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Tampering with Mother Nature

Moscow tries to keep snow from falling on UEFA Cup final

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Posted: Wednesday May 12, 1999 10:55 AM

MOSCOW (AP) -- With Wednesday's UEFA Cup title game threatened by spring snows, Mayor Yuri Luzhkov once again promised to tinker with the clouds to ensure that nature doesn't get in his way.

Luzhkov told UEFA President Lennart Johansson on Wednesday that he would send up several cloud-seeding planes to prevent overcast skies from dumping snow on the game at Luzhniki stadium, the Interfax news agency said.

Luzhkov has used the cloud-seeding planes with some success in the past. He did so during the World Youth Games last summer, keeping the rain at bay. His efforts to improve the weather for Moscow's 850th anniversary two years ago were less successful, and a light rain fell throughout the celebration.

The planes used two methods on the clouds -- one to make them rain before getting to Moscow, and another to keep them from dumping their water until after they passed over the city.

Luzhkov has waged a campaign to bring large sporting events to Moscow, and wants them to go off without a hitch. He has said Moscow may consider making a bid to host the 2012 Olympics.

The UEFA Cup title game, between France's Olympique Marseille and Italy's Parma, was scheduled to start at 10:00 p.m. (1800 GMT), and there had been snow flurries earlier in the day.

 

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