It's official: the World Friendship Games will not take place this year. The International Friendship Association (AIA) announced this in a press release, relayed by the TASS agency. It suggests postponing the multisport event initially scheduled for September 15 to 29, 2024 in Moscow and Ekaterinburg until next year. Reason given: a delay with the Paris 2024 Games too short to allow athletes to recover. “After consulting a number of athletes and international sports federations, the International Friendship Association has taken the initiative to postpone the World Friendship Games to 2025explains the statement. The main reason for reconsidering the Games dates is the lack of recovery time for high-level athletes competing in major international competitions during the summer of 2024. The decision to postpone the Games will allow for a more representative list of participants and to expand the program of the World Friendship Games, adding cultural and entertainment elements". Strongly criticized by the IOC and WADA, the World Friendship Games were decided, just like the BRICS Games, at the request of Vladimir Putin.
