Excluded from the international sports movement since the start of the invasion of Ukraine, Russia is organizing itself to offer its athletes competitions in the country. A circuit of six official figure skating events, called the Grand Prix, has been confirmed by the Russian Skating Federation. They will take place in five cities – Moscow, Kazan, Perm, Sochi and Samara – between October and November. The elite of Russian skating is expected, including the young Kamila Valieva (photo above), reigning world champion, at the heart of a doping affair at the Beijing 2022 Winter Games. She should notably perform at Moscow, from October 21 to 23, then to Kazan in November. His hearing before the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) is however scheduled for the end of September or the beginning of October. Beijing Olympic silver medalist Alexandra Trusova will be present in Sochi in October and Samara in November. Former world champion Elizaveta Tuktamysheva will take part in the second stage in Moscow in November, then in the Perm event later in the month. The winners of each stage of the Russian Grand Prix will receive 500.000 rubles ($8.500), with second and third places bringing home 300.000 and 200.000 rubles, respectively.
