Programme

Russian sport is successfully rolling out new major competitions, which include offering promising formats to the world. The Spartakiad, which created internal competition during the Soviet era, has been revived. The Games of the Future have set a global trend with their phygital format. The geography of ZaBeg.RF (called One Run outside of Russia) is rapidly expanding. In June, Russia will host the BRICS Games. Work is underway to create an international multi-day cycling race, the Grand Tour of Russia. Another new global project for world sports will be the Friendship Games, a commercial competition featuring the strongest athletes. What are the advantages of this project? A significant part of the Friendship Games’ budget will come from gambling royalties. How does this funding mechanism work? What funding from gambling does mainstream sport receive? What is the potential, including international, of Russian events in running and triathlon? How are Russian club formats entering the international arena? What is the legacy of the Spartakiad? When will Russia have its own top multi-day cycling race?

Moderator
Ksenia Shoygu, President, Russian Triathlon Federation; Leader, League of Heroes Project

Ksenia Shoygu

President, Russian Triathlon Federation; Leader, League of Heroes Project

In 2013 Ksenia Shoygu graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) under the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a degree in International Economic Relations. She delivers lectures for postgraduate students of MGIMO.
In 2011–2012, she completed a placement at Bank Saint Petersburg.
In 2012–2013, Ksenia worked as an assistant to the Deputy Head of Rostekhnadzor.
In 2013–2018, she worked as a Senior Analyst at the Project and Structured Finance Department of Gazprombank.
Since 2018, she has held the positions of Advisor to the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation and Advisor to the Deputy Chairman of the Management Board at Gazprombank.
Since 2019, she has been Head of the Project Office for the development of a tourist and recreational cluster in Kronstadt.
Since 2020, Ksenia has held the position of Managing Partner of Sistema Smart Tech venture fund. In December 2020, she has become President of the Russian Triathlon Federation.
Ksenia Shoygu is a pioneer of the OCR (obstacle course race) movement in Russia. In 2013, she organized the first Russian obstacle course race – Race of Heroes. Later it transformed into the League of Heroes project. The project develops and promotes amateur and professional sports in Russia. One the most popular projects, along with the Race of Heroes, is ZaBeg.RF, the first half marathon held in towns and cities across Russia simultaneously.

Panellists
Irina Viner, President, Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation
Alexey Grachev, General Director, Unified Gambling Regulator
Mikhail Degtyarev, Minister of Sport of the Russian Federation
Umar Kremlev, President, International Boxing Association (IBA)
Alexander Tashchin, General Producer, Match TV

Irina Viner

President, Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation

Alexey Grachev

General Director, Unified Gambling Regulator

Mikhail Degtyarev

Minister of Sport of the Russian Federation

Umar Kremlev

President, International Boxing Association (IBA)

Alexander Tashchin

General Producer, Match TV

Front row participants
Denis Annikov, Director, Race of Heroes
Vyacheslav Ekimov, President, Russian Cycling Federation; Three-Time Olympic Cycling Champion
Natalia Malinova, Vice President, VTB Bank; General Director, Exhibition Center Dynamo Museum
Veronica Stepanova, Olympic Champion in Cross-Country Skiing
Igor Stolyarov, Head, Game of the Future 2024 Project

Denis Annikov

Director, Race of Heroes

Vyacheslav Ekimov

President, Russian Cycling Federation; Three-Time Olympic Cycling Champion

Natalia Malinova

Vice President, VTB Bank; General Director, Exhibition Center Dynamo Museum

Veronica Stepanova

Olympic Champion in Cross-Country Skiing

Igor Stolyarov

Head, Game of the Future 2024 Project

At the beginning of his career, Igor worked for Coca Cola. In 1995, he became business manager of Duracell, Gillette Group, and five years later worked as area manager for Gillette International for CIS and Baltic States. He supervised the company’s projects in Melbourne, Australia.
From 2004 to 2006, he held the post of Vice-President for Sales and Service of the biggest Russian of cellular communications operator, MTS. In 2005, he was recognised as Best Business Manager, according to the Managers’ Association. In 2007, he was honoured with the Russian Government’s award for his assistance in starting up State Corporation RosNanoTech.
From 2007 to 2014, he worked on the Organising Committee for Sochi 2014 in the capacity of Senior Vice-President. Mr. Stolyarov was awarded the memory medal and diploma of the Russian President, numerous Letters of Appreciation from the IOC and OCR for the preparations for the Olympics.
In 2014–2015, he was Acting envoy of Infront Media AG to Russia. Igor is a Member of the Board of a number of agencies engaged in marketing sports channels. He teaches marketing, branding and economics of sports assets at the Academy of the National Economy, RIOU, MGIMO and RGGU.