Despite the war in Ukraine, Russia is not completely isolated economically. Sporty on the other hand. Now Moscow wants to take countermeasures here.
Saint Petersburg – Vladimir Putin would love to see the Ukrainian war a quick success. Three days after the start of the invasion, the Kiev government was supposed to change the president Volodymyr Zelenskyy overthrown, members arrested and then replaced by Moscow loyalists.
Instead, countless deaths have been reported on both sides over the past 14 months. Troops from Russia had barely made any headway for about a year and, as in the fall, were in danger of being significantly pushed back during a planned Ukrainian counteroffensive. No one can predict when the bloodshed and destruction will end. At least in his own country, where not only members of the opposition have to worry about their well-being, the head of the Kremlin appears to even have the advantage if the war drags on.
Russia and the BRICS Games: 2024 sporting events with Putin?
It is therefore unlikely that the so-called military special operations will continue into 2024. But that has not stopped Putin from planning sporting events in his country. After the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the new big event will be several sizes smaller, but only countries that support the 70-year-old despite the atrocities committed by his troops will be represented.
As Russian news agency Tass reports, Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin proposed at a government meeting to hold the 2024 BRICS Games in Russia. Behind the acronym hides the amalgamation of developing economies. This stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Almost an alternative to the G7.
BRICS as G7 alternative: Alliances around Russia can accept new members
The Quintet occupies more than a quarter of the world’s land area and has more than 40 percent of the world’s population. Unlike the alliance of the leading industrial nations of the western world, from which Russia was excluded after the annexation of Crimea, expansion is planned.
19 countries are said to have expressed their interest in entering. That Indian Time names of Saudi Arabia, Iran, Argentina, United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Egypt, Bahrain and Indonesia. According to South Africa’s BRICS ambassador Anil Sooklal, there are also two East African countries and one from West Africa, whose names he did not name. An extension will be discussed in Cape Town on June 2 and 3. So far, only South Africa has joined the founding quartet in 2010 which was formed in 2006.
BRICS 2024 game in Russia? The Minister for Sport deemed the event “very important”
According to Matytsin, hosting the BRICS Games, which premiered in China in 2017, would also be “very important given the prospect of expanding the format to include new member countries”. In 2024, Russia holds the presidency. Due to the war of aggression, Russian athletes have been banned from most international sports competitions, and in some sports, such as tennis, players compete under a neutral flag.
IOC President Thomas Bach, the supreme Olympic ruler, recently suggested allowing Russian athletes to return to competition under certain conditions. However, he drew harsh criticism.
Therefore, the BRICS Games will be the first opportunity since the invasion of Ukraine where Russia can again present itself as a sporting nation. And as you know, Putin likes to enjoy sporting success almost as much as military success. (mg)
