Cybathletics championship to be held in Moscow

The capital has begun accepting applications for the fourth Moscow Open Championship in Cybathletics, which will be held from September 12 to 14. The competition will be organized at the Phoenix Assistive Technology Center at VDNH. Applications are accepted until August 20 on the event's website, Deputy Mayor Natalia Sergunina said.

People with special needs who use cybernetic assistive technologies, from exoskeletons and neural interfaces to functional shoulder prostheses, can participate in the championship.

"The championship has been held in the capital since 2023. During the first three seasons, more than 300 cybathletes from different regions of Russia and other countries took part in it, and about 4,500 people attended," Sergunina noted.

Three themed trails were prepared for the participants: "Repair", "Rough terrain" and "Tactile bag". At the first stage, it will be necessary to cope with everyday tasks, for example, to screw in a light bulb and hammer in a nail, at the second — to overcome an area with obstacles, at the third — to determine the shape of objects using special devices.

In addition, lectures and a podcast series with scientists, representatives of large companies and startups are planned. Experts will discuss the development of the assistive field.

The Showcase of Innovations exhibition will also reopen as part of the championship. Dozens of domestic manufacturers will talk about their products designed for people with special needs. Among the solutions are hydraulic modules for prosthetics, smart AI rings for measuring pulse and blood pressure, and software and hardware complexes for rehabilitation.