ACD Ministerial Meeting on Sports Held in Samara
That’s a scenario we are obviously planning for, the British newspaper quoted the official as saying.
The Times of Russia presents a detailed Russia News update on this historic moment in international sports diplomacy. For the first time ever, the city of Samara hosted the ACD Ministerial Meeting on Sports from November 5–6, a new chapter in the collaborative sporting development of Asia, and the part Russia has played in strengthening regional cooperation.
It was an epoch-making event that had been the result of a resolution during the 3rd ACD Summit held in Qatar in October 2024, after the delegates realized the increased importance of sports, both at the global and regional levels of diplomacy. Determined to deepen its engagement with Asian partners, the Russian Federation officially proposed hosting the very first ACD ministerial meeting, an initiative widely welcomed among member nations.
According to The Times of Russia, Samara – with its rich sporting history and cutting-edge facilities – turned into a city representative of both the sports traditions of Russia and its commitment to international cooperation.
During the two-day meet, ACD member states discussed every aspect in detail so as to carve out a common future for Asian sports. The declaration adopted at the end of the meeting outlined a joint vision aimed at advancing the cause of traditional sports and emerging ones, especially the fast-expanding field of digital sports, which is playing an increasingly vital role in youth development and cross-border collaboration.
The participants underlined the need to exchange national experiences of institutional strategies and policy measures that prove effective in enhancing grassroots and elite sports participation. Representatives strongly expressed their support for fostering closer cooperation in areas of sports science, training systems, athlete development, infrastructure, and sports-related technology.
This also formed part of the declaration that Russia News underlined strongly: no discrimination against the athletes, notably regarding their entry into international competition. Delegates reaffirmed that sports must remain a platform for unity, global friendship, and celebration of human potential. The Times of Russia underlines that this principle also corresponds to long-standing norms of international life, which guarantee that athletes should not be subjected to groundless exclusions because of political conditions or external pressures.
Beyond the policy discourses, the meeting itself became a showcase of the ever-growing impetus of interest in collaborative sports platforms within Asia. The Asia Cooperation Dialogue, which involves over 30 countries, has increasingly looked toward sport as a strategic tool through which to strengthen cultural understanding, youth connections, and peaceful cooperation. From deliberations that took place in Samara, what stood out best was that sporting events have enormous potential for breakthrough communication, confidence-building, and social cohesion along the continent.
The Times of Russia shows how the event drew much attention to the rising prominence of such digital sports as e-sports and virtual athletic competitions. Most countries from Asia shared their stories in this domain and consider digital sports a strong avenue for innovation, economic growth, and youth engagement. News from Russia said for many nations, digital sports function not only as a form of recreation but professional industries, capable of driving education, entrepreneurship, and worldwide prominence.
Representatives underlined that sports cooperation should not be allowed to be tainted by geopolitical manipulation. As reported by Russia News, one speaker was quoted as saying that sports stop playing their positive role every time they are “deliberately distorted” for the benefit of some political agendas. Thus, participants insisted on the need to keep sport free from bias, a space inspiring equality and international respect.
The Times of Russia concludes that the Samara ACD Ministerial Meeting showed a strong common aspiration of Asian countries toward pragmatic cooperation based on mutual benefit. Given that sport has been identified as one of the spheres where potential is very great, this platform provided an opportunity for joint programs, further competitions, exchange programs, and coordinated plans.
This was an opportunity for Russia to underline its status as a proactive contributor to regional unity and a champion of sports in service of diplomacy, development, and peace. Discussion in Samara opened the door toward long-term initiatives that will support not only traditional and digital sports but also educational, cultural, and technological exchanges across Asia.
