When Oleg Merkulov watches the World Cup this year, his primary concern is not whether his team wins. Merkulov is a Russian fan living in Chevy Chase, Md., yet his worries mirror that of an event organizer: Are the games running smoothly? Are the visitors happy? And mostly, is everyone safe?
With the world’s eyes on the country and many traveling to Russian cities to experience the games in person, Merkulov wants the fans to leave feeling satisfied and with new friends.
Merkulov said he hoped “people from all over the world would feel at home.