The "Air Olympiad" campaign was held at the airfield of the Ministry of Sports in the Tver region

On February 17, the most difficult sports project was implemented at the Borki airfield of the Russian Ministry of Sports: in extreme conditions, -20 degrees below zero, on a special platform suspended from a balloon at an altitude of 1,700 m from the ground, a group of extreme athletes performed elements of curling and biathlon, setting a record officially recorded by the Russian Book of Records.

The Air Olympics campaign was attended by Russian skydiving athlete, world record holder Sergey Boytsov, as well as Brazilian athlete Carol Shafauser.

"Russia is a country of brave pioneers, athletes, record holders, and travelers. <...> And so our young compatriot, Sergey Boytsov, together with Brazilian Carol Shafauser, rose under the clouds, held an action in support of our Olympians, against the politicization of sports, for the unity of the Olympic movement and in honor of the 115th anniversary of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC)," said Mikhail Degtyarev, Minister of Sports of Russia, Chairman of the ROC.

The performer of the record, Sergey Boytsov, in turn, stressed that the purpose of the campaign was to support Russian athletes at the Olympic Winter Games in Italy. As the athlete noted, Russia is needed not only by the Olympics, but also by sports in general and the whole world.

Ivan Menyailo, President of the Russian Aeronautical Sports Federation, Viktor Maigurov, President of the Biathlon Federation, Dmitry Svishchev, President of the Curling Federation, and Anton Shipulin, Olympic champion, provided invaluable assistance to the project.

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Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on February 12 that Moscow was counting on the restoration of the ROC's full-fledged status in the international Olympic movement and was seeking the return of the rights of Russian athletes. She added that the opening of the Olympics is always a celebration of sports, which should remain a symbol of unity, striving for excellence, fair struggle and respect for the values and foundations of the Olympic movement.

Degtyarev said at a meeting of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sports on February 11 that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) might consider restoring the ROC status in April or May.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.