World Friendship Games

A tournament of new opportunities

The first ever World Friendship Games will be held in Moscow and Ekaterinburg (Russia). This competition introduces a completely new format for sports events. The Games will open a new chapter in the history of sport.

International Friendship Association (IFA)

The competition will be held under the auspices of the International Friendship Association (IFA). The IFA is the inspirer and organiser of the Games.

About the Sports Programme

The sports programme of the Games reflects the free and innovative spirit of the tournament, harmoniously combining both traditional sports dating back to Ancient Greece and modern events which are popular with young people and attracting high viewing figures on television and the Internet.

36 sports
208 disciplines

Sports Programme

Competitions will be held in Moscow and Ekaterinburg

Both cities have a great deal of experience in preparing for and hosting major sports events.

Moscow
Moscow is the capital of the Russian Federation and a city with a rich tradition of hosting major international competitions.
- 17 Competition Venues
- 28 Sports Programme Events
Venues Map
Ekaterinburg
The capital of the Middle Ural. Located on the border between Europe and Asia, it is Russia's fourth largest city by population
- 04 Competition Venues
- 08 Sports Programme Events
Venues Map

Games philosophy

Athletes come first

This principle is central to the organisation of the tournament at all levels, from its motivating ideals to its logistics.

For participants

Games symbols

The Games' visual identity is characterised by a modern, dynamic design based on Bauhaus-inspired imagery. This style is characterised by the use of simple geometric shapes, bold graphic elements and vibrant colours, which express energy and individualism and convey positive emotions to both viewers and participants.

The World Friendship Games logo symbolises unity and friendship between different countries and cultures. It embodies the idea of sports competition as a means of bringing people together in a world where borders and differences give way to cooperation and respect.

Download logo

The Games mascot

Dobryak Tiger

Mascot selection stages

Research

The process of mascot development began in November 2023. In the first stage, the World Friendship Games Organising Committee invited experts from the Russian Public Opinion Research Centre to select, with the help of special focus groups, a list of characters that would form the basis of the mascot designs.
Visualisation

At the next stage, the Organising Committee held a competition among leading animation studios in Russia for the right to develop visual images representing the characters selected during the focus group stage. The competition was won by Soyuzmultfilm, one of the oldest and most famous companies in the industry. The studio's artists developed several dozen sketches of the selected characters, from which a shortlist of three options was selected that best met the Organising Committee's brief.
Voting

In the next stage of the process of developing the mascot, an expert jury of 19 people was formed. It was chaired by Umar Kremlev, President of the International Boxing Association (IBA), and included renowned athletes, film and pop stars, and World Friendship Games Ambassadors.

Umar Kremlev

President of the International Boxing Association (IBA)

Svetlana Romashina

The most decorated athlete in the history of Artistic Swimming

Saadat Dalgatova

Multiple medal winner in World and European boxing championships and captain of the Russian national boxing team

Roman Vlasov

Two-time Olympic champion and multiple world and European champion in Greco-Roman Wrestling

Anastasia Tukmacheva

Famous Russian sports influencer, triathlete and ultramarathon runner

Nikita Nagorny

Olympic champion in Artistic Gymnastics

Arina Averina

5-time World champion in Rhythmic Gymnastics

Dina Averina

Olympic silver medallist

Alina Zagitova

Olympic champion in Figure Skating

David Musulbes

Olympic Champion in Freestyle Wrestling

Karina Aznavuryan

2-time Olympic Champion in Fencing

Sergey Karyakin

Russian racing driver. Winner of the Dakar Rally

Fyodor Bondarchuk

Film director, actor, TV producer

Igor Vernik

Theatre and film actor, TV producer

Natalia Shneiderova

Film and TV producer

Askold Zapashny

Artistic Director of the Great Moscow State Circus

Svetlana Akulova

Director of the Moscow Zoo

Evgeny Gorenburg

Public figure, entrepreneur, musician

Dmitriy Filatov

Principal Conductor of the Ural Youth Symphony Orchestra

The jury members chose from three options — a tiger, a bear and a squirrel.

The jury members chose from three options — a tiger, a bear and a squirrel.
Selecting a name