The 2024 edition of the BRICS Games is set to kick off this Wednesday, June 12 in Kazan. The event, which was organized in Russia at the request of Vladimir Putin in May 2023, will feature 27 sports, both Olympic and non-Olympic, including rhythmic gymnastics, fencing, artistic swimming, judo, badminton, karate, wrestling, and sambo. Athletes from the five BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) will be participating, along with representatives from nearly 100 other nations. This year’s edition marks the first time that athletes from non-BRICS countries have been invited to compete. The BRICS Games have been a regular fixture on the international sports calendar since their inaugural edition in 2017 in Guangzhou, China. The event is held annually, with the host country rotating the presidency of the organization. Despite Russia’s current isolation in the Olympic movement, the 2024 edition is expected to be a significant event, with over 90 foreign delegations in attendance. More information regarding the participating teams and the level of competition has not been disclosed by the Russian organizers.
