Professor Dato’ Dr Ahmad Hj Zainuddin, UCSI University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor of External and International Affairs,

Members of the UCSI’s top management team, Faculty Deans and Department Heads,

Members of the media, distinguished guests,

And last but not least, the talented and hardworking students who have made today’s event possible,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to be here at the UCSI University as we pay homage to the art, a beautiful game and the upcoming World Cup. Come June 14, we will have the privilege of saying “Добро пожаловать в Россию”, which literally means welcome to Russia.

We say this, not only to the other finalist nations and their ardent supporters, but also to football fans around the world – aficionados and neutrals alike who will tune in from the Amazon Basin to the Bosphorus, the Savannas and of course, the mamak shops and social gatherings all across Malaysia.

The countdown to the opening game has well and truly begun and this event reflects the infectious enthusiasm in this beautiful nation. We are truly honoured to know that upcoming World Cup attracts so much attention from many Malaysian educational, media and entertainment organisations, which eagerly showcase our county’s diversity in many ways. It is my privilege and pleasure to be part of such unconventional and inspirational endeavors that we witness here today.

Today’s art exhibits are inspired by the 32 finalist nations and I must say that some designs are nothing short of brilliant for fusing football with the cultural elements and iconic landmarks of the respective nations. The artwork depicting Russia is inspired by the concept of the “Matryoshka” doll and it appears that the outer layer is being raised as the World Cup draws closer, freeing the football housed within it for the grand kick-off when Russia takes on Saudi Arabia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. France’s artwork showcases the Eiffel tower while Spain’s captures the classic scene of a matador pitting his skills against a raging bull.

«Наши поздравления» and «спасибо», congratulations and thank you, to the UCSI, De Institute of Creative Arts and Design, and all participating students for your ingenuity in making this event a momentous success. Football and art are both universal languages. They are also unifying factors. And by combining them, you have set the perfect stage for a fantastic World Cup countdown on campus.

UCSI has been a great patron of sport, art, music and culture in Malaysia and I understand that you hosted many leading Russian musicians in recent years who conduct concerts and master classes here. Today’s event is the latest milestone in a long history of cultural appreciation and exchange. May it continue forever

Ladies and gentlemen,

The World Cup means a lot to Russia and its citizens. On top of welcoming the finalist nations, and essentially, the World, to 12 stadiums in 11 host cities, Russia gives its guests an opportunity to get acquainted with its diverse culture, centuries-old history and unique nature, experience traditional Russian hospitality and openness. Russia knows how to welcome its friends and I can assure everyone here that you will have a great time if you plan to visit Russia.

Russia has already made many important arrangements to facilitate the entry of foreign visitors to its territory and to make their stay as comfortable as possible. This includes visa-free entrance to Russia for whole period of World Cup events and even longer, for those who acquired official match tickets and possess so-called FAN-ID, a document that identifies person as a football fan. In order to make visitors’ travel between World Cup host cities less troublesome and expensive, we provide our guests with free-of-charge public transportation. These are just few of all amenities that Russia has to offer to national teams and football fans.

Football is also Russia’s most popular sport. Around 2.8 million people play football in Russia and many fans will enjoy golden opportunities to see the world’s best footballers like Messi, Neymar, Iniesta, Suarez and Ronaldo up close. This will be the last World Cup for some of these football icons and it is fitting for Russia to be their final stage in the international arena.

And who can forget about the Russian contribution to global football? Only one goalkeeper has ever won the Ballon d’Or and he was Russian. Lev Yashin – also known as the “Black Spider” – revolutionised the way goalkeepers played with his movement, positioning, reflexes and his contribution to build-up play from the back. Yashin’s success went on to inspire a great goalkeeping tradition in Russia, evinced by the rise of Rinat Dasayev, Stanislav Cherchesov and most recently, Igor Akinfeev, who has very big boots to fill.

Russia has also contributed many memories further upfield, evinced by the life of Nikita Simonyan, Valeri Karpin and Aleksandr Mostovoi who captured global imagination when they played for Celta Vigo in Spain, and today Alan Dzagoev, Denis Cheryshev and Fyodor Smolov, among many others, carry the torch.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I have no doubt that the upcoming World Cup will have an immense impact on the development of football – not only in Russia, but around the world. Young people will experience what the beautiful game is truly about, lasting friendships will be fostered and fair play will be promoted at every opportunity. Our goal is to demonstrate that these fundamental human values are immune to the constantly changing political landscape in the World and will continue to define sport for decades to come.

All of us in Russia look forward to June. We want the World Cup to be held at the highest level and we are confident that you will enjoy watching the World Cup as we enjoy hosting it.

«Большое спасибо», many thanks to the UCSI and its students for joining us in our countdown to a celebration of sport and humanity.

Thank you for your attention.