The message reads, in part:
“This large-scale festival has long become one of the major sports events in Russia, attracting more and more enthusiasts. Its popularity is vivid proof that major sports are on the rise in Russia and the number of sports fans is growing every year.
It is important that the positive tradition of International Boxing Day is developing thanks to the initiative and creative attitude of its organisers, support from the media and online platforms, and despite the problems created by the coronavirus infection. I have no doubt that the current online format is good for attaining the educational and promotional role of your festival, thereby encouraging public interest in boxing, its history and modern-day development.”
Since 2019, International Boxing Day is marked in 204 member states of the International Boxing Association (AIBA). In the past three years, Boxing Day celebrations in Russia were held on Moscow’s Red Square, but this year it has been decided to hold it online because of the epidemiological situation in the country and the rest of the world.