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April 14, 2007
FIFA Chief Blatter Arrives in Kolkata

Kolkata
FIFA president Joseph Sepp Blatter arrived here Saturday night with his entourage of around 100 officials on a three-day visit to India.

VIP road, that connects the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport to the city, wore a festive look with cutouts of Blatter welcoming him to the football-loving city. Rajarhat and Gopalpur municipality built a stage in the shape of a football where the FIFA president was felicitated.

Blatter had rescheduled his visit to the city. Earlier, he was expected to arrive here Sunday morning.

He will visit the three big clubs - Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting - during his visit.

The FIFA chief will also watch the Mohun Bagan-East Bengal NFL match Sunday at the Salt Lake stadium. Ticket prices have been reduced to Rs.10 to attract a bigger crowd, informed All India Football Federation (AIFF) chief Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi.

Meanwhile, it has been learnt that the AIFF is spending around Rs.5 million to play a good host to the FIFA president and his officials.

"This is a golden opportunity for us to grab some projects for the development of Indian football and take the sport to the next level in the country," Dasmunsi told IANS Saturday, hours before Blatter was to come on his first visit here.

Blatter's next stopover will be New Delhi, where he will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and some of the corporate leaders of the country. 

IANS | April 14, 2007

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