Russian athletes to compete for the first time in ALBA Games

Havana, March 23 (JIT) - Russia will take part for the first time in the 5th Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) Games, scheduled for April 21-29 in Venezuela.

The Russian Federation will send 48 athletes to compete in seven sports, boxing, rhythmic gymnastics, weightlifting, karate, table tennis, trampoline and beach volleyball, out of the 35 scheduled for the event that the government of President Nicolás Maduro is rescuing after 12 years without being held.

Venezuelan sports authorities expect around 3,500 athletes to compete in 35 sports in three venues, Caracas, La Guaira and Miranda.

Venezuela's Minister of Sports, Mervin Maldonado, pointed out when confirming the celebration of the competition last month that the Venezuelan government invited Russia to compete while that country remains out of most of the international sports, due to the conflict that the United States and NATO are stirring up in Ukraine.

The invitation to Russia came as part of a sports agreement between Moscow and Caracas that was signed in October 2021.

Maldonado was tasked with extending the invitation to his Russian counterpart, Oleg Matytsin who confirmed that the Russian representation will compete under its own flag and national anthem, reported the Inside the Game portal.

In addition to Russia and the hosts, delegations from Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Nicaragua, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and St. Lucia will also take part.