ENGLISH
MBABANE – EOCGA is seeking to strengthen sporting ties with Russia following discussions between the two Olympic bodies at an international forum in Krasnoyarsk.
The Eswatini Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (EOCGA) president Adam ‘Bomber’ Mthethwa and chief executive officer Maxwell Jele are attending the 14th International Forum “Russia – A Sporting Power”, which concludes today, October 23.
In an update from Russia, the Eswatini delegation said discussions had been held with the Russian Olympic Committee, which had committed to strengthening the partnership between the two institutions.
The engagement is expected to open further opportunities for Eswatini’s national sports federations and athletes through continued cooperation between the two organisations.
Mthethwa participated in a panel discussion during the opening day on Thursday, October 22, alongside Russia’s Minister of Sport and Russian Olympic Committee president Mikhail Degtyarev, as well as Olympic committee presidents from Togo, Kenya and Madagascar.
The first day featured breakout sessions before delegates moved to the main plenary session on the final day.
The delegation reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin had addressed delegates, welcoming them and wishing them well in their deliberations.
The forum is being held under the theme “Sport: Uniting the World in an Era of Change” and brings together representatives from more than 100 countries to discuss sporting development and international cooperation.
The visit comes as the international sporting landscape continues to evolve following the International Olympic Committee’s provisional lifting of the Russian Olympic Committee’s suspension on July 7, 2026.
The suspension had been imposed in October 2023 after the Russian Olympic Committee recognised regional Olympic councils in Ukrainian territories under Russian occupation.
Although the IOC has provisionally lifted the suspension, international sports federations retain authority over eligibility and participation in their respective competitions.
Jele had earlier said the visit presented an opportunity to strengthen and re-establish relations with Russian sporting authorities.
The delegation is expected to return to Eswatini on Sunday, following the conclusion of the forum.