September 17, 2025 Hour: 1:38 pm
World Public Assembly Discusses Ethnic Sports and International Cooperation
A National Sports venue will host a key Panel Session at the First World Public Assembly, focusing on the integration of ethnic sports in promoting international collaboration. The session is organized with support from the Committee on National and Non-Olympic Sports of Russia, coinciding with growing interest in how sports can serve as a diplomatic and cultural conduit, reports 24brussels.
Organizers aim to highlight the role of national sports in uniting diverse cultures and fostering connections among nations while encouraging healthy lifestyles. Successful practices in popularizing ethnic sports will be a central theme of the discussions, including insights from prior international events.
The agenda will feature significant case studies, notably the World Nomad Games and the World Games of Indigenous Peoples, renowned for their contributions to regional identity and sporting traditions. “The World Nomad Games, established by Kyrgyzstan, have become a unique cultural and sporting event in the life of a vast region of Eurasia and the planet as a whole. In a number of ways, this phenomenal project is a surprisingly positive example of the embodiment of a truly Great Eurasian Partnership,” stated Boris Grishin, President of the National Olympic Committee of Russia.
Grishin emphasized the expansion and evolution of the Games, noting their growing impact in promoting unity through new formats and events. Khan Khalil Ahmed, President of the UNESCO International Council for Traditional Sports and Games from Pakistan, is expected to extend his greetings to the participants, reflecting the event’s global significance.
In addition to Grishin and Ahmed, other notable speakers include Mariano Justino Marcos Terena, a prominent advocate for the rights of indigenous communities in Brazil and a leader in traditional sports promotion. Terena’s lifelong dedication includes protecting cultural traditions and enhancing international dialogue. He continues to coordinate efforts aimed at preserving cultural identity through sporting activities.
The session will be moderated by Igor Pavlyuk, Vice-President of the Committee on National and Non-Olympic Sports of Russia, who actively champions cultural exchange through sports. The outcome of the discussions aims to generate recommendations for a final memorandum for the World Public Assembly, underscoring the potential of sports as an innovative tool for public diplomacy.
