Oleg Matytsin, the Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation, proposed to President Vladimir Putin that the BRICS Games be staged on Russian soil. The suggestion comes as Russia holds the BRICS presidency and could potentially influence the format as more countries participate. The idea is framed around showcasing the BRICS partnership while considering how the bloc might expand in the years ahead, according to Matytsin as reported by TASS.
We could see the BRICS Games organized in 2024 within the context of Russia’s BRICS presidency, with a view toward strengthening regional collaboration and offering a platform for athletes from the BRICS nations to compete in a unified setting. This proposal aligns with broader discussions about expanding BRICS cooperation and the practical benefits of a larger, more diverse event calendar for the bloc, as noted by TASS.
In late February 2022, the International Olympic Committee issued guidance to international sports federations, recommending that Russian and Belarusian athletes be withheld from participation in certain competitions. The aim was to respond to actions linked to the hostilities at that time. The stance reflected the IOC’s concern about maintaining a fair and peaceful sporting environment while isolating problematic political contexts, as reported by TASS.
During a subsequent IOC executive committee meeting on March 28, it was suggested that Russians could be allowed neutral status if athletes did not actively support or promote the hostilities. However, athletes affiliated with law enforcement and armed forces would remain barred from competition under those guidelines. This nuanced position illustrates the balance the IOC sought between participation opportunities for athletes and the broader commitments to international sport ethics, as described by TASS.
Previously, the International Canoe Federation (ICF) had allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete before events, reflecting a period of normalized participation under certain conditions. The evolution of these decisions demonstrates how international sports bodies continuously reassess eligibility in light of global events and the evolving rules governing fair play, as reported by TASS.