't that country have many stadiums already? Unless, of course, Qatar is chosen as the host. But that's an argument for another day.
The latest Fifa news from Russia comes after a visit to six stadiums by officials from Fifa and the local organising committee. The news is, once again, all good. Everything is on track and all the work will be completed in time for the Confederations Cup in 2017. Good for them. That's great news.
What caught my attention was the headline to the story on the Fifa website:
"Stadium tour reveals positive developments"
Is the emphahsis here on reveals or on positive? Has it been revealed that there is positive news, or do we need to be convinced that the news is positive? Anybody still with me? This is another just-before-midnight post and I may be vague in my argument. But that headline amused me, as though it is trying very hard to convince it's readers that there is positive news, "because you were all expecting it to be negative."
With all this positivity I look forward to none of the obligatory stories coming out of host nations a couple of months before the start date of a mad rush to complete stadiums. If that does happen I will find this story again and send it to the orgaising committee.
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