The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and sports federations are in no hurry to return Russia the right to speak at world competitions. In most sports, the participation under its flag and anthem is not discussed at all. Professional sport lives in full accordance with the political conjuncture and, it seems, did not care about the principles of Olympism there.

Fortunately, this practically does not apply to amateur sport. Here, concepts such as partnership and sports spirit have not yet lost their significance. At a prestigious student tournament, the Russian team performed under the flag and anthem and took a gold medal.

Initiative from below

Belgrade International Student Sport Tournament is something like the Universiade, but so far with a less promoted brand and short history. However, in the short time that the tournament exists, he managed to grow from a local initiative in a significant international event.

It all began in 2007, when Serbian students organized the first competitions between local educational institutions. The initiative went from below, from students and girls students at universities, and financing was carried out at the expense of universities. In 2008, students from other countries had already arrived at the competition. Since then, the event has become larger every year.

Today at the tournament, athletes compete in a wide variety of disciplines: from game (football, volleyball, basketball) to individual (swimming) and even neolimpian (aerobics, chirling). The number of sports can vary depending on the number of participants. The organizers emphasize that professional judges representing international federations work at the competition. In addition, the Belgrade championship makes it possible not only to compete, but also to get new cultural experience from communicating with representatives of other countries. The social mission of the tournament is important: parties are held for participants, excursions and other unifying events.

“Friendly peoples”

Photo: © Personal archive of competition participants

In 2025, the Belgrade student tournament traditionally held in April. The Russian team also came to the competition and even achieved considerable success. Our volleyball players managed to take a gold medal, defeating the hosts of the tournament in the final. Also, the national teams of Sweden and Bulgaria remained behind. Most of the members of our team represented the Voronezh club “Crystal-Cherkizovo” from the High League B and were not quite students. However, in Belgrade, everyone is happy, and after the victory, our athletes even included the anthem of Russia.

– At first it was turned on for ten seconds and turned off. The teams and I approached the organizers to discuss why it happened. We were replied that this is a technical misunderstanding, it will be dumped, and the anthem will be turned on. And he was really turned on, he was completely sounded, ”said the organizer of the volleyball player’s trip, Mikhail Ledovsky“ RIA Voronezh ”.

The Russians were happy to hear the national anthem and happily sang along, holding the flag of the Voronezh region in their hands. Also in all competitions, Russian athletes performed under the national flag, which in modern realities is very rare. However, in Belgrade, our volleyball players felt at home. The hospitality of the Serbs was especially noted.

– It is traced that the Serbs are Orthodox, that we are friendly peoples. We received positive reactions everywhere. After the competition, we invited the Serbian team to Voronezh, and they accepted our invitation, ”said Ledovsky.

Student and amateur sport that does not fall under the jurisdiction of the IOC today shows an example of international federations. I would like to believe that there will be more such initiatives, and sooner or later officials will change their minds, return to the values ​​of Olympism and cease to follow politicians pursuing their ideological interests with the help of sports.