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Russia’s Kazan poised to host World Aquatics Cups — sports official

Vladimir Leonov specified that the potential events include swimming, diving, synchronized swimming, and even water polo finals matches

KAZAN, December 24. /TASS/. Russia’s Kazan could host future World Aquatics Cups if the global situation stabilizes, Tatarstan’s sports minister, Vladimir Leonov, announced on Tuesday.

"We’ve held discussions with World Aquatics and are monitoring developments. If conditions improve, they are prepared to allow us to host World Cups in certain aquatic disciplines," Leonov stated during a year-end press conference.

He specified that the potential events include swimming, diving, synchronized swimming, and even water polo finals matches. Negotiations are ongoing not just with World Aquatics but with other international sports federations as well, Leonov added.

"New opportunities are emerging, thanks to our efforts this year. We’ve demonstrated openness, and athletes continue to visit," he noted.

"There is currently a thaw in the sports of gymnastics, talks were launched regarding speed skating and figure skating while the sport of judo has been already clearing Russian athletes for participation in international events," Leonov continued. "This trend has started, and it is great both for our athletes and the national team on the whole. The guys [athletes] really missed it all."

"When we compete at the world stage and show that we are still at the forefront and remain competitive, it proves that we did not lose our courage and kept practicing," he said.

Leonov also confirmed that Kazan is still planning to host the European Aquatics Championship in 2028. In February, he revealed that discussions with European Aquatics (LEN) President Antonio Jose Silva had led to a formal proposal for Kazan to organize the 2028 championship.

Initially, Kazan was slated to host the 2024 European Aquatics Championship but lost the event to Belgrade amid geopolitical tensions.

The LEN European Aquatics Championship is held biennially and includes competitions in swimming (long course/50-meter pool), diving, synchronized swimming, open water swimming, and high diving. The 2026 European Aquatics Championship will be held in Paris, France.

Kazan was set to host the 2025 World Aquatics Championship, but the event was postponed indefinitely due to sanctions regarding Russian sports imposed over the country’s ongoing special military operation in Ukraine.

In February 2023, the world’s governing body of swimming sports, World Aquatics, decided to relocate the 2025 World Aquatics Championships from the Russian city of Kazan to Singapore.

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