Russian organisers mark 300 days until Games of Future esports event in Kazan

Organisers marked 300 days until the Games of the Future in Moscow and Kazan ©Games of the Future

Organisers have marked 300 days until the start of the inaugural Games of the Future esports event in the Russian city of Kazan, with Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko revealing more than 50 countries have confirmed interest in participation.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) continues to recommend events are not held in Russia and Belarus, two countries largely frozen out sport because of the war in Ukraine until an easing in the IOC's advised blanket ban last month.

Russian and Belarusian athletes have been permitted to return to competition provided they do not support the war and are not affiliated to the military, although some International Federations have opted to maintain bans.

Russia continues to seek to organise events with members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, BRICS partners Brazil, India, China and South Africa and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Chernyshenko is chairing the Games of the Future Organising Committee, and has claimed that more than 50 countries are already committed to participating at the Games of the Future in Kazan.

"We are looking forward not only to bright competitions, but also to the well-known hospitality of the Republic of Tatarstan to hold the inaugural Games of the Future in 300 days," he said.

"More than 50 countries have already expressed their interest in the 2024 Games of the Future and athletes from 15 countries are already taking part in the test events."

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko, sanctioned by the IOC for the war in Ukraine, is chairing the Games of the Future Organising Committee ©Games of the Future

Chernyshenko is the Russian Deputy Prime Minister for Tourism, Sport, Culture and Communications and former President and chief executive of the 2014 Winter Olympics and Paralympics held in Sochi.

He, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Deputy Kremlin Chief of Staff Dmitry Kozak were stripped of the Olympic Order following the invasion of Ukraine.

Putin also took part in the 300-day countdown via video message, describing the Games of the Future as a "unique event that has never been held before", combining "esports and conventional sports, video games, virtual and augmented reality tournaments, as well as traditional football, basketball, hockey and MMA matches".

He claimed the degree of participation in qualifiers was encouraging.

"I am aware that Russia’s initiative has drawn the attention of the professional community and fans of cyber competitions, classic sports and video games from many countries around the world," Putin said.

"This can be seen from the popularity of the qualifying stages of the Games of the Future with the audiences and the sheer number of applications from many teams.

"They represent different countries and continents but are one in what matters most: sport is beyond politics and its purpose is to strengthen mutual understanding and friendship among nations and to serve humanism, prosperity and all the good things."