Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree postponing the 2024 World Friendship Games until further notice. The decree cites the postponement as necessary to “protect the rights of athletes and sports organizations to free access to international sporting activities.”
In October 2023, Putin announced plans for the World Friendship Games following the suspension of Russian athletes from international competitions due to Moscow’s war against Ukraine. Initially scheduled for September 2024, the games were widely viewed as an effort to rival the Olympics. The International Olympic Committee criticized the event as an attempt by the Russian authorities to politicize sports.
Sign up for Meduza’s daily newsletter
A digest of Russia’s investigative reports and news analysis. If it matters, we summarize it.