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Russian defense minister to open International Games

The Games will take place between July 30 and August 13 simultaneously at 20 training grounds, where 19 of them are at three military districts: Western, Southern and Central

MOSCOW, July 30. /TASS/. Russia’s Defense Minister General Sergei Shoigu will open the Army International Games at the Patriot Park not far from Moscow, the defense ministry’s press service said on Saturday.

The Games will take place between July 30 and August 13 simultaneously at 20 training grounds, where 19 of them are at three military districts: Western, Southern and Central: from Siberia to Kaliningrad in the west and from St. Petersburg to Sevastopol in Crimea. Naval competitions will be in the waters of the Baltic, Black and Caspian Seas. This year, unlike in previous years, the Games take place in two countries - in Russia and in Kazakhstan.

The Games’ program has 23 competitions in field, air and marine training. The defense ministry said the competitions will feature 121 teams from 19 countries, representing Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. The total number of participants is about 3,000. Another eleven countries have sent over their representatives to observe the competitions.

"Most representing teams are from China and Kazakhstan," the defense ministry said. "The Chinese military will participate in 22 competitions, and the teams from Kazakhstan - in 21. The Russian team will participate in all the 23 competitions."

The Tank Biathlon, a most popular and spectacular event, will feature 17 teams.

"The teams will compete in T-72B3 tanks, which the Russian side will provide, the Chinese side will compete in its own tank, and the Belarusian team - in a modernized T-72."

The Tank Biathlon will finish on the last day of the Games by a competition between four leading teams.

Pilots from different countries will demonstrate skills in aircraft and helicopter piloting at the Avia-Darts competition.

"This year, this competition will take place at the Dubrovichi training grounds near Ryazan, and all the competing countries - Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, China and Russia - will be using their own aircraft and helicopters," the Russia defense ministry said.

The Games will close on August 13 at the Alabino training grounds near Moscow. The closing ceremony will feature all the teams and official delegations, the Russian defense ministry said.