The Second International Youth Forum BRICS + “Sports diplomacy: contours of a multipolar world” was held in Moscow. It was hosted by the People’s Friendship University of Russia (RUDN), named after Patrice Lumumba. More than 300 youth representatives from 57 countries came to the Russian capital. The university acted as a discussion platform for dialogue, exchange of opinions, and discussion of youth initiatives in the sphere of sport and international relations. The forum was organised with the participation of the Commonwealth of Sport Diplomacy, Russia-BRICS Project office of International Youth Cooperation, “Russia” Sport Society, and Assembly of Eurasian and African Peoples.

The event aroused interest from politicians and representatives of civil society. In particular, Sergey Burlakov, a State Duma deputy and Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sport, addressed the forum participants. He noted the important role played by the event in the development of youth diplomacy.

In turn, the organisers note the growing role of sports diplomacy as a consolidating force of the international community, ensuring the strengthening of trust and mutual understanding between countries. Through such events as the Youth Forum, young people are actively involved in the international agenda. Earlier in July 2024, Ulyanovsk hosted the BRICS Youth Summit, the programme of which included sports issues. The participants of the event stated the need to create an international platform for contacts between young representatives of the sports industry, the expert community, diplomats, and public figures.

Photo: RUDN