YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK, March 3. /TASS/. Major sports events are aimed at uniting rather than splitting nations, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with the program Moscow. Kremlin. Putin on Rossiya-1 TV channel on Sunday.

"The more challenging the situation is, the bigger number of cultural and sports events should be held, which are aimed at uniting countries, people and nations rather than dividing them. This is a huge humanitarian mission of sport. I have no doubt that this will be so, and our country will make its contribution to this effort and we will have major competitions in various sports and at different levels, this will be so. You have probably heard that we have made an official bid on holding the Summer Universiade in Yekaterinburg and we have a big calendar," the president said when asked about the plans on holding new events.

Earlier, Putin voiced confidence that Russia could host a bright and stunning Universiade in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg in 2023. "In case you trust us this, we will try to make it bright and beautiful," he told a meeting with members of the Executive Committee of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) on Saturday. Putin assured the members of FISU Executive Committee that a special program would be drawn up in case the FISU entrusted Russia with hosting those competitions.