The emblem for the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia has been revealed on board the International Space Station.
The design was inspired by “Russia’s rich artistic tradition and its history of achievement and innovation”.
The image of the emblem was also projected onto the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.
Russia won the right to host the tournament for the first time after beating England, Spain-Portugal and Netherlands-Belgium in a 2010 vote.
There have also been posters created for each of the host cities, which include Rostov-on-Don and Samara:
SPECTACULAR LAUNCH
The evening television show was dedicated to the topic of football for the special occasion. The studio, which was converted into a stadium, and the band ‘Fruits’, dressed in the shirts of the eight World Cup winning nations to date, formed a worthy backdrop to proceedings. Presenter Ivan Urgant was joined by FIFA President Blatter, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee Vitaly Mutko and the captain of Italy’s 2006 World Cup winning side Fabio Cannavaro, FIFA reports.
In a light-hearted conversation, the FIFA President told of his experiences in football: “I’ve witnessed ten World Cups. The first one I experienced first-hand was the 1954 World Cup in my homeland Switzerland.”
President Blatter went on to say that he is already looking forward to the next tournament in four years: “The launch of the Emblem is a wonderful event to kick things off and I’m certain that the World Cup will be a success here in four years.”
Mutko also spoke of his experiences, telling of cheering on the great Lev Yashin and the Russian national team in 1966, watching on television with his whole family as the side reached the semi-finals in England.
Cannavaro was asked to name the three best players of all time, and the amicable Italian replied with a wink: “Cannavaro at number one, of course, then Diego Maradona and Messi.”
UNVEILING IN SPACE
In another segment of the show the task of the judging panel that had selected the Emblem was explained, and there was also a look back at the Emblems of previous tournaments.
When the eagerly-awaited moment of unveiling arrived it was done in spectacular style. Three astronauts at the Russian space station revealed the hotly-anticipated new World Cup Emblem from their space capsule and subsequently the visual icon for the 2018 World Cup in Russia was brought into the television studio to rapturous applause. The launch was simultaneously complemented by a huge light projection on the historic Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.
There are still three years and eight months until the 2018 World Cup kicks off, but thanks to the new Emblem, the euphoria in Russia now has a profile.
Source: The Daily Star
