Intro:

The Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday held a symbolic handover ceremony of the World Cup from Brazil to Russia, where the next tournament will be held in 2018.

Script:

SOUNDBITE: (Russian/English translation) Vladimir Putin, Russian President:

"We are grateful to Mr Blatter and all our colleagues from FIFA for this honour to host the World Cup in Russia (translation follows). And I'd like to show you that we will do all the possible in order to organise and host the event at the highest possible level (translation follows). Thank you (translation follows).