Mein Freund Joseph Blatter hatte vergangene Woche in Kopenhagen schon erzählt, dass er einen Termin bei Wladimir Putin hat. So war ich ganz gespannt zu erfahren, was die Präsidenten im Weißen Haus besprochen haben – und wurde vom Informationsdienst der russischen Regierung einmal mehr nicht enttäuscht. So stellt man sich das vor in einer Demokratie. Ich weiß nur nicht, ob Sepp dem Wladimir, wie zuvor dem Barack, auch Tickets für die WM in Südafrika angeboten hat und wie sich das – sollte es so gewesen sein – mit den strengen FIFA-Ethikregelen verträgt. Ich weiß auch nicht, ob Sepp diesmal wieder andere Unbekannte getroffen hat und/oder ob er mit Putin über die Gründung der WACA gesprochen hat. Egal, für heute, Lesebefehl – das Transkript, es lohnt sich:

Wladimir Putin: Mr Blatter, dear friend, I am very glad to see you in Moscow. In Moscow and Russia, your work in the post of FIFA president is very well known.

I have to say that the popularity of football is growing in Russia. I cannot, however, say that our team is doing all of what the country’s fans expect of it, but the development of football is generally on the upswing all the same.

In general, we have a good national team with good potential. What is more important is that we have a program for the development of football to the year 2015. Corresponding federal funds have been allocated and the regions are also allocating funds.  Before the end of this year, we plan to build 600 new pitches, including indoor pitches.

You, of course, know that we have decided to officially submit our application to host the World Cup in 2018. We wanted to inform you about this today. A week ago, on October 9, I signed an executive order in order to make this process more official.

Joseph Blatter (as translated): Let me first wish you a happy birthday. Once again, happy birthday!

Mr President, I am very glad about our meeting today; it’s a great honour for me. I am really glad that you greet me as a friend and let me do the same. We have been acquainted for several years in various capacities. I want to tell you that as before, you remain „Mr President“ to me and so accordingly I have addressed you as such.

You said that I am well-known in Russia. Let me answer that by saying that you are well-known around the world. In any case, in every country I visit. Everywhere in the football world, people talk about Russia and about you.

I must say that in Russia there really is a lot being done for the development of football and we value this. Evidence of this is the fact that the president of the Russian Football Union is now a Russian government official. And this did not give us pause. As they say, success goes hand-in-hand with success.

As for the national team – I think that the Russian team will still make it to South Africa. But if it doesn’t happen on the first try in the first round, there’s always the second try in the second round. There are two more games ahead. And with such a team and the whole nation behind them, I am confident that you will succeed.

Wladimir Putin: I hope so.

Joseph Blatter: Of course, I would like to be able to say that I also hope se, but there is the principle of neutrality, which I must observe.

Mr Prime Minister, let me take this opportunity to express gratitude for the Russian government and the Russian Football Union deciding to officially submit an application to host the World Cup in 2018. Regardless of what anyone says about, say, the Olympic Games, this is the world’s main event, the foremost event, Event Number One. Football is football.

Today, over the course of the day, I had the opportunity to familiarise myself with the progress of Russia’s preparations to host the World Cup. And let me take this opportunity to explain my football philosophy. I think that the world football championship, the World Cup within the framework of FIFA must leave a legacy. And just such a concept is being realised here in Russia. So the Russian application gives rise to my most earnest sympathy.

Mr Prime Minister, I am very glad that preparations for the World Cup are now being done on a regional level and are proportionally distributed across all of Russia. You mentioned this yourself and also noted that football isn’t just a game. Indeed, many other things relate to it, such as all of the logistical support – the streets, railroads and all infrastructure. Not only just the stadiums. Consequently, all of this, of course, will remain in Russia and will be of use to its people.

I would also like to mention the great socio-cultural significance of football and it popularity among youth. Football is really a game that motivates the entire world. And it seems to me that this particularly pronounced in Russia.

It should be recognized that things aren’t going so well in the world, although the economic crisis has relented a little bit. But in order to overcome it, we, of course, need positive emotions and hopes. This is exactly what football could give.

And on a more personal note – since we’re talking about the crisis, let me congratulate you with signing the major agreement with China yesterday.

I would also like to mention the commonality in life philosophy that you and I share. Like you, I am very attached to my mother and I wear her locket. And when I once asked you whether you would like to be rich, you said, „I am already rich, I have a rich emotional life and rich feelings.“

Getting back to football – of course, it’s great that Russia has such a large construction programme for football. This is not only football pitches, but roofed stadiums. Of course, it is very good that youth is lure off the streets and into sport facilities where come to know a game based on respect and discipline. It may be said that football is the school of life. A person who plays football may not become the best footballer, but he will become a better person.

Mr Prime Minister, could you ask the question that the media also asks – „What are Russia’s chances to become the host country for the 2018 World Cup?“ I can say that Russia, first of all, is in the race. However, I can say that Russia is a second-tier country and other countries submitted their applications much earlier. However, those documents which I was able to review command respect. I think that if you continue with the same verve and the same attitude, then your chances are good.

And let me also add the following. Regardless of the Russian national team’s results are, and accordingly those of the Russian Football Union, let me, now in my official capacity, as well as personally, invite you to the World Cup opening ceremony in Johannesburg on June 9 of next year. I hope that you will be able to accept my invitation.

Wladimir Putin: Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr President for your invitation and your comments.

As for our application, we indeed attach great importance to it, primarily from the point of view of the development of mass sport. We have four locations, four cities where practically, if not everything is ready, then we, independent of the World Cup, will prepare these sites. These are Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazak and Sochi.

Kazan will host the World Student Games in 2012, and then in Sochi, as you know, there will be the Olympic Games and a facility there will also be ready. Renovation and practically new construction is in progress in St. Petersburg, and in Moscow as well. And we’re planning another 10 facilities in 10 cities.

I surmise that the very fact of holding such a major event will certainly be a shot in the arm for the development of football in all of Eastern Europe, in any case, in the former Soviet Union.

Joseph Blatter: You’ve got me thinking. My philosophy is to bring football to those countries and regions where we haven’t been before. Accordingly, we are in Africa now.

Wladimir Putin: I know which button to „press“ in conversation with you. Because, thanks to your efforts, football has moved beyond South America and Europe. Now the World Cup will be held in Africa. And it is rather effectively developing in North America and Asia as well.

So for us, this movement is in the same direction, because it involves actually creating new infrastructure. Certainly, there will be a push to develop football in particular and mass sport in general. Of course, this is what you said at the start of our conversation – infrastructure, transport, accommodations, telecommunications systems, utilities, energy supply. And all of this is connected, of course, with environmentally-friendly modern technology.

In general, we are ready to be quite energetic in promoting our application. Of course, ultimately the decision rests with your colleagues, but we will try to do everything to show the advantages of our application. In any case, we will implement our programme, which, as I already said, runs until 2015.

source: Government of the Russian Federation

Nachtrag, 18.27 Uhr, für Extremsportler. Die dazugehörige Pressemitteilung der FIFA in Englisch:

The FIFA President was in Moscow on Wednesday, where he met with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Youth, Tourism and Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko and the President of the Russian Football Association. Featuring high on the list of topics discussed were Russia’s candidature for the FIFA World Cup^TM in 2018 or 2022 and the important social role the global game can play.

The White House in Moscow was the venue as President Joseph S. Blatter met for talks with Vladimir Putin. „I was very honoured to be received by Mr. Putin, someone I have known for a long time and with whom I share a passion for sport in general and football in particular,“ explained the FIFA President. „We speak the same language.“

Their conversation turned to the issue of Russia’s candidature for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, with their rivals including England, Australia, the United States, Indonesia, Japan, Spain and Portugal, Belgium and the Netherlands, Korea Republic (2022) and Qatar (2022). Mr Putin is naturally standing firmly behind his country’s bid.

„Organising a tournament with such prestige would have a catalysing effect on the development of football throughout eastern Europe and especially in the former Soviet Union,“ he explained.

The two dignitaries also addressed the issue of development and football’s social role. „We have a football development programme which is due to run until 2015,“ said the Russian Prime Minister. „Federal funds have been made available for that and the regions have also granted sums. Between now and the end of the year, we intend to build 600 new pitches, including indoor ones.“

Mr Putin likewise stressed football’s social and cultural impact throughout the world, particularly in a country with a mixed heritage. That was a point then taken up by Mr Blatter, who stated: „It has to be said that football is a school of life. A youngster who plays football will not necessarily become a champion, but he’ll learn about solidarity, respect and fair play.“

… und in Deutsch:

FIFA-Präsident Joseph S. Blatter weilte am 15. Oktober 2009 zu einem Kurzbesuch in Moskau, wo er mit dem russischen Ministerpräsidenten Vladimir Putin und Vitaly Mutko, dem Minister für Sport, Jugend und Tourismus, zusammentraf, der gleichzeitig das Amt des Präsidenten des Russischen Fussballverbandes inne hat. Im Mittelpunkt der Gespräche standen die Bewerbung Russlands um die Austragung der FIFA Fussball-Weltmeisterschaft^TM 2018 bzw. 2022 sowie die soziale Rolle der weltweit beliebtesten Sportart in der Gesellschaft.

Zunächst wurde Joseph S. Blatter im Weißen Haus von Moskau von Vladimir Putin empfangen. „Ich war sehr geehrt, als mich Herr Putin zu diesem Gespräch einlud. Schließlich kenne ich ihn schon seit vielen Jahren. Er ist genau wie ich ein begeisterter Anhänger des Sports im Allgemeinen und des Fussballs im Besonderen. Wir sprechen also die gleiche Sprache“, so der FIFA-Präsident.

In den Gesprächen ging es um die die russische Kandidatur für die Austragung der FIFA Fussball-Weltmeisterschaft^TM 2018 bzw. 2022, für die sich auch England, Australien, die USA, Indonesien, Japan, Spanien, Portugal, Belgien und die Niederlande, die Republik Korea (für 2022) und Katar (ebenfalls für 2022) beworben haben. Selbstverständlich steht Ministerpräsident Putin voll hinter der Bewerbung seines Landes: „Die Durchführung eines solch großen Sportereignisses hätte eine bedeutende Ausstrahlung auf die Entwicklung des Fussballs in ganz Osteuropa zur Folge, insbesondere im Bereich der ehemaligen Sowjetunion.“

Darüber hinaus stand in den Gesprächen mit den russischen Gastgebern auch die Entwicklung der sozialen Verantwortung des Fussballs auf der Tagesordnung. „Wir haben für den Fussball ein Entwicklungsprogramm aufgelegt, das bis zum Jahr 2015 läuft. Dafür wurden finanzielle Mittel aus dem Staatshaushalt der Russischen Föderation bereitgestellt, und auch die Regionen haben dazu einen Beitrag geleistet. Bis zum Jahresende ist geplant, rund 600 neue Spielstätten fertig zu stellen, darunter auch Sporthallen für den Hallenfussball“, so der russische Ministerpräsident.

Des Weiteren unterstrich Vladimir Putin die soziale und kulturelle Kraft, die der Fussball überall in der Welt ausübt, insbesondere in einem Land, das über eine Vielzahl kultureller Wurzeln verfügt. Joseph S. Blatter pflichtete ihm bei und erwiderte: „Es ist unstrittig, dass der Fussball eine Schule fürs Leben darstellt. Ein Jugendlicher, der Fussball spielt, wird es zwar nicht in jedem Fall zu Meisterehren bringen, als Mensch lernt er dabei aber solch wichtige Werte wie Solidarität, gegenseitige Achtung und Fairplay kennen und schätzen.“