The eyes of the world were on Russia on Saturday as the country hosted the Preliminary Draw for the 2018 FIFA World Cup™. Russia's tournament cycle kicked into action as the global football community watched the draw in St Petersburg – one of the 11 Host Cities for 2018.

Symbolising a major milestone for any country hosting the tournament, the Preliminary Draw brought the next edition of the FIFA World Cup™ one step closer to the Russian people. As part of the preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™, the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) organised a Management Observation Programme to witness this landmark event in Russia's tournament operations.

Spending three days in St Petersburg, the SC worked closely with the 2018 Local Organising Committee and FIFA to witness first-hand the preparations surrounding an event that signifies the true countdown to the World Cup Finals.

The Observation Programme participants were immersed in every aspect of the build-up, learning about key functions from accommodation, transport services, media operations, marketing, volunteer services, safety and security, IT infrastructure and accreditation. The Management Observation Programme concluded with attendance at the Preliminary Draw itself in the grand Konstantinov Palace, attended by both the SC's Secretary General, Hassan Al Thawadi, and Nasser al Khater, Assistant Secretary General for Tournament Affairs.

The three-day programme was a crucial insight into how the first major event of a World Cup should be delivered. Following an intensive schedule that allowed the SC to meet key representatives from the Russia 2018 LOC, Marilena Koutra, FWC Programme Director, admitted the whole experience was invaluable as Qatar prepares to host the tournament following Russia 2018.

"Being present during the first official event of the Russian 2018 LOC was a real privilege," Koutra said. "Russia did a tremendous job and delivered a successful event to the football world. We experienced three days of rich information that provided us with a great insight into the key functional areas of the Preliminary Draw. Our mission now as the next organisers shall be to deliver a unique Preliminary Draw in 2019."

Saturday's event was the first major opportunity for the people of Russia to witness the transformation their country will undergo ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup™. From the welcome signs at the airport for visitors, to the numerous volunteers who were ever-present throughout the city, it was a symbolic event.

The star-studded conclusion on Saturday – overseen by Russian President Vladimir Putin and FIFA President Sepp Blatter – also brought 2022 one step closer. The next time there is a Preliminary Draw for the World Cup, it will take place in Qatar.

Jassim Al Jassim, Education & Sport Engagement Senior Officer, said: "Observers programmes like this one are exactly what we need in order to have an idea of what's ahead for Qatar. The best part of the programme is getting the chance to ask direct questions and learn from mistakes and ensure we do not repeat them. Our colleagues in Russia were very helpful and open to giving information which will be very useful in years to come."

Reflecting on the experience, Fatma Fakhro, Non-Competition Venues & Infrastructure Executive Director, added: "The Observer Programme was a great learning opportunity. Not only did it provide insight into operational aspects of the event, but it filled me with enthusiasm and excitement to start planning our event in Doha for 2019."

With security around the event tight, it was also a valuable opportunity for the delegation to learn about the level of detail required to ensure a milestone such as this one passes off without incident.

Ali Al Ali Mohamed, Security Expert for Interpol, said: "It was an ideal opportunity to observe safety and security measures and to shadow the organisers who delivered this event. We all learned a lot from the experience and will use these lessons to help deliver a great draw in four years' time."

With World Cup legends such as Ronaldo and Fabio Cannavaro involved in the draw process, millions of people around the world tuned in to Saturday's draw as the journey towards 2018 began.

For Michail Kaloeidas, the SC's Director of Marketing, the concept of the event was a fascinating education in how to introduce a global brand that will dominate the football landscape for the next four years.

He said: "Seeing a newly developed brand come to life and become global through the power of football was a great experience. This is a truly unique opportunity for a country and a strong legacy aspect in its own right."

"The Qatari delegation had the privilege to observe, investigate and assess practices, potential similarities and differences in our hosting plans. It was an opportunity for us all to leave inspired about the legacy that could be left behind after this tournament," he concluded.