“Sport is, first of all, a goal, and money is a bonus” – Fesikov about the high prices of the Friendship Games

Olympic medalist in swimming Sergei Fesikov told that high prize money is important for the status of competitions such as the Friendship Games, but sport is first and foremost a goal and objective, and money is already a bonus.

At the Friendship Games, which will be held from September 15 to 29, 2024 in Moscow and Yekaterinburg, participants will receive $40,000 for winning. Athletes will receive $30,000 for second place and $20,000 for third place.

— It’s cool that all this is promoted, but we were taught that sport is first and foremost about goals, objectives, then medals and, as a bonus, prize money. It’s good that there are high prize money. And this money is necessary for foreigners to come. Knowing about foreign swimmers and how they make contact in this case will be one of the incentives for the arrival of foreigners, including from hostile countries. Hopefully this will give our guys more incentive to prepare for the Friendship Games,” Fesikov told .