Friendship Games Postponement Confirmed by Officials
The World Friendship Games planned for Russia have been deferred to 2025, as announced by Maxim Agapitov, president of the Russian Weightlifting Federation, during a press conference in Novosibirsk.
Agapitov stated that the Friendly Games were officially postponed to next year. He clarified that details would be shared soon, though no formal confirmation had been issued at the time. In June, the head of the organizing committee indicated that information would emerge shortly, but a month later he stepped down from his role to focus on the project’s international aspects.
News from the Sverdlovsk Region Athletics Federation attributed a plan to hold the Games in August 2025, while the official website gave no indication of a delay. The situation remained unsettled as February 2022 had previously seen the International Olympic Committee urge federations to bar Russian and Belarusian athletes from competitions, with those nations later allowed as neutral athletes under strict conditions for the 2024 Olympic Games.
In response, Russia introduced the Friendship Games format, with the first events slated for Moscow and Yekaterinburg from September 15 to 29, 2024. The International Friendship Association coordinated the initiative, presenting it as an alternative to traditional competition routes.
IOC Reaction
The International Olympic Committee voiced strong concerns about the Friendship Games, issuing an official statement accusing Russia of attempting to politicize sport. The IOC urged the international sports community to disregard the event. The statement described the plan as a violation of the Olympic Charter and numerous UN resolutions, noting a diplomatic push that skirted traditional sports bodies to elevate political aims.
Svetlana Zhurova, an Olympic speed skating champion and State Duma deputy, commented that the IOC’s stance exposed a tough position and suggested that the Friendship Games could still be organized as originally intended if conditions allowed. She added that postponement might be reasonable given the timing after the Paris Olympics and the readiness of foreign athletes.
Zhurova observed that Olympics were delayed by the pandemic, affecting scheduling. She explained that athletes who did not participate in the Olympic Games received financial support from the Russian Olympic Committee, but the goal of a large-scale international competition remained. She cautioned against assumptions that the postponement reflected a lack of interest from other nations and emphasized the need for transparency in communications from the IOC. This had sparked debate about the IOC’s approach and the broader response from other countries.
Justification for Postponement
The position taken by a member of parliament highlighted how Olympic champions who competed early in the year would have limited time and energy to prepare for the Friendship Games. The member argued that athletes returning a year later would be in a different competitive frame, with distinct setups and readiness. The discussion also touched on potential international perceptions if certain top athletes did not participate, stressing the importance of holding true to broad participation rather than creating misperceptions about intent. The broader point was that the postponement could be seen as legitimate given the scale and prestige of Olympic-level competition and the need for parity among participants. The argument was that the decision should be understood in light of ongoing schedules, athlete health, and global expectations. The conversation also reflected concerns about public narrative and international relations in sport, with many weighing the potential impact on partnerships and goodwill among nations.