By Vestnik Kavkaza
A celebration of beauty, sport and friendship has taken place on the first weekend of the summer in the Russian capital. The third Moscow Games of Russian Peoples took place on June 6 at the Yantar Stadium. The representatives of 40 local associations and national-cultural associations competed for the title of strongest. There was a vivid atmosphere at the Games. The fans strongly supported their favorites. Tournaments were held in mini-football, table tennis, arm wrestling, wrestling, chess and checkers. Everyone could show their worth. The event was supported by the Moscow Government.
“More than ten thousand people participated in these competitions. Today, over seven hundred participants will compete with their strength and skills in the final part of the Games. I am sure that the most important thing today is that it’s true friendship. People will be happy that they are together and have an opportunity to talk to each other. You know, it is a very good example that Moscow is a really friendly, kind and sincere city,” Vladimir Chernikov, head of the department of national policy, inter-regional relations and tourism, told Vestnik Kavkaza.
Khursheda Khamrakulova, head of the Tajik Cultural Center, said that “today's holiday is a continuation of those traditions that have been established by our fathers and grandfathers, including military labor, for the total liberation of our country from fascism. I think that these festivals are very important, as, above all, they form an atmosphere of peace and harmony in our country. Above all, I mean interethnic peace. Our country is very multi-national, and we really need to live in unity and peace. It is the only platform that allows us to protect our country and defend it in all situations.”
The head of the Russian Congress of Peoples of the Caucasus, Aly Totorkulov, also attended the event. “About forty different teams, most of them of different nationalities, have gathered here. Of course, the scale is not global, it is not even at a regional level, not even on the scale of the city of Moscow. But anyway, it is a celebration of international friendship. Teams will compete here. Young people can get acquainted with each other. There are people who have never heard about some nationalities before. Here they meet, swap contacts. Every event is a brick in the strengthening of international friendship,” Aly Totorkulov told Vestnik Kavkaza.
Little time remains before the main sporting event of the summer. The Baku 2015 European Games are to take place on the 12th of June. Vagif Bayramov, rector of the Moscow State Humanitarian University of Economics, said that students of his university would go to Baku to participate in the European Games as volunteers. They played the same role at the Moscow Games, moreover, they participated in the contest as competitors. “We have a social movement of volunteers at the university and now the students serve this event. I am very pleased that such a mission is entrusted to our university. In addition, we are taking part in this tournament,” Vagif Bayramov told Vestnik Kavkaza.
