Ilsur Metshin on the BRICS Games: “We had a great opportunity to see the best athletes from all over the world”

The BRICS Games take place in Kazan on 12-23 June, were attended by 155 thousand spectators. 17 million people watched broadcasts on TV screens and online platforms. The total audience coverage in social networks amounted to more than a billion users. This was announced at the staff meeting by Chairman of the Committee of Physical Culture and Sports of Kazan Linar Garipov.

The program included competitions in 27 sports. More than 4,700 athletes from about 90 countries arrived in the capital of Tatarstan. According to the results of the competition, the largest number of medals (502 awards) were won by Russian athletes (gold – 262, silver – 141, bronze – 99). Belarus and China took the second and third places in the medal standings.

“We were lucky enough to witness a real sports celebration. Kazan residents showed genuine interest, all sports venues were filled with spectators. We had a great opportunity to see the best athletes from all over the world. The future belongs to them, we hope that they will shine and show their new achievements and world records,”- said Ilsur Metshin, Mayor of Kazan.

The Games opened on June 12 at the Kazan Expo. The flag bearer of the Russian national team was Artyom Kosov, a four-time medalist of the European Rowing Championships.

The Russian national team consisted of twenty-nine Kazan athletes. On the first day of the competition, Kazan gymnast Daniel Marinov won the gold medal in the individual all-around. Another medal was won on bars, two second – in the vault and on horizontal bars, the third on rings.

“Gymnastics turned out to be one of the most visited sports. The stands were filled with fans during all three days of competition,”- added Linar Garipov.

“We are particularly happy and proud of the victories of our Kazan athletes. Their medals are a huge contribution to the sporting golden history of Tatarstan. There is no doubt that there will be new champions in Kazan and Tatarstan, as well as in Russia. But for their education and realization of talents and results, of course, conditions and qualified personnel are needed. We are building up these muscles, improving the mechanisms and hope that the results of our athletes will also grow,”- the head of the city noted.

The closing of the fifth BRICS Games took place the day before as part of the Sabantuy holiday.