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Figure skater Valieva thanks Putin for holding Games of the Future in Kazan

Kamila Valieva also was grateful for the support she received from fans after her disqualification

KAZAN, February 22. /TASS/. Figure skater Kamila Valieva thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for organizing and holding the Future Games in Kazan, Valieva said on her Telegram channel.

On Wednesday, Valieva attended the Games of the Future opening ceremony. The figure skater watched the event alongside Putin.

"The incredible scale of the phygital show is an amalgamation of reality and modern technology. We are the first country to organize such an international tournament, and it is a great merit of our president, I am insanely grateful to him," Valieva said.

The figure skater also thanked for the support she received from fans after her disqualification. "I want to thank you once again for supporting me in a very difficult time. Thank you for your love and kind words. I hope despite everything, our country will only get stronger and create new formats," the athlete added.

On January 29, the Court of Arbitration for Sport disqualified Valieva for four years for violating anti-doping rules. On January 30, the International Skating Union revised the team tournament results of the Beijing Olympics, moving the Russian team, which included Valieva, from the first place to the third.

The Games of the Future will conclude on March 3, with new disciplines using modern technology, digital environments and physical activity. The competition format involves the latest developments in cyber sports, robotics, augmented and virtual reality, information technology and artificial intelligence. More than 2,000 people from 107 countries will take part in the Games of the Future.