MOSCOW, August 20, Andrey Simonenko. A unique event, which is very important for Russian athletes during the period of restrictions on participation in international tournaments, said the chief judge of the competition, three-time winner of the Olympic Games in synchronized swimming Maria Kiseleva. The opening ceremony of the Games will take place on Saturday in Moscow. The competition started on August 10 and will last until October 2. Tournaments in 39 sports are held in 12 regions of the country. Previously, most international sports federations, due to a special operation in Ukraine, banned Russian athletes from participating in international competitions. «For me, this is an honorable duty and an important mission, a new role for me,» Kiseleva said. «The Spartakiad is a unique event that was urgently needed now. Our athletes need high-level competitions. And these competitions allow all the strongest athletes in the country to start. What is very important, the Spartakiad is held according to the program of the 2024 Olympics in Paris and the whole country is involved in it. What we need today is to check their strength in the competitive moment, this is a great opportunity for our leaders, and for those who aspire to get into the Russian national team. , who came from different regions, who crossed the threshold of the base on the «Round Lake», where the best in the country and in the world. This is the best motivator you can get. And our best athletes test themselves to see how they are at the peak of their form. We recently hosted the World and European Championships, it was very interesting to see what form our team is in now.»
