Kazan In Russia To Host 2024 BRICS Games In June

The Russian city of Kazan, capital of Tatarstan, will host the BRICS Games from 11th to 24th June. This international multi-sport event will gather around 5,000 athletes from BRICS countries and invited states. Bricsik the leopard has been chosen as the mascot for the Games.

BRICS, a multilateral forum of five nations – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – recently expanded to include new member states such as the UAE, Iran, Egypt, and Ethiopia. According to TV BRICS, the Games' programme will feature sports competitions, a meeting of BRICS sports ministers, and a summit of partner ministers.

Participants will compete for 380 sets of prizes in Kazan. The event will be held in an open format, allowing athletes from more than 50 countries, including Kazakhstan, Turkey, Mexico, Uruguay, Venezuela, Bahrain, and Congo, to participate. Valery Krylov, a sports expert, noted that the BRICS 2024 Sports Games would be significant for international sports development.

In 2023, the Games in South Africa's Durban featured six disciplines: tennis, badminton, swimming, table tennis, volleyball, and sports for people with mobility impairments. Around 450 athletes aged 19 to 21 from South Africa, Russia, China, India and Brazil competed.

In 2024, there will be 29 disciplines. The competition in Kazan promises to be unique with traditional and unusual disciplines highlighting the cultural diversity of BRICS countries. The programme includes acrobatic rock and roll, breaking, karate, table tennis, diving, artistic gymnastics, fencing, rhythmic gymnastics, beach volleyball, beach handball, canoeing, badminton, equestrian sport, tennis, basketball, football double-header matches.

Sergey Skorokhodov commented on the inclusion of non-traditional Olympic disciplines like acrobatic rock 'n' roll and breaking. He highlighted Russia's aim to integrate sport with culture and art. He also mentioned Russia's successful history in organising major sporting events.

The host government has prepared a draft decree on payments to Russian winners and medallists of the BRICS Games. Gold medal winners will receive 358,400 rubles (US$3028), silver medallists 179,200 rubles (US$1964), and bronze medallists 107,500 rubles (US$1178).

In May 2023, Vladimir Putin instructed proposals for organising the BRICS Games. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin was put in charge. In September 2023, it was revealed that the Ministry of Finance allocated 1.29 billion rubles (US$14 138) for the event.

At a forum named "We are together. Sport", held in Moscow in mid-April, competition venues were revealed. One venue is in Moscow and 17 are in Kazan. Venues include the Central Stadium and Kazan Tennis Academy among others.

The closing ceremony will coincide with the national Tatar holiday Sabantui. This will offer representatives of foreign countries an opportunity to experience the rich traditions of one of Russia's regions.

With inputs from WAM