SIRIUS /Federal Territory/, March 4. /TASS/. The World Friendship Games (WFG) will feature competitions in 36 different types of sports programs and give out 283 sets of medals to the winners, WFG Organizational Committee Director General Alexey Sorokin said.

"It will be a record-breaking tournament in terms of its scale and the preparation period. It will feature 36 types of sports programs, 208 sports disciplines, and 283 sets of medals. We have already inked an agreement with the International Friendship Association (IFA). We plan to hold a joint news conference soon," he told a press conference on the sidelines of the World Youth Festival.

"The organizational committee has already been formed and has held several meetings, chaired by Russian Deputy Prime Minister [Dmitry] Chernyshenko and Presidential Aide [Igor] Levitin. A bill on the Games has been submitted to the State Duma (lower house of the Russian parliament - TASS). We hope it will be passed soon to lay a strong legislative basis," he added.

Apart from that, Sorokin said that athletes from at least 70 nations around the world are expected to take part in the 2024 Friendship Games.

"I’d like to note that these are not the BRICS Games, as athletes rather than countries are invited. Countries will be represented by athletes who will be willing to participate in them. We expect athletes from at least 70 countries. This the minimum number that we can count on," he said, adding that the sports infrastructure is already prepared for the tournament.

"Nothing will be built specially for the Games. Competitions will be held at existing facilities. So, everything is ready," he stressed.

The 2024 World Friendship Games will take place in co-host cities Moscow and Yekaterinburg on September 15-29.

The World Youth Festival is taking place in the Sirius Federal Territory in far southern Russia on March 1-7, 2024. More than 300,000 people from 190 countries have applied to take part. Participants in the festival’s regional program will visit 30 Russian cities on March 10-17. TASS is the event’s general information partner.