Today, the ceremony of signing a contract and an application for the 8th TAFISA World Games between the Russian Olympic Committee and The Association For International Sport for All organisation (TAFISA) was held in Nizhny Novgorod.
ROC President Stanislav Pozdnyakov, ROC Director General Vladimir Sengleev, TAFISA Secretary General Wolfgang Baumann, TAFISA Treasurer Herzel Hagay, as well as Deputy Governor and Deputy Prime Minister of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast Alexander Yugov took part in the event.
Upon signing these documents, the Russian Olympic Committee and Nizhny Novgorod have officially joined the contest for the right to host the TAFISA World Games in 2024. The capital of the Games will be officially announced in November at the General Assembly of TAFISA in Tokyo.
During the solemn ceremony in the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin, Stanislav Pozdnyakov stressed that the agreement between the ROC and TAFISA is a precondition for the country’s participation in the bidding process and will enter into force only if Russia wins the right to host the World Games in 2024.
In this case, the ROC could go down in history as the first National Olympic Committee which organised these major competitions at the amateur level.
– Today we have taken another important step towards the goal set forth by the Russian Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Sport and the leadership of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast. This goal is the development and promotion of mass sports and it is considered to be of the highest priority, – said the President of the ROC. – I must express gratitude to the leadership of TAFISA – in the era of globalisation they do not forget about the national colours.
– The TAFISA World Games provide a unique opportunity to show the world the diversity of sports and national traditions of the host country, to strengthen cultural and sports ties between nations and individual regions. The following fact about the popularity of the Games says it all: three years ago, 60 countries of the world took part in the 6th TAFISA Games, which took place in Jakarta, Indonesia. We hope that in five years, participants from 100 countries will come to Nizhny Novgorod! I would like to thank the leadership of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast for the active interest in our joint project and the willingness to promptly resolve all organisational issues, – said Stanislav Pozdnyakov.
Deputy Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Alexander Yugov, expressed his appreciation to the ROC and TAFISA for the opportunity offered to the regional capital to become a candidate city bidding to host the TAFISA World Games.
– Nizhny Novgorod has a rich experience in organising major sporting events, such as the European Rhythmic Gymnastics and Modern Pentathlon Championships, and on top of that, the FIFA World Cup, – stressed the governor. – The TAFISA World Games will provide a powerful incentive for the development of mass sports in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast and they
will open up our city to foreign tourists who will be able to see our region from a new angle.
– From the point of view of infrastructure, Nizhny Novgorod is very convenient, – continued Alexander Yugov. – The city has original natural landscapes, open urban spaces ideally suited for the concept of the TAFISA World Games, and an excellent football stadium where the opening ceremony of the competition is planned. In two years, the capital of our region will celebrate its 800th anniversary, and in any case, we will strive to make our city even more beautiful, sports-oriented and comfortable for people. The TAFISA World Games could become a logical conclusion in this work.
TAFISA Secretary General Wolfgang Baumann explained why the Russian bid had a high chance of success.
– There are several reasons why the TAFISA World Games should be held in your country. First of all, Russia has been and remains the main driving force in the world of sports and I say this in the broadest sense of the concept. I mean not only in regard to high achievement sports, but also in terms of the number of people involved in regular physical activity specifically for the benefit of health. Secondly, no country has such sports traditions and diverse achievements as Russia. Thirdly, if Russia undertakes to organise an event like this, there are guarantees that this will be done at the highest level.
– After today’s tour of Nizhny Novgorod and interaction with many people, I have no doubt that this ancient and at the same time modern city will be an excellent platform for the World Games, – admitted the Secretary General of TAFISA. – Furthermore, I would like to make a compliment to the Russian Olympic Committee. There are not so many NOCs in the world that are engaged in the development of mass sports. In this regard the Russian Olympic Committee has given a worthy example to follow.
The Association For International Sport for All (TAFISA) was founded in 1991. Its activities are aimed at promoting physical activity, social interaction, integration and communication amongst people from around the world.
The TAFISA World Games, supported by the IOC and UNESCO, have been held every four years since 1992. They have been hosted by Bonn, Bangkok, Hanover, Busan, Siauliai and Jakarta. In 2020, the TAFISA World Games will be held in Lisbon, Portugal.
The main objectives of these competitions are to preserve the traditional sports, promote new types of sport, encourage cooperation and the exchange of experience between sports fans from different countries.
According to the regulations, only a member of this association can become an organiser of the TAFISA World Games. Therefore, Russia’s application was submitted by the Russian Olympic Committee, included into TAFISA in 2017.
From the presentation, which was given today in Nizhny Novgorod by ROC Director General Vladimir Sengleev, it emerged that the World Games 2024 programme will be held during seven days and will include several key events.
For example, the opening ceremony will be held at the main arena where the World Cup matches were played last year.
It is planned that during the TAFISA World Games Nizhny Novgorod will also become the main platform for the sports festival – All-Russian Walking Day. A special live link-up will unite 11 cities from each time zone of our country. All participants and guests of the competition will take the hiking route in the capital of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast. Walking Day will end on the central square of Nizhny Novgorod, where a platform will be organised for exhibition performances on national and new sports.
On the so-called “School Day”, members of delegations from 100 countries of the world will visit about 80 educational institutions of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, where they will hold exhibition demonstrations and master classes.
Also planned is the Festival of traditional sports which will be held on the streets, squares and embankments of Nizhny Novgorod, and on the final day of the Games, participants and guests will get familiar with the sights of the region.
Furthermore, within the framework of the 2024 World Games, an international conference is envisaged which will be dedicated to the development of mass sports and the role of the International Olympic Committee and the National Olympic Committees in this sphere.
The official part of the 8th TAFISA World Games will end with a closing ceremony which will be organised on the main square of Nizhny Novgorod.
