The issue of international relations in sport will be one of the main ones on the global agenda of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF). September 11 will be discussed by speakers and participants in the “Far Sports” session, and on September 10, the Vladivostok International Regatta became a striking example of its practical implementation.
For the second year in a row, high-level competitions are held in Novik Bay. In 2022, the main event of the tournament was the participation of the Chinese team, led by Tokyo 2020 medalist Zhang Liang. This year, prominent rowers from eight countries, including Serbia and Cuba, came to compete in Vladivostok.
The Cubans wore the biggest smiles at the opening ceremony, and in the water they demonstrated their high level, becoming medalists in the double sculls. In total, representatives of five teams took to the podium in Novik. And the most spectacular final was the men’s coxed eight race. The Belarusian team led its rivals from Russia by 0.43 seconds.
“For us sea water is unusual, because we train in the river,” said the representative of the Belarusian group Nikita Alferovich. “Therefore, on the one hand, it is a good practice for us in new conditions and, on the other hand, it is a pleasure to perform in a tournament with such an excellent organization.”
“Thank you to our friends from other countries for coming to hospitable Vladivostok and giving us brilliant competitive competition. This international cooperation is a step towards the Russian super-formats of the BRICS Games and the World Friendship Games,” said tournament director Georgy Bryusov of the Center for Russian National Teams.
The President of the Russian Rowing Federation, Alexey Svirin, will take part in the “Sports Far” session, but already from the first day of the EEF he spoke on the subject.
“For us it is important that thanks to this tournament we develop international cooperation, talk about rowing in the region and present it to companies,” said the Athens 2004 Olympic champion.
But the regatta program will not be limited to just races in Novik Bay. The Rowing Federation, together with the Ministry of Sports and the Roscongress Foundation, will continue to talk about this spectacular sport at EEF 2023. On September 11, in the pavilion of the Ministry of Eastern Development of Russia, the Minister of Sports of Russia Oleg Matytsin, and Alexey Svirin will make the official presentation of the regatta. And on September 12, the Indoor Rowing Grand Prix will take place in the pavilion of the Ministry of Sports.
Next year Alexey Svirin hopes to have a more vibrant tournament.
“We want to bring even more national team leaders to Vladivostok and invite more teams. We rely on the principle of word of mouth. Serbs and Cubans not only attended the regatta, but also held training camps in Kazan. They like it in Russia. I would like other teams to follow their example. “So September 2024 will be a great month of rowing in Russia: first a tournament at the EEF and then the World Friendship Games.”
