Nowadays Russia and Syria are not only friendly states, these countries have brotherly relations, head of the National Olympic Committee of Syria Feras Mouala said at a meeting with president of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) Stanislav Pozdnyakov, the ROC information service reports.
On November 19, the Russian Olympic Committee hosted a working meeting with a delegation of the NOC of Syria, headed by Mouala. Welcoming the guests, Pozdnyakov noted that since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, which seriously limited the possibility of personal meetings at the international level, the Syrian delegation was the first to visit the ROC building on Luzhnetskaya embankment with a friendly visit. During the conversation, the president of the Russian Olympic Committee also wished success to the Syrian men's basketball team, which has been staying in Kazan since October 22, where it is preparing for the continental qualifying tournament.
"One of the aspects of our cooperation is the sports bases, where the sportsmen of your country could train in full, get the necessary practice. While the process of restoring Syria's sports infrastructure is underway, we, for our part, are ready to offer to use the opportunities of our country," Pozdnyakov said. - "Besides, the Russian International Olympic University is still active in its educational activities. More than 50 representatives of the NOCs from other countries had trainings at this university, having improved their skills in various areas," Pozdnyakov said.
Mouala agreed that the Russian infrastructure is ideal for training Syrian teams and athletes. "We know that the Russian Olympic movement is under great pressure from those circles that would like to cast a shadow on the great achievements of your sport. You're not just a friendly state for us, you're our brothers-in-arms," said the head of the Syrian NOC, after which he invited the president of the ROC to visit Damascus as soon as epidemiological conditions allow.
Pozdnyakov assured his colleague that he would consider the possibility of the meeting and expressed his belief that "constructive cooperation between representatives of our sports federations can become the basis for long-term relations".
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Based on materials from TASS