Russia 2018 is a PR job... like every sporting event

‘i HOpe the russians love their children, too,’ sang Sting (below). Sting’s an idiot. Of course the russians love their children. All nations, all races, love their children. We’re human, we’re genetically programmed. All species are, otherwise they won’t survive. So the widening surprise that the russian people are not all knuckle-duster wearing hooligans is rather mystifying. russian people are no different to us. russian governments, that’s another matter. there is a lot of revisionism around our view of russia in the light of this World cup, but we are in a country engaging in a monthlong propaganda exercise, to alter its perception in the West, as part of its foreign policy. this means that when instances such as the crimea annexation, the atrocities in Syria or the attempted murders in Salisbury occur, it makes it easier for russia to manipulate public perceptions. Visitors cannot be made to feel they are in a totalitarian state if that policy is to work and, right now, it is operating to perfection. At the moment, russia could be anywhere, just better run. the metro in the major cities is — as it has always been, by the way, this is no World cup special — quite magnificent. the idea that transport for london is tendering to run the metro in Buenos Aires is absolutely laughable. public transport here is a different class, and cheap. On the way home from russia’s win over Spain, i watched some of the first half of croatia versus Denmark on one of the televisions installed in the train carriage. can you imagine? Similarly, the stadiums are immaculate, the security efficient and friendly, and the people charming. But people are charming, most of them. the world over they will try to help if they can, they will try to understand, to empathise, to find a common bond. And they will smile. Why should russia be any different? Yet never forget that this is also a foreign policy strategy on behalf of the state. All major sporting events of this kind are. Yes, even london 2012. We were nicer back then, too, if you remember.