A joint teleconference round table with the Institute of Asian and African Studies (ISAA) of Lomonosov Moscow State University took place at the Primakov Centre on April 23, 2025. The event was held as part of the “VI Week of Russian Diplomacy” and brought together experts and young researchers who presented interesting reports and shared their experiences.
Panelists included:
- Ruslana Salamova, Russian and world champion in hand-to-hand combat, student at Samara University, spoke about athletes’ personal contributions to strengthening the country’s international image and promoting sports values.
- Armen Vantsev, eight-time Russian champion in bicycle trial, Master of Sports, member of the Russian national team, shared his impressions from participating in international competitions and noted that sport erases boundaries and unites people of different cultures.
Student research presentations:
- Maria Viktorovna Safonova, Ksenia Sergeevna Yolcheva, and Artem Olegovich Pristupa, graduate students at the Department of African Studies, ISAA MSU, presented their report “Africa’s Experience in the History of Sports Diplomacy,” discussing how sport has been used to unite African countries and overcome conflicts.
- Diana Ildarovna Abdrakhmanova, a student at Samara University, presented her report “Development of National Sports Diplomacy: From Sports-Ideological Confrontation in the USSR to Sport as a Tool of Russia’s ‘Soft Power’,” analyzing the evolution of approaches to sports diplomacy in our country.
- Nikita Sergeevich Klimov, a student at Samara University, shared an original perspective on “New Waves of Diplomacy: How Wakeboarding Becomes a Platform for Communication,” presenting this new sport as a novel platform for international dialogue and cultural exchange.
The event was moderated by Guzaliya Shakurova, Deputy Director of the Primakov Centre (Samara).
Participants discussed a wide range of issues, from historical aspects of sports diplomacy to modern trends and new opportunities for using sport as a “soft power” tool. Special attention was paid to the role of youth in developing sports diplomacy and promoting values of peace and cooperation.
Photo: Alexander Zaitsev | “Illuminator” Photo Club named after V.A. Kakovkin
