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19th Summer Diplomatic Games gather diplomatic personnel at Zavidovo Recreation Complex
The 19th Summer Diplomatic Games have taken place at the Zavidovo Recreation Complex, an affiliate of the Main Administration for Service to the Diplomatic Corps (GlavUpDK) under the MFA of Russia. Heads and employees of diplomatic missions accredited in Russia participated in the event.
This year’s Diplomatic Games were timed to coincide with the 96th anniversary of GlavUpDK and the 60th anniversary of Zavidovo, a traditional holiday destination of diplomatic personnel.
GlavUpDK head Alexei Izotov signaled the start of the 19th Summer Diplomatic Games. “We are pleased to state that the number of participating teams has been growing year upon year. This demonstrates the mounting popularity of sports with diplomats,” Izotov said.
On the orders from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Izotov conveyed sincere greetings to GlavUpDK employees and wished Diplomatic Games participants beautiful victories won in a fair sport rivalry. “I am sure that these Games will be remembered for their festive atmosphere, give an energy boost, and contribute to the relations of confidence and mutual understanding between the people of Russia and countries you represent,” the foreign minister said in his greetings to the contestants.
The GlavUpDK head thanked the Russian Olympic Committee and the Russian Union of Athletes for their unfailing support to the Diplomatic Games.
Lyudmila Titova, Merited Master of Sports, Olympic Champion, World Record Holder, Absolute Soviet Champion and member of the Central Board of the Russian Union of Athletes, and Lyudmila Kozlova, head of the Konakovo district administration in the Tver region, took part in the Games’ opening ceremony.
Traditionally, State Duma First Vice-Speaker and Olympic Champion Svetlana Zhurova paid a visit to support the contestants.
Kozlova congratulated the audience on the anniversaries on behalf of Tver Regional Governor Igor Rudeni. “The Tver regional government appreciates the fruitful cooperation with the Main Administration in the sphere of tourism development. The Zavidovo Recreation Complex has justly been called a gem of the upper Volga region. Unique nature, wide open spaces of the Volga River, a broad range of services, and world-class service standards make the complex one of the most attractive and prestigious resorts in Russia,” the governor said.
Moldovan Ambassador Andrei Neguta took an oath of allegiance to the sports movement on behalf of all contestants, and Soviet volleyball player, Merited Master of Sports, Olympic Champion, winner of World Championships and the World Cup, and European Champion Lyudmila Zhigiliy did the same on behalf of the referees.
The Military Exemplary Orchestra of the Russian Armed Forces’ Guard of Honor, the Young Diplomats Club sports choreographic ensemble of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Boarding School, and multiple setters of Guinness World Records and winners of the Minute of Glory international contest, the Kalutsky brothers, performed at the opening ceremony of the 19th Summer Diplomatic Games.
The Games involved teams of diplomatic missions from 21 countries, as well as the League of Arab States and the Eurasian Economic Commission. The athletes competed in seven sport events, such as cross-country race, mini-football, volleyball, basketball, shooting, fishing and billiards.
Most teams came from the diplomatic missions of Belarus, China, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Moldova, Mongolia and South Africa. Those teams performed in every sport event. Football, shooting and billiards were the most popular with diplomats this year.
Sixteen teams took part in the football competition, and the teams of the Nigerian and Senegalese embassies played in the finals. Fans and referees agreed that the diplomats played beautifully and professionally. The Embassy of Nigeria won gold. Charge d’Affaires of the Nigerian Embassy to Russia Ilesanmi Abiodun Bakare, who headed the national team at the Summer Diplomatic Games, shared the joy of victory with the colleagues.
The shooting tournament was no less interesting. Sixty-five shooters competed for gold. Kazakh Embassy Counselor Dmitry Mikhno won the men’s contest, while Uzbek Embassy employee Mukhabad Mukhiddinova was the winner in the women’s group. Afghan Ambassador Abdul Qayyum Kochai also took part in the competition. “This [Zavidovo Recreation Complex] is a very good place, the weather is nice, and we are glad to be here and to partake in various sports events. I wish there are always events like this for us,” the Afghan ambassador said.
Guests of the Zavidovo Recreation Complex and mass and social media representatives were welcome to participate in the competitions together with diplomats. Blogger Larisa Verchinova ranked third in the women’s shooting competition.
Members of the GlavUpDK team performed very well and won gold in volleyball and fishing. Representatives of GlavUpDK affiliates, the Zavidovo Recreation Complex and Moscow Country Club, won basketball and billiards competitions and the men’s cross-country race.
The Games were judged by acclaimed Russian athletes, world, European and Olympic champions and merited masters of sport – Nina Smoleyeva, Alexander Dyomin, Alexei Revenko and others.
Izotov, Zhurova, Titova and acting Zavidovo Recreation Complex Director V.I. Shukalo met with reporters and popular bloggers. Mongolian Ambassador Banzragch Delgermaa was representing the diplomatic corps at the press conference. She thanked GlavUpDK for traditional hospitality and congratulated it on the important anniversaries. Delgermaa told reporters that the Mongolian Embassy to Russia was the biggest Mongolian diplomatic mission abroad. Embassy employees work a lot, but traditionally participate in the summer and winter diplomatic games organized by GlavUpDK.
NTV and ORT channels, the Interfax news agency, the Otdykh v Rossii and Okolosport magazines, the Investitsii v turizm, Rossiysky turizm and Mir vpechatleniy portals, and the Turprom Information Group were information partners of the 19th Summer Diplomatic Games. Anyone wishing could watch the Diplomatic Games online: the Games was streamlined live in the social media, on the official accounts of GlavUpDK and the Zavidovo Recreation Complex.
