Saransk- the most unusual host city

Traditional wooden houses, elderly people and newly built temporary four star hotels, which at the present, look tempting- this is what Saransk is about. It was a surprise for the 300,000 residents of Saransk when they heard that the place has been chosen as one among the 11 host cities. Even Russians don’t know about the place- it is just a mere name on the map. On the contrary, the place has a name in the underworld communities. Saransk is known to be situated amidst labour colonies and prisons filled with offenders of the law. The 44,000 seat stadium has been built solely for the World Cup, and has been designed with striking red and orange colours which symbolise traditional customs. An entirely new district has been built around the stadium, but the original city sight is just a walk away. The place boasts of odd architecture- a careful yet careless mixture of modernism, Czarist-style architecture and modern glass designs. The residents are definitely elated by the improvements Saransk went through for welcoming the World Cup. The city is greener and attractive; a stark contrast to the dull tin sheds, smoke and unclean streets before. New shopping centres, camp sites and four star hotels have been built around the stadium that is hosting 4 group stage matches. The Millennium square is now one of the most festive and busiest places in the city, where women in Mordovian dresses sing and dance along with the tourists. It seems like the World cup is a new beginning for the people of Saransk.