Using the Legacy of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in the Constituent Entities of the Volga Federal District

Introduction. One of the most important issues facing the host cities of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia is the efficient use of the championship’s legacy in the future. In this regard, the purpose of the study is to consider the first results (economic indicators) and territorial features of using the legacy created during the preparation for and holding of the World Cup in the host cities in the Volga Federal District. Materials and Methods. The main provisions of the article are based on materials from periodicals, Internet sources, and statistical data. When implementing the article, statistical research methods were used to identify the territorial features of the impact of the 2018 FIFA World Cup on the gross regional product of the host regions. Comparison of regions was carried out using indicators of the development of the tourism industry such as the size of tourist flow, creation of new jobs, commissioning of new service enterprises, etc. Results. The influence of the expenses associated with organizing and holding the 2018 FIFA World Cup on the economy of the country as a whole, as well as on the gross regional product in those regions of the Russian Federation where the matches were held, has been studied. The authors have concluded that assessment of the effectiveness of using the World Cup legacy should be based on two indicators: the ratio of the effect obtained to the annual gross regional product and the share of tourism in the effect. The authors have examined the existing experience of using the World Cup legacy in four constituent entities of the Volga Federal District that hosted the World Cup matches and have identified the problems facing the tourism industry in these regions. Discussion and Conclusion. The legacy of the 2018 FIFA World Cup is of great importance for the development of tourism, since tourism infrastructure is an important factor in attracting tourists and will be in demand for a long time to come. The results of the study can contribute to the development of regional programs for the use of the legacy of the 2018 FIFA World Cup