Russia, largely excluded from international sports, hosts athletes at BRICS Games
Thousands of athletes in major and obscure sports are vying for medals in the Russian city of Kazan at the BRICS Games, an international competition shadowed by politics amid Russia’s exclusion from major sports events
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Thousands of athletes in both major and obscure sports will be vying for medals in the Russian city of Kazan at the sixth BRICS Games, an international competition shadowed by politics amid Russia's exclusion from major sports events.
The games opened Wednesday, which Russia observes as its independence day holiday, underlining the key role that sports plays in its national identity.
Since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has been frozen out of the most prominent international competitions and sports associations; some Russian passport holders will be allowed to compete as neutral athletes in the Paris Olympics that begin July 26, but their results will not be credited to Russia.
In that atmosphere, the BRICS Games are a way for Russia to underline its aggrieved claims of prejudice and inequitable treatment by the West and international sports organizations.
