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Putin freezes the Friendship Games: Russia's alternative project to the Olympics remains in limbo

Vladimir Putin has decided to put the World Friendship Games, a Russian initiative to counter the exclusion of Russian athletes from events such as the Olympic Games, on indefinite hiatus. The suspension, announced by presidential decree, leaves the future of the competition, which was intended to be Russia's response to international boycotts, up in the air.

An ambitious proposal, held back by reality

The ambitious Friendship Games project was presented as a platform for Russian and international athletes to compete without the restrictions imposed by bodies such as the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Initially scheduled for last September, the event was to be held in Moscow and Yekaterinburg, with the participation of an estimated 5,500 athletes in more than 20 Olympic disciplines.

However, the international context complicated the plans. According to the International Friendship Association, several countries were reluctant to participate, fearing possible sanctions for allying with Russia at a time of high geopolitical tension due to the war in Ukraine and the doping cases that have marked Russian sport in recent years.

One setback after another

The cancellation does not come as a total surprise. In September, the organisers had already given up on holding the tournament ‘after consultations with a number of athletes and international federations’. Now, with Putin's decree, the idea has been put on ice until the Russian president makes a ‘special decision’ on the matter.

Yelena Välbe, president of the Ski Federation and a leading voice in Russian sport, backed the move, noting that ‘the president, as always, is right’. Her words reflect the domestic consensus that the country needs a stronger strategy to overcome its isolation on the international sporting stage.

Paris Olympics: a blow to Russian pride

The current situation of Russian athletes is a reflection of the difficulties facing Russian sport. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, only 15 Russian athletes participated under a neutral flag, winning a single silver medal in women's tennis. This result contrasted with the aspirations of Russia, which has historically been a powerhouse at the Olympics.

The Western boycott, coupled with sanctions for the use of systematic doping and tensions stemming from the war in Ukraine, has left Russian sport in a delicate position. The Friendship Games proposal emerged as a way to show resistance and create a space for its athletes, but international circumstances have made this solution unfeasible for the time being.

The future of Russian sport

Putin had placed high expectations on the Friendship Games, even earmarking a budget of millions for prizes and the organisation of the event. However, the decision to call it off reflects a more cautious strategy in the face of international rejection. The Kremlin appears to be evaluating how to redefine its role in world sport, while looking for ways to mitigate isolation and bring its athletes back into the centre of the action.

The suspension of the Friendship Games leaves a vacuum in Russian sport, which urgently needs to find alternatives to keep its athletes among the competitive elite. For now, the project remains a reminder of the challenges Russia faces on the global sporting stage.