Moscow, Russia | AFP | Russia on Wednesday reacted with disappointment but no great surprise after the country was banned from the Winter Olympic Games, while President Vladimir Putin was yet to comment on a possible boycott. Russia was banned Tuesday from the 2018 Winter Games by the International Olympic Committee …
Read More »IAAF maintains Russia suspension
Monaco, Principality of Monaco | AFP | The world governing body of athletics on Sunday maintained its suspension of Russia, saying the country still had not done enough to clamp down on doping. Rune Andersen, the head of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF)’s anti-doping Task Force, said “several key …
Read More »Russia cuts university year for World Cup security
Moscow, Russia | AFP | The Russian government said Friday it was shortening the academic year at universities in some cities hosting the 2018 World Cup to make room in dormitories for police. The decision drew protests from the country’s largest student union and underscored the concern Russia devotes to …
Read More »Say hello to Telstar 18, the 2018 World Cup ball
Moscow, Russia | AFP | Several heads were left being scratched on Thursday after Russia used some hardcore techno beats in a dark auditorium decked out to look like an underground dance club to present the official 2018 World Cup ball. The orb in the spotlight followed the edgy motif of …
Read More »Russia faces ‘very real’ threat of attack at World Cup
Moscow, Russia | AFP | Russia says it will take extraordinary measures to combat any terrorist threat when it hosts the World Cup next year, as its military campaign in Syria makes the country a prime target for jihadists. A bombing on the metro in Saint Petersburg in April that …
Read More »‘Amazing’ Lukaku won’t lose focus – Mourinho
Moscow, Russia | AFP | Jose Mourinho backed Romelu Lukaku to ignore the hype about his superb start at Manchester United after the Belgian’s brace set up a 4-1 victory over CSKA Moscow. Lukaku, 24, scored twice at the VEB Arena on Wednesday to take his tally to 10 goals in …
Read More »World Cup trophy starts tour in Moscow
Moscow, Russia | AFP | The World Cup trophy tour began a worldwide tour in Moscow on Saturday at a ceremony attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and FIFA chief Gianni Infantino. Ten months before the 2018 World Cup kicks off there, the ceremony took place at Luzhniki stadium, which has …
Read More »Russia get off to winning start in Confederations Cup
Saint Petersburg, Russia | AFP | Hosts Russia got off to a winning start at the Confederations Cup on Saturday, Fedor Smolov’s second-half goal sealing a 2-0 win over New Zealand in Saint Petersburg in the tournament opener. Russia went ahead in the first half of the Group A encounter …
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