The Queen of Sport Participants Await the Friendship Games
From 15 to 18 August, Ekaterinburg hosted the final 10th stage of the Queen of Sport – the PSB Russian Athletics Championships. The World Friendship Games supported the main competition of the season for Russian track and field athletes. The 4-day competition was held at the Kalininets Sports and Recreation Complex, the most modern athletics arena in Russia, which is being prepared to host the athletics tournament as part of the Games. The competition programme of the World Friendship Games includes 21 athletics events.
At the end of July, the International Friendship Association (IFA) proposed postponing the World Friendship Games from 2024 to 2025. While awaiting the decision on the new dates for this major international commercial tournament, the winners and medallists of the Russian Athletics Championships shared their expectations for the upcoming Games.
Alexey Khudyakov, winner of the Russian Athletics Championships in Discus Throw:
- Every athlete strives for the best results, and the best results can only be achieved by competing against the strongest, world-class rivals. You know our situation – Russian athletes are not allowed to take part in international competitions now, so of course competitions [like the Friendship Games] are necessary in order to achieve world-class results. I hope that everything will be great and we will prepare [for the Friendship Games] and do well.
[At the Russian Championships], we didn't see world-class results in every event, but you could see the eyes of the athletes shining, you could see when they stood on the podium that they hadn't heard the Russian anthem for a long time. And that is a real thrill. That's what athletes train for, to hear their anthem, to compete for their country. So I hope that when there are international competitions, the level will be completely different, both in athletics and in other sports. And that will be great!
Maria Kochanova, winner of the Russian Athletics Championships in High Jump:
- Actually, we were told quite a long time ago that there would probably be no Friendship Games [in 2024], and that’s why my main focus this year was on the BRICS Sports Games.
Next year, of course, I want high results. And good competition. We have a lot of good vaulters in the world. The competitions will be held in this great stadium, which has already been tested and passed with flying colours. It is a beautiful stadium! There’s a warm-up area and a rest area. And the crowd here is just amazing, it gives me goosebumps! People here really love athletics, there is a special attitude. I’m very happy to have you here. You must come again!
Maria Lasitskene, silver medallist at the Russian Athletics Championships in High Jump:
- Ekaterinburg is a great host city for all sports events. We have known that for a long time. Today I was in the renovated stadium for the first time, and I have nothing but great feelings about it. I can confidently say that the Kalininets Sports and Recreation Complex can and should host international-level competitions in all sports. And everything is ready, it’s got everything it needs. I hope that next year it will go ahead and we, the athletes, will impress the spectators and guests with our results.
Dmitry Chizhikov, Russian Champion in Triple Jump:
- This stadium deserves to host competitions at that kind of level [i.e. the level of the World Friendship Games].
For example, when Kazan hosted the BRICS Sports Games, athletes came from China, Brazil, from many countries. We also had foreign athletes in our section. And competition leads to results. When athletes you don’t know come here, you don’t know what to expect from them, which ones are really ready. And we need competitions like that. When athletes from other countries come, it creates competition, it gives birth to high results. So, of course, we are waiting for everyone.
Come here, Ekaterinburg is open for you, and we as athletes are looking forward to seeing everyone!
Daniil Lysenko, Russian Champion in High Jump:
- I think that [holding tournaments like the World Friendship Games] is absolutely necessary. There needs to be free competition. We have great, wonderful tournaments in Russia. But what is missing is the competitive motivation: stronger opponents, a competitive atmosphere, real competition. This is also an important factor for better results.
I have always liked Ekaterinburg. In general, I am excited and enthusiastic about coming here and competing both in winter and in summer.
Yulia Karavaeva, Russian Champion in 100 and 200 Metres:
- I have never taken part in international competitions, except for the BRICS Sports Games. And it was there that I experienced this atmosphere for the first time, thanks to the fact that we were staying in the Games Village. I was on my way to the 100m race. A foreigner sat next to me and we spoke in English. It was very cool, very nice. Of course, I would like the World Friendship Games to attract as many people from different countries as possible.
I really like the Kalininets Athletics Stadium. Not only in terms of its appearance. I really like the warm-up stadium, the way everything here has been thought out to the smallest detail. TV monitors in the warm-up field and in the changing rooms – it’s very cool. I think this is probably my favourite stadium!