2024 World Friendship Games

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

World Friendship games 2024
2024 World Friendship games logo
VenueLuzhniki Stadium
LocationMoscow, Yekaterinburg
Dates15–29 September
Competitors283 athletes from 70 nations
Websiteru.wfg2024.com

The 2024 World Friendship Games (Russian: Всемирные игры дружбы 2024, Vsemirnye igry druzhby 2024) – is a planned international multi-sport event, which is expected be held in Russia from 15 to 29 September 2024. Unlike the Olympic Games, where athletes only compete for medals, athletes at the World Friendship Games will win cash prizes.[1]

History[edit]

As a result of an ongoing doping scandal and the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has been excluded from almost every sporting competition, and Russian athletes have been unable to use their national symbols at international sporting events.[2] In response, the Russian government announced its intent to organize competitions for the country's top athletes with the possibility for other countries to participate.[3]

In May 2023, Russian sports minister Oleg Matytsin confirmed Russia will host the second edition of Friendship Games in 2024, shortly after the Summer Olympics in Paris.[4][5][6][7] The Organizing Committee of the Games was formed in October 2023. In addition to winning medals, athletes will win cash prizes. The total prize money offered amounts to 4.6 billion Russian rubles (approximately US$49 million).[8][9][10]

International reaction[edit]

On November 14, 2023, the IOC, represented by James Macleod, director of relations with National Olympic Committees, made recommendations to the committees regarding possible participation in the competitions:[11]

Considering the increasing politicization of world sport, we would ask that all NOCs exercise caution with respect to this initiative. Indeed, any NOC involvement in the World Friendship Games would not only go against the IOC EB's recommendation of 25 February 2022 with respect to international sporting events being held in Russia but also against the Olympic Movement's collective aim of maintaining the independence and autonomy of sport.

The Organizing Committee of the 2024 World Friendship Games responded to the IOC statement, noting that the purpose of the upcoming Games was never either confrontation with the IOC or the creation of competitions in opposition to the Olympic movement.[12][13]

On November 21, 2023, the Games were discussed at a meeting of the UN General Assembly. IOC president Thomas Bach said it was too early to talk about the consequences of the Games, but different options were being considered.[14]

Russian deputy permanent representative at the UN Maria Zabolotskaya spoke about the inadmissibility of any discrimination against athletes at competitions and invited the world to the Friendship Games.[15][16]

In March 2024, IOC president Thomas Bach urged a boycott of Russia’s planned 'Friendship Games' and labelled the event a "cynical attempt”" by the country to "politicise sport".[17]

Branding[edit]

Mascot

[edit]

The logo of the 2024 World Friendship Games was presented in Saint Petersburg as part of the Russia-Africa summit, which took place from 27 to 28 July 2023.[18][19] The logo depicts two white hands clasped across a globe.[20]

Mascot[edit]

The games mascot, a tiger, was unveiled on 5 March 2024.[21]

Venues[edit]

Moscow[edit]

Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow

Most of the sports programmes, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies, will take place in Moscow.[8]

Yekaterinburg[edit]

All competitions in Yekaterinburg will be held at existing sports facilities; the construction of new facilities is not planned.[22]

Participants[edit]

According to Infobae on 28 March 2024, Alexey Sorokin (the director general of the World Friendship Games Organizing Committee) claimed that athletes from "at least" 70 nations may participate.[23]

Sports[edit]

The sports programme will include 33 sports:

Moscow:

Ekaterinburg:

In addition, mas-wrestling and sumo will be held as demonstration sports.[24]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "At the Olympics: win a medal. Friendship Games: win, get paid". www.insidethegames.biz. 13 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Pride and propaganda: Russia's reimagined sports world". www.playthegame.org. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  3. ^ "History repeats itself as Russia reveals plans to launch World Friendship Games". www.insidethegames.biz. 3 May 2023.
  4. ^ "Russia to launch Friendship Games after 40-year gap, sports minister says". www.reuters.com. Reuters. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  5. ^ "History repeats itself as Russia reveals plans to launch World Friendship Games in 2024". Inside the Games. 3 May 2023. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Russia to launch Friendship Games after 40-year gap, sports minister says". Reuters. 4 May 2023. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  7. ^ "Russia announces plans to stage 'World Friendship Games' after 2024 Olympics". BBC. 4 May 2023. Archived from the original on 20 September 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  8. ^ a b "2024 World Friendship Games to be hosted by Moscow, Yekaterinburg". TASS. 19 October 2023. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  9. ^ "Russia counters Paris 2024 with its own Games". Marca. 19 October 2023. Archived from the original on 7 November 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  10. ^ "Russia inviting 4 nations to world event just before Olympics". ESPN. 27 July 2023. Archived from the original on 3 August 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  11. ^ "IOC and the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations caution about World Friendship Games". Inside The Games. 14 November 2023. Archived from the original on 18 November 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  12. ^ "World Friendship Games organizers never wanted to do battle with IOC". TASS. 15 November 2023. Archived from the original on 19 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  13. ^ "Moscow responds to the IOC". francsjeux. 16 November 2023. Archived from the original on 22 November 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  14. ^ "IOC chief says it's too early to talk about sanctions for taking part in Friendship Games". TASS. 21 November 2023.
  15. ^ "Russia and IOC clash at the UN before member states pass Olympic Truce for Paris Games". The Associated Press. 21 November 2023. Archived from the original on 22 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  16. ^ "Russia and IOC clash at the UN before member states pass Olympic Truce for Paris Games". The Washington Post. 21 November 2023.
  17. ^ "Olympic committee calls Russia's 'Friendship Games' a 'cynical attempt to politicise sport'". ITV News. 19 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  18. ^ "Оргкомитет Всемирных игр дружбы представил логотип турнира" [The organizing committee of the World Friendship Games presented the tournament logo]. rsport.ria (in Russian). 27 July 2023. Archived from the original on 14 August 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  19. ^ "Sports at the Russia–Africa Forum: World Friendship Games, a race and football stars". Summitafrica. 20 July 2023. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  20. ^ https://ru.wfg2024.com/
  21. ^ "Тигр стал Талисманом Всемирных Игр Дружбы 2024". wfg2024.com. 5 March 2024.
  22. ^ "World Friendship Games to be hosted by Moscow, Yekaterinburg in 2024 - decree". interfax. 19 October 2023. Archived from the original on 22 November 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  23. ^ "The Friendship Games organized against Russia against the IOC will have the participation of 70 countries". Around the Rings. Buenos Aires: Infobae. 28 March 2024. Archived from the original on 6 April 2024. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  24. ^ "Оргкомитет одобрил спортивную программу Всемирных Игры Дружбы" [The Organizing Committee approved the sports program of the World Friendship Games]. games2024.ru (in Russian). 29 November 2023. Archived from the original on 4 December 2023.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2024_World_Friendship_Games&oldid=1221027313"