MOSCOW, December 14 (R-Sport) - Russia is building costly new stadiums for the 2014 Winter Olympics and the 2018 football World Cup without planning what to do with them afterwards, International Olympic Committee member Alexander Smirnov said Friday.
Russia will host a string of major sports events this decade, with the government keen to restore the country to the status of a sporting superpower.
“The infrastructure’s being built, costly stadiums are being built, palaces of sport. But is there any conception of how to use these structures afterwards? Or will they lie empty?” said Smirnov, who cited events including the 2014 Olympics and 2018 World Cup.
“Meanwhile, many federations, including in medal-winning sports, still don’t have their own training bases.”
Smirnov said it was “good” to hold major sports events, but suggested it should not come at the cost of modern training facilities for “rowers, cyclists, swimmers”, saying “that is bad.”
Smirnov was the lead organizer of the 1980 Moscow Olympics and is the IOC’s longest-serving member and one of three Russians on the 110-member body.
Sochi 2014 organizers insist they will leave a substantial legacy, with top-notch arenas and modern transport and energy infrastructure for locals.
Of the six arenas in the Olympic Park, two could be moved to other Russian cities after the Games, thanks to their prefabricated construction.
The 12 host stadiums for the World Cup are all set to be used for club football after the tournament, many at vastly reduced capacity.
There have been suggestions some could be used for the 2023 Rugby World Cup if a Russian bid to host the tournament succeeds.
