BRICS Sports Games United Students from Asia, Africa, and Russia at INRTU Stadium
The BRICS Sports Games were held at the INRTU Stadium on May 29, bringing together students from Russia, China, Cameroon, Morocco, Nigeria, Ghana, the UAE, Indonesia, Algeria, and Uzbekistan.
The Games had been held at INRTU for the second year in a row. The project was designed to help students of the Baikal School of BRICS adapt to an international environment and strengthen intercultural ties.
Daria Lobanova, Vice-Rector for Youth Policy addressed the participants:
“I wished the competition brings you a sunny mood despite the cloudy weather. I wished you sporting success and a good performance in your summer exams.”
Ilia Kruchinin, Deputy Director of the Baikal School of BRICS, thanked the Youth Policy Department for organizing the competition. He emphasized that such events help students, especially international ones, feel part of the university community.
Before the games, Nigerian student Nworie Chukwuemeka (stage name J-Fresh) energized the crowd with Afrobeats-inspired pop and rap performances.
After the performance, the students took part in a series of team games. They played field hockey, had sack races, and jumped rope. The most accurate players tried to throw a basketball into a fitness hoop. The event also featured tug-of-war and a mix of Russian lapta and baseball, adding fun and excitement.
At the end, the top three teams were announced. The Dragons took first place. The Champions won second, and Diamonds came in third.
Albert Arutyunov, a first-year student of the BS BRICS studying AI and Computer Science, shared his impressions:
“Everything was great, our team won, and I’m really proud of that. We competed against students fr om China, African and Arab countries. We loved field hockey so much we played multiple rounds. The only downside was the weather — it cut our Jenga session short.
I am glad to study at the Baikal School of BRICS. First of all, I improve my English through daily practice, even with Russian classmates. We also learn a second language — I chose Chinese, like 90% of us. It’s globally relevant and taught exceptionally well here.”
One of the brightest participants of the games was Dalal Jamal. She said it had been a lot of fun, especially during the tug-of-war, when everyone was full of emotions. At one point, one of her teammates fell down, which could have affected the judge’s decision. In the end, the match ended in a draw.
Dalal was originally from Sudan but grew up in Dubai. At first, she planned to enter a medical university in Nizhny Novgorod. However, she later chose Irkutsk Polytechnic, wh ere she studied Artificial Intelligence. She liked the studies, the teachers, and the friendly atmosphere at the university.
