On September 12, 2024, Nizhny Novgorod hosted the opening ceremony of the II All-Russian Sports Games of the Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky. The event was attended by more than 8,000 people. The official start of the games was given on the platform in front of Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
The opening ceremony was held in Nizhny Novgorod.
The opening ceremony featured a parade of participating teams from 68 regions of Russia, including new regions of the country, as well as a team from the Republic of Belarus. The procession was led by the Kemerovo Region team, which won the I All-Russian Sports Games of St. Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky.
The parade was led by the Kemerovo Region team, which won the I All-Russian Sports Games of St. Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky.
Alexander Nikitin, Deputy Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation, addressed the opening ceremony.
«The All-Russian Sports Games of St. Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky undoubtedly strengthen the bond of faith, strong spirit and sport. We remember the feat of Alexander Nevsky, his life path, which is also connected with the Nizhny Novgorod land, —— That is why the Games are being held here. The Nizhny Novgorod Region, with the support of the Russian Government and the Russian Ministry of Sports, is developing infrastructure and opening new sports and fitness facilities. It is today, to mark the opening of the Games and forum "Faith and Sport", an indoor soccer arena was opened in the region. And this, of course, is also a serious achievement. More than 50 thousand people in the Nizhny Novgorod region are engaged in soccer, and now additional conditions have been created for them. We have seen how the construction of the new ice palace is going, which is already 65 percent complete. This facility is being created with the maximum support of the federal government. It is projects like this that strengthen people's desire to engage in sports. Our task is to create the conditions for this and fulfill the instruction of Russian President Vladimir Putin that by 2030 the share of massively engaged in sports in the country should reach 70 percent. We wish the Nizhny Novgorod Region, by introducing modern sports infrastructure facilities at such a pace, to become one of the leading regions in achieving this indicator!"
Alexander Nikitin congratulated everyone on the opening of the Games and the forum and wished them faith and success in the development of sports in the Nizhny Novgorod land.
Chairman of the Patriarchal Commission for Physical Culture and Sport Metropolitan Mitrofan of Murmansk and Monchegorsk announced Patriarchal greetings to the participants of the 2nd All-Russian Sports Games.
Official start of the II All-Russian Sports Games of St. Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky.
The official start of the II All-Russian sports games of St. Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky was announced by the governor of Nizhny Novgorod region Gleb Nikitin. «Today we celebrate the memory day of St. Alexander Nevsky. 300 years ago, his relics were transferred from Vladimir to the Alexandro Nevsky Lavra in St. Petersburg. It is very symbolic that at this time and in such a place, which is directly connected with his name, the All-Russian Sports Games of the Holy Blessed Prince are held. We emphasize patriotic, spiritual and moral education and give priority to sports, and here, in this event, there was a combination of both. From 68 regions of the country and from the brotherly Republic of Belarus came, first of all, children who will remember our city, remember these days, get acquainted, communicate with each other and tell their parents and peers about Nizhny Novgorod, — — he noted.
A distinctive feature of the Games of St. Prince Alexander Nevsky is the inclusion in each team of a clergyman of a traditional confession of Russia. Spiritual mentors support and guide young athletes during competitions and training.
«Today we are gathered here, in the the confluence of the Oka and Volga rivers. This place is connected with the name of Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky, in whose honor our cathedral is consecrated. A monument to this glorious son of the Fatherland stands near it, — said, addressing the participants of the opening ceremony, Metropolitan George of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas. — Saint Alexander Nevsky has always been and will always be for us a model of a defender of the native land and the Orthodox faith, a military leader and a diplomat. It is wonderful that he became the spiritual patron of the large-scale event that has brought us all together today. The name of Alexander Nevsky — a kind of symbol of spiritual and bodily strength. Let's hope that participation in the Games will contribute to the fact that Alexander Nevsky will become closer to our young athletes, will become an example of love for their Motherland. I am sure that you will become worthy heirs of our traditions. I wish you God's help, significant achievements in sports and other spheres of life.
The ceremony ended with a concert program with a bright mapping projection on the facade of the cathedral, dedicated to the history and culture of Russia and the feats of the Russian army. The texts for the program were specially written by publicist and blogger Yegor Kholmogorov.
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Glinka's masterpieces were performed on stage, Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Mussorgsky, Borodin and other great composers performed by the Archdiocesan Choir of the Nizhegorod Diocese, orchestra, choir and soloists of the Nizhny Novgorod State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater named after A.S. Pushkin and others. The numbers were accompanied by visual projections on the facade of the cathedral. With the support of the regional branch of the fund «Defenders of the Fatherland» during the mapping on the facade of the cathedral showed photos of Nizhny Novgorod heroes of the special military operation.
TheII All-Russian Sports Games of St. Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky are taking place in the Nizhny Novgorod region until September 15. The program includes six main disciplines: basketball 3×3, GTO, sambo, table tennis, chess and mini-football. An online chess tournament and a fijital hockey festival are also planned.
The program includes six disciplines: basketball 3×3 GTO, sambo, table tennis, chess and mini football.
The closing ceremony of the games of the Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky will be held on September 15 in the ice palace «Nagorny». It will include the awarding and presentation of the main prize — the passing cup of St. Alexander Nevsky, established with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. The cup bowl is an inverted warrior's helmet with a made of metal figure of the saint and the monogram of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church. The cup was made in the workshops of decorative and applied art «LIC» (Zlatoust). Also the best athletes will be awarded the cup of the chairman of the Patriarchal Commission on Physical Culture and Sports «For Fair Play», the cup of the governor of Nizhny Novgorod region, the cup of the president of the sports society «Russia» «For the development of physical culture and sports in the new territories of the Russian Federation» the cup of the head of the Nizhny Novgorod Metropolitan Church, the cup of Istyagina-Yeliseeva.
Nizhegorodsky Metropolis/Patriarchy.ru
