International Friendship Championship 2022: Russia prepares to welcome nations from around the world
Russia, a country of multiple resources and a rich history, is preparing to organize the first International Friendship Championship. Alexei Sorokin, the head of the Organizing Committee, recently announced that Russia is ready to welcome all nations of the world, including Egypt, for this long-awaited event.
This championship, which has been relaunched with enthusiasm, will bring together up to 5,000 players from different countries, and will compete in 33 sports, such as football, basketball, tennis, horse riding, gymnastics, and many more. others still.
Featuring big cash prizes, this event will be a major opportunity to participate in various sports competitions, Sorokin said. Additionally, many events will also be held in the Russian capital, Moscow, as well as other cities full of open-air museums.
The Russian Friendship Games will include events in cycling, judo, women’s swimming, figure skating, taekwondo, women’s artistic gymnastics, programming competitions, archery, samba, karate, weightlifting, chess, running and swimming.
Russia has more than 80,000 hotel rooms and four airports, he added, and players’ participation will be free, as Russia will cover accommodation and transportation costs.
In exclusive statements to Al-Masry Al-Youm, Sorokin confirmed that the Russian Friendship Games will not be limited to competing with other international Olympic tournaments, and that their date was chosen far from international games calendars.
He added that there will be as many as 283 gold, silver and bronze medals up for grabs.
Asked about the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the opening ceremony of the tournament, Sorokin explained that he was not aware of his program, while welcoming all presidents to the opening of the tournament. tournament.
Several countries in Latin America, Asia and Africa have expressed their willingness to participate, he noted.
Sorokin assured that the tournament will not be limited to sports competitions, but will also emphasize cultural participation, given the many museums that Russia has.
“We do not want to politicize the tournament despite the sanctions imposed on athletes, and our objective is purely sporting,” he said, explaining that the second stage of the tournament will be determined after its international recognition.
Sorokin stressed that sporting events will contribute to the promotion of domestic and foreign tourism, emphasizing that visitors from the World Cup returned to Russia and visited it again for tourism and entertainment.
He added that the Russian Sports Association is in communication with the relevant authorities in Egypt to propose athletes in all 33 disciplines, based on their international level.
He also enthusiastically welcomed Egypt’s participation due to the presence of renowned international players such as football legend Mohamed Salah, assuring that he was warmly invited to join the Russian Friendship Games if his program allows. allowed, just as he was welcome during the World Cup in Russia in 2018. They are closely monitoring whether he will change clubs or not.
Russia will cover all accommodation and transportation costs for the various participating nations, without any restrictions.
Despite the political ban and US sanctions, Sorokin assured that American and Ukrainian players are welcome and will receive all necessary support.
Players are also free to participate individually without representing their country, he added.
Sorokin confirmed that the entire world saw the precise organization of the FIFA World Cup in Russia, with the Ministry of Transport and the Russian government connecting all means of transport and metro trains to video screens. display, so that any visitor, tourist or sports fan can watch their favorite matches while moving around the metro that covers the capital, Moscow, and surrounding cities.