​The key event of the "Russia – Country of Sports" forum was the plenary session "Sport: Uniting the World in an Era of Change." President Vladimir Putin sent a greeting to the participants to celebrate the occasion.

The plenary session was attended by Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Chernyshenko; Sports Minister and Chairman of the Russian Olympic Committee Mikhail Degtyarev; Assistant to the President of the International Sambo Federation (FIAS) Asai Nobuyuki; Minister of Sports of the Republic of Uzbekistan Adham Ikramov; Minister of Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Belarus Sergey Kovalchuk, and President of the International School Sport Federation Željko Tanasković.

Dmitry Chernyshenko thanked foreign guests of the Forum for their participation and noted that sports is a priority for Russia. In an era of global change, sports maintain opportunities for dialogue, strengthen mutual respect, and open up new avenues for international cooperation:

— Sport as a phenomenon is one of the most reliable foundations for cooperation. Russia has always been a hospitable country, a destination for sports federations' leaders and competition organizers. We are always striving to further develop mass and professional sports, build relevant infrastructure, train personnel for the industry, and cultivate a talent pool. Today, more than 80 million people regularly engage in physical activity. We have particular performance targets—our national goals. By 2030, more than 70% of Russians should be involved in sports. Currently, the figure is 62.6%. We are happy to share our experience with international partners.

Mikhail Degtyarev noted the successes of efforts to return Russian athletes to the international arena and also drew attention to the support tools available to sports federations:

— The number of international competitions involving Russian athletes has increased from 900 in 2024 to over 1,700 in 2026. Since the beginning of the year, the Russian anthem has been played at international tournaments over 300 times. Athletes wearing national symbols are permitted to compete in 24 Olympic and 51 non-Olympic sports, while junior athletes are permitted to compete in 30 and 54 of these, respectively. This year, the Russian Sports Fund, a new support tool for the industry, reached full capacity. Compared to 2024, many federations receiving targeted contributions from bookmakers have already significantly increased their funding.

In total, more than 2,900 people from 57 countries participated in the event. Among them were heads of ministries, representatives of all-Russian sports federations and organizations, executives of leading companies, experts, analysts, and media representatives.

The Forum's entertainment programme included over 20 events, including museum and exhibition activities, guided tours, concerts, and other activities.

The XIV International Sports Forum "Russia: Country of Sports" was held in Krasnoyarsk from October 21 to 23. Being one of the key sports and business events of the year, the Forum showcased Russia's achievements in sports at both the national and international levels. The event was held in accordance with a decree of President Vladimir Putin and with the support of the Russian Government.​​​

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