Language lessons, soaring hotel prices in Kazan for World Cup

KAZAN, Russia - Restaurant staff are taking crash language courses and prices are rising as the predominantly Muslim capital of Russia's Olympic dreams prepares to host the World Cup.

For the 1.2 million inhabitants of Kazan, a city some 700 kilometers east of Moscow with its own Kremlin and one of Russia's largest mosques, the tournament is a chance to show itself off to the world.

"Hospitality is in our blood," said Daria Sannikova, who heads the Kazan tourism committee.