Russia to elaborate BRICS sports cooperation program - minister

KAZAN. June 24 (Interfax) - Russia will elaborate the framework of a sports cooperation program to lay down the rules of BRICS games hosted by the presiding country, Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyaryov said.

"We deem the elaboration of a framework program for sports cooperation between BRICS members to be an important initiative. [...] Russia has volunteered to draft this framework program," Degtyaryov said at a meeting with BRICS sports ministers in Kazan.

The document will lay the foundation for sports cooperation between BRICS members, consolidate integral values, and set the rules for BRICS games, he said.

Russia is ready to develop sports cooperation and to promote the elaboration of BRICS partners' joint approaches to countering doping and in every other area, Degtyaryov said.

"Together, we should oppose attempts to use sport as an instrument of pressure or discrimination for ethnic or political reasons," he said.

The sports ministers met in Kazan on the sidelines of the BRICS Games.