Russia proposed to establish the BRICS Marathon League

The BRICS Sports Ministers' meeting was held on Tuesday, 1 November, via videoconference. During the meeting, the Russian representative proposed the establishment of a BRICS Marathon League. This is reported on the website of the Russian Ministry of Sport.

The event was attended by Oleg Matytsin, Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation, Gao Zhidan, Head of the State General Administration of Physical Education and Sports of the People's Republic of China, Nkosinathi Emmanuel "Nati" Mtetwa, Minister of Arts and Culture of the Republic of South Africa, Ronaldo Vieira Bento, Minister of Civil Society of the Federal Republic of Brazil and Anurag Singh Thakur, Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of India. 

During the meeting, Oleg Matytsin noted that student sports, among other things, should be one of the priority areas for BRICS cooperation next year.

"BRICS sports cooperation is built in the spirit of partnership, equality, mutual respect and non-discrimination."

Oleg Matytsin   

Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation

In addition, the relevant ministers considered the development of partnerships between the BRICS member states in the field of elite sports and mass sports. The representatives also discussed the current progress of multilateral cooperation in the field of sport.

The meeting summarised the BRICS Games in 2022. The sporting events of the Games took place in an online format - a decision that was due to the need to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Winners were chosen in breakdancing, chess and wushu (14 disciplines in total). 

In 2023, the BRICS Games will be held in South Africa. Participants will compete in 10 sports. 

In addition, during the meeting the Russian side put forward a proposal to establish a BRICS Marathon League. The project involves combining the most ambitious races of the BRICS countries into a single competition series. It is expected to become the largest in the world. The experience of the Russian marathons (Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan) will be taken as a basis.