MINSK, 6 August (BelTA) - The CIS Executive Committee held a meeting on 6 August to discuss preparations for the 1st CIS Games in Russia's Kazan. The online meeting was attended by representatives of the sports agencies of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and the CIS Executive Committee, BelTA learned from the press service of the CIS Executive Committee.
Opening the meeting, Deputy Director of the Humanitarian Cooperation, General Political and Social Affairs Department of the CIS Executive Committee Manuchekhr Khodzhizoda said that the 1st CIS Games will provide a reserve for sporting events. “In these days, when the whole world, exhausted by the COVID-19 restrictions, is watching the Olympic Games in Tokyo on TV, the 1st CIS Games will make a significant contribution to a gradual return to normalcy,” he said.
The participants of the meeting noted that ten countries confirmed their participation in the Games which are due to take place from 4 to 11 September. The number of members of delegations will exceed 2,000 people.
Boxing will open the CIS Games program. A total of 159 boxers from 10 countries will compete in 26 medal events. The boxing program will kick off ahead of the official opening ceremony of the Games - on 2 September.
Apart from boxing, athletes from 10 countries will compete in karate and sambo. Another popular sport is shooting which will also feature representatives from 10 countries.
At the end of the meeting, the working group introduced a novelty in the order of forming delegations for the Games. Each country will have to appoint a COVID-19 specialist who will be responsible for the implementation of measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus infection during the preparation and organization of the Games.
