FIFA head Sepp Blatter met Russian President...

Russia"s bid, which was officially launched last October, has the full support of the government, with a high-level steering committee established under First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov.

"Football is the most popular type of sport," Medvedev said. "People love it everywhere. It"s not surprising then that they love it in Russia."

"Even today, when it is minus 25 [degrees Celsius] outside, people are playing football," he went on.

Although this was Blatter"s the first meeting with the Russian president, world football"s top bureaucrat visited the country last October and, during a meeting with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, gave his support to Russia"s bid.

"I believe that the World Cup should leave a legacy, and this idea is coming to life here in Russia. That is why I feel a whole-hearted affinity for the Russian bid," Blatter said.

Blatter was slightly more reserved on Friday, however, expressing praise and admiration for the development

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