In Russia, a country with vast territory and rich history, sports hold a special place in the culture. Notably, during the upcoming 18th BRICS summit, which will take place in New Delhi on September 12–13, attention is also being paid to Russia's sporting traditions.
Russia's sporting identity is closely linked to disciplines such as hockey, football, volleyball, basketball, and figure skating. Hockey, in particular, has deep roots tracing back to the Soviet period and is an integral part of the country's sporting culture.
Given Russia's cold climate and snowy regions, hockey is extremely popular. The hockey traditions established during the Soviet Union are considered among the strongest in the world. Following the dominance of the Soviet team, Russia continued this sporting trajectory. The country's largest league, the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), is among the leading global hockey leagues, and its clubs have dedicated fan bases in many cities.
At the national team level, Russia has demonstrated outstanding results in the Olympic Games and World Championships, making hockey not just a sport, but a key element of national identity.
Football is also very popular in Russia, having wide appeal among youth and professionals. There is an extensive network of football clubs and schools covering both local and top leagues. Although some polls show minimal difference in popularity between football and hockey, both sports are consistently mentioned as the most loved in the country.
The Russian national football team began its journey after the collapse of the USSR in 1992. Russia participated in FIFA World Cups in 1994, 2002, 2014, and 2018. In 2018, as the host nation, the team achieved its best result, reaching the quarterfinals. Prior to that, the Soviet Union participated in seven such tournaments, with its best result being fourth place in 1966.
Volleyball traditions are also strong in Russia, accessible at the school, institutional, and club levels. Both the men's and women's teams of the USSR and subsequent Russia achieved significant success on the international stage. In addition to indoor volleyball, beach volleyball is also developed in Russia.
However, the situation in international volleyball changed after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In March 2022, the FIVB excluded national teams, clubs, officials, and players from Russia and Belarus from international and continental competitions. Nevertheless, the FIVB has developed a plan for the return of Russian athletes and teams to international competitions by 2026, according to which the men's and women's national teams of Russia will participate in the Volleyball Nations League in 2027.
Basketball also has a solid foundation in Russia. The CSKA Moscow club played a significant role in gaining recognition for the country in European basketball. Russian clubs have long influenced European competitions. Basketball is popular among youth in urban areas and is also well represented at the school and junior levels.
The history of basketball in Russia is not limited to the club level; strong international traditions existed in this discipline among Russian athletes since the Soviet era.
Figure skating stands out as the sport that most vividly reflects Russia's international sporting identity. In the country, this phenomenon goes beyond mere competition, transforming into a kind of cultural phenomenon. Russian figure skaters have long achieved brilliant results in the Olympic Games and World Championships.
Among the greatest Russian figure skaters is Evgeni Plushenko, who won ten Russian national championships and earned four Olympic medals—two gold and two silver. His achievements made him one of the most successful figure skaters in Russia.
Kamila Valieva, another figure skater, is also mentioned, who set numerous records at an early age. However, her career was affected by doping scandals.