Russia set to host the World Friendship Games

Russia are planning on holding the World Friendship games from September 15 to 29, 2024 as an alternative to the Paris Olympics, where Russian athletes may not be allowed to participate.

The games will be held in Moscow and Yekaterinburg, capital of the Urals, according to the decree signed on Tuesday, March 19 by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The aim of the games is to ensure “free participation of Russian athletes” in the competitions and the development of “new formats of international sports cooperation,” the decree states.

Some 5,500 athletes will be able to participate in the World Friendship Games, which will give out a total of 4.6 billion rubles (about $50 million) in prize money.

Some 20 Olympic and 10 non-Olympic disciplines are expected to be contested, while the rest of the sports that will hand out medals are still under discussion.

Plans are to hold the games every four years
“There are already many countries that want to participate,” said Umar Kremlev, president of the International Boxing Association.

The Russian capital will host the opening ceremony and Yekaterinburg, a city that already hosted the World Cup in 2018, will host several of the competitions.

The government has already commissioned the creation of an organizing committee, which will have a two-month deadline next year to submit the competition plan.

The World Friendship Games, which could include a parade in Red Square, will now be held every four years.

Sports Minister Oleg Matitsin condemned the exclusion of the Russian Olympic Committee, but argued against breaking off relations with the rest of the world.

“The main mission now, in my view, is not only to react diligently to changes in the world sports order although that is important, but, primarily, to determine Russia’s role and place in building the future of sport,” he said.

Russia will also hold next year’s BRICS Games from June 12-23 – a month before the Olympics – in the Tatar capital, Kazan.

The group’s original members – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -, its new members – Iran, Saudi Arabia, Emirates, Argentina, Egypt and Ethiopia – and other invited countries will attend.

Kazan will also host the Future Games in 2024, which will take place from February 23 to March 3, 2024, with teams from more than 100 countries.

The games will showcase the latest developments in artificial intelligence, information technology, robotics, virtual reality and cyber sports, all combined with physical activity.