The grand final of the VII International Street Culture and Sports Award “KARDO” ended in Stavropol. TV BRICS acted as an international media partner of the event.

The competition was supported by the autonomous non-profit organisation “Russia – Land of Opportunity”, the Government of the Stavropol Territory, the all-Russian organisation “Streets of Russia”, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo) as well as the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh agency).

According to Valentin Rabotenko, Chairman of the organisation “Streets of Russia” and General Director of KARDO, in 7 years the competition has gone from a project to support youth art to a major international event setting the tone in the field of street culture and sports.

“In my opinion, this is an exemplary youth project. Developed from a small initiative to such a huge event that lasts almost the whole year. It’s really a huge ecosystem,” added Innokenty Dementiev, Deputy Director General of the Presidential Grants Foundation.

More than 2.5 thousand participants from Russian regions and 47 countries arrived in Stavropol. During 4 days of the competition 98 winners were selected in 11 types of modern street sports and art, such as vorkout, parkour, graffiti, hip-hop, skateboarding, BMX and stunt scooter. In the direction of DJing the representative of Brazil won. The strongest in skateboarding was an athlete from Peru. Iran took the first place in parkour. The youngest prize-winner represented a team from China. An athlete from Russia won in wrestling.

Andrey Betin, executive director of the ANO “Russia – Land of Opportunity”, said that the organisers of the award are seeking to expand the participation of foreign guests.

“This is an opportunity to support compatriots and attract great professionals to our country, which allow us to grow and successfully compete in creativity, art and street sports ourselves,” Betin emphasised.

At the same time, the event attracted the attention of representatives of the diplomatic corps. Mexican Ambassador to Russia Eduardo Villegas Mejias not only attended the final of the “KARDO” award, but also tried his hand at stunts on a BMX bicycle. According to the diplomat, such projects as “KARDO” not only contribute to the popularisation of modern sports, but also encourage the authorities of large cities to develop the necessary infrastructure.

The KARDO competition has been organised since 2018. The event was created to support talented young people and the development of modern culture and sports.

Photo: Anna Gryzlova/TV BRICS