The Secretaries-General of the NOCs of Russia and the Republic of Mali, Rodion Plitukhin and Mohamed Oumar Traore, discussed via video conference promising areas of joint work in the field of sports development, as well as cooperation in the humanitarian sphere.
During the meeting, which became a continuation of bilateral contacts between the presidents of the ROC and NOC Mali, Stanislav Pozdnyakov and Habib Sissoko, within the framework of the XXVI General Assembly of ANOC in Seoul, options were announced for organizing the training of specialists from NOC Mali at the Russian International Olympic University (RIOU) and the upcoming participation of the Malian delegation in the International Forum of Young Olympians in Moscow (June 1).
The parties paid special attention to the Second Summit, the Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum, which will be held in St. Petersburg on July 26-29. Rodion Plitukhin noted that the International Forum of Young Olympians, in addition to its educational and enlightening focus, is a platform for establishing friendly and working ties between representatives of various National Olympic Committees and sports disciplines.
– The ROC plans to hold a separate session for representatives of NOCs within the framework of the Olympians Forum to help partners implement similar projects in their countries, – said the Secretary General of the ROC. – Such a desire was expressed by representatives of several African NOCs following the report of ROC President Stanislav Pozdnyakov at the ANOC General Assembly in Seoul. As for the Russia-Africa Summit, I believe it can become a convenient platform for discussing the current state of affairs in the international Olympic movement and exchanging initiatives in order to strengthen sports and humanitarian cooperation in the broadest sense.
We officially invite the delegation of NOC Mali to take part in these important events, and the solemn signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Olympic Committees of our countries in the presence of the top leadership of the participating countries will be an excellent demonstration of the strengthening of friendship between the Russian Federation and the countries of the African continent, – added Rodion Plitukhin.
Mohamed Oumar Traore thanked the ROC for the substantive proposals on developing bilateral relations and expressed his readiness to begin their practical implementation.
– Large-scale cooperation with the Russian Olympic Committee will open up new opportunities for our country to develop sports and the Olympic movement. Athletes from Mali have never been on the Olympic podium. I am sure that the help we will receive from our colleagues from Russia will bring this historic moment closer.
In conclusion, the participants exchanged greetings addressed to their leaders and expressed hope for an early meeting in Moscow at the International Forum of Young Olympians.
