The most popularsport in Russia is association football, referred to as "soccer" in the USA.[1] According toYandex search analysis results rating of the most popular sports among Russians: "Association football topped the list of the most popular sports in Russia" with 5 to 10 million requests.Ice hockey came in second withhandball,basketball,futsal,boxing,auto racing,volleyball,athletics,tennis, andchess rounding out the top ten rankings.[2] Other popular sports includebandy,biathlon,figure skating,weightlifting,gymnastics,wrestling,martial arts,rugby union, andskiing.[3]
TheSoviet Union (USSR) competed in theOlympic Games for the first time at the1952 Summer Olympics. Soviet and later Russian athletes never finished below fourth place in the number of gold and total medals collected at the Summer Olympics in which they competed. Russia has the most medals stripped for doping violations (51), the most of any country, four times the number of the runner-up, and nearly a third of the global total. TheRussian team was partially banned from the2016 Rio Olympics and2018 Winter Olympics due to thestate-sponsored doping scandal.[4][5] Russian athletes were allowed to participate at the 2018 Olympics under aneutral flag with a name "Olympic Athletes from Russia".
After theRussian invasion of Ukraine, theInternational Olympic Committee (IOC) condemned Russia's "breach of theOlympic Truce adopted by the UN General Assembly".[6] The IOC called on individual federations to ban Russian athletes from participating in any international events until further notice.[7] The IOC also withdrew theOlympic Order from Vladimir Putin.[8] TheInternational Paralympic Committee on 3 March banned Russian athletes from competing at the2022 Winter Paralympics.[9][10]
On 12 October 2023, the IOC issued a statement noting that after Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, theRussian Olympic Committee (ROC) unilaterally transferred four regions that were originally under the jurisdiction of theNational Olympic Committee of Ukraine:Donetsk Oblast,Luhansk Oblast,Kherson Oblast, andZaporizhzhia Oblast to the ROC; at the time, its president said "I don’t see any difficulties here."[11][12] The IOC stated that the ROC's unilateral action constituted a breach of theOlympic Charter because it violated the territorial integrity of the NOC of Ukraine, and further announced the immediate suspension of the membership of the ROC.[13][11] The IOC stated that as a result the ROC was no longer entitled to operate as a National Olympic Committee, and could not receive any funding from the Olympic Movement, and that the IOC reserved the right to decide about the participation of individual neutral athletes with a Russian passport in theOlympic Games Paris 2024 and theOlympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.[11]
.jpg)
According to a 2018 Mediascope survey, ice hockey is the most popular sport among Russians aged 12 to 64, with 50.9% of respondents saying they are interested in events in this sport. In second place is figure skating with 39.2%. In third place is "soccer" with 33.8%. Another top five are biathlon and skiing: 31.9% and 29% respectively. However, the researchers point out that the survey was conducted one month after the Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, which might explain the dominance of winter sports.[14]
| Sport | Interested in | Attended events in past 6 months |
|---|---|---|
| Ice Hockey | 50.9% | 12.0% |
| Figure skating | 39.2% | 2.3% |
| Football | 33.8% | 12.2% |
| Biathlon | 31.9% | – |
| Skiing | 29.0% | 2.1% |
| Boxing | 18.9% | 2.3% |
| Basketball | 13.3% | 3.3% |
| Automobile sport | 13.2% | – |
| Athletics | 12.7% | – |
| Alpine skiing | 12.1% | – |
In another 2018 survey, the following sports were listed as the most popular:[15][16]
| Sport | Following | Participating |
|---|---|---|
| Football | 34% | 13% |
| Figure skating | 33% | 5% |
| Ice Hockey | 32% | 3% |
| Skiing/Biathlon | 25% | 16% |
| Swimming | 18% | 19% |
| Volleyball | 14% | 11% |
| Basketball | 11% | 6% |
| Chess | 7% | 4% |
| Wrestling/Martial arts | 5% | 9% |
| Billiards | 5% | 2% |
| Gymnastics | 4% | 5% |
Russia has competed in athletics includinghigh jump,long jump,track athletics,hurdling,pole vault,racewalking,hammer throw,triple jump,javelin throw, andheptathlon.
Russia was banned from the2017 and2019 World Championships because ofstate-sponsored doping. Since 2022, due to theRussian invasion of Ukraine,World Athletics has banned all Russian athletes, support personnel, and officials from all World Athletics Series events for the foreseeable future, including those with ANA status.[17] Also beginning in March 2022, after theRussian invasion of Ukraine, the Diamond League excluded Russian and Belarusian athletes from all of its track and field meetings.[18]
One traditionally popular sport isbandy (informally called "Russian hockey"). It is considered anational sport,[19] and is one of the biggest spectator sports.[20] According to one survey, it is the third most popular sport in Russia.[21] TheFederation of International Bandy was founded in 1955, by theSoviet Union and three Nordic countries. Bandy is the only sport to enjoy the patronage of theRussian Orthodox Church.[22] TheSoviet national team won all theBandy World Championships from the start 1957 until 1979. After 10 rounds of the 2011–12Russian Bandy League the average attendance was 3,887.[23]The national team for women took the silver medal in the six firstWorld Championships.
After the International Olympic Committee's recommendations following theRussian invasion of Ukraine, the Federation of International Bandy excluded Russia from participating in the2022 Women's Bandy World Championship.[24] The men's2020 Bandy World Championship was to be held in Russia, but was cancelled on 1 March 2022, after Finland, Sweden, Norway, and the United States announced that they would not take part in the competition in Russia due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[25][26][27][28]
Baseball is a minor sport in Russia, with 3,000 players. The game was first introduced in the Soviet Union when Americans were fleeing the Great Depression. Russia also won a bronze medal at the2020 Baseball5 European Championship.[29]
Basketball is a popular sport in Russia. TheRussian national basketball team followed theSoviet Union national basketball team, and has won several international titles.
After theRussian invasion of Ukraine, theInternational Basketball Federation (FIBA) banned Russian teams and officials.[30]EuroLeague suspendedCSKA Moscow,UNICS Kazan, andZenit St. Petersburg.[30]Eurocup Basketball suspendedPBC Lokomotiv Kuban.[30]EuroLeague Women suspendedUMMC Ekaterinburg,Dynamo Kursk, and MBA Moscow.[30] TheNational Basketball Association (NBA) suspended all business activities in Russia, including broadcasts.[31]
Biathlon is the most popular winter sport in Russia and ranking 1st in overall polls and TV viewership for the winter seasons. Russia has won Olympic and World medals.[citation needed] As a result of theRussian invasion of Ukraine, theInternational Biathlon Union banned the participation of Russian athletes and officials at its international events, and suspended the Russian Biathlon Federation.[32][33][34]
Russia has had a number of boxing world title holders and Olympic champions.
In June 2023, the International Boxing Association (IBA), led by Russian Boxing Federation Secretary GeneralUmar Kremlev, was expelled from the Olympic Movement following a vote at an ExtraordinaryInternational Olympic Committee Session.[35] A total of 69 members of the IOC backed the proposal by the IOC's executive board to banish the IBA, with just one voting against.[35] The President of the Russian Olympic Committee criticised the expulsion.[35]
_15.jpg)
Fencing in Tsarist Russia was a popular sport among the Russian elites. It transitioned in the Soviet Union as a sport for fencing enthusiasts and became a visible sport for the Soviet people which reached its peak in the 1980s in terms of success and popularity.
After theRussian invasion of Ukraine, theInternational Fencing Federation (FIE) banned Russia and Belarus athletes and officials. It cancelled or will relocate all events in Russia and Belarus. FIE Russian PresidentAlisher Usmanov stepped down after the European Union imposed economic sanctions on him.[36] In June 2022,Stanislav Pozdnyakov, the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) President, was removed from his position asEuropean Fencing Confederation (EFC) President at an Extraordinary Congress following a unanimousvote of no confidence in Pozdnyakov in March 2022, due to his xenophobic conduct in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[37] In reaction to the emigration to the United States in 2023 of Russian Olympiansépée fencerSergey Bida (asilver medal winner) and his wife épée fencerVioletta Khrapina Bida, joining two-time junior worldsabre championKonstantin Lokhanov as the second and third Russian Olympian fencers to emigrate to the United States after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in July 2023 theRussian Fencing Federation announced its decision to fire Russian national épée team head coach Alexander Glazunov.[38]
_04.jpg)
Figure skating is a popular sport in Russia. In the 1960s the Soviet Union won a number of medals in figure skating, especially in pairs skating and ice dancing. At every Winter Olympics from 1964 through 2006, a Soviet or Russian pair won gold. The streak ended in 2010 when a Chinese pair won gold in2010 Winter Olympics, a Russian pair returned to winning gold in pairs at the2014 Winter Olympics inSochi.[citation needed]
After theRussian invasion of Ukraine, theInternational Skating Union banned all athletes from Russia from events until further notice.[39]
The first football teams in the Russian Empire appeared in the late 1870s, but they consisted of foreigners living in Russia (English, Scottish, German). Soon Russian teams began to appear. On October 24, 1897, the first official match took place in the Russian Empire. In 1912, the first football championship was held in the Russian Empire.
On 28 February 2022, due to theRussian invasion of Ukraine and in accordance with a recommendation by theInternational Olympic Committee (IOC),FIFA andUEFA suspended the participation of Russia, including in theQatar 2022 World Cup. TheRussian Football Union unsuccessfully appealed the FIFA and UEFA bans to theCourt of Arbitration for Sport, which upheld the bans.[40]
Russia has both men and womenfutsal teams. Because of theRussian invasion of Ukraine,FIFA andUnion of European Football Associations (UEFA) suspended from FIFA and UEFA competitions all Russian teams, both national representative teams and club teams.[41]
Before the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Soviet women's gymnastics squad won all team titles inWorld Championship competition and at theSummer Olympics, other than the1984 Olympics, which they did not attend, and the 1966, 1979, and 1987 World Championships. Most of the Soviet gymnasts were from theRussian SFSR. Russia has medalled at every Worlds and Olympic competition in both MAG and WAG disciplines, except in the2008 Olympics, where the Russian women team did not win any medals.
Rhythmic gymnastics is a popular sport in Russia. There are many rhythmic gymnastics clubs in Russia, including the Gazprom School at whichIrina Viner teaches rhythmic gymnasts in Novogorsk, Moscow, where the Russian national team is also based.
After theRussian invasion of Ukraine, theInternational Gymnastics Federation (FIG) barred Russian athletes and officials, including judges.[42] It also announced that "all FIG World Cup and World Challenge Cup events planned to take place in Russia ... are cancelled, and no other FIG events will be allocated to Russia ... until further notice." FIG also banned the Russian flag at its events.[43]
Handball is popular in Russia. In reaction to theRussian invasion of Ukraine, theInternational Handball Federation banned Russian and Belarus athletes and officials, and theEuropean Handball Federation suspended the national teams of Russia and Belarus as well as Russian and Belarusian clubs competing in European handball competitions.[44] Referees, officials, and commission members from Russia and Belarus will not be called upon for future activities.[44] And new organisers will be sought for the YAC 16 EHF Beach Handball EURO and the Qualifier Tournaments for the Beach Handball EURO 2023, which were to be held in Moscow.[44]
The popularity ofjudo in Russia increased with PresidentVladimir Putin promoting the sport, and Russia producing multiple Olympic and world champions.
After theRussian invasion of Ukraine, theInternational Judo Federation (IJF) removed Putin, who is a judo enthusiast, as its Honorary President and ambassador.[45][46][47] The IJF also removed RussianArkady Rotenberg as a member of the IJF's executive committee.[47] It also cancelled all competitions in Russia, but allowed their athletes to compete as neutral athletes.[48]
In Russia,mixed martial arts (MMA) is another popular sport producing world class international and national fighters. The country has produced renowned MMA fighters such as Fedor Emelianenko andKhabib Nurmagomedov, considered two of the greatest fighters of all time, and in the case of Emelianenko, the greatest of all time. Other names to highlight areIslam Makhachev,Khamzat Chimaev,Petr Yan,Alexey Oleynik,Volk Han,Oleg Taktarov andAli Bagautinov.
After theRussian invasion of Ukraine theIMMAF suspended the membership of theRussian MMA Union. It barred the Russian federation from participating in all IMMAF Championships, and banned the organisation of IMMAF events in Russia.[49]
Sambo is a popular sport in Russia, which originated in the Soviet Union.
Motorcycle racing is popular in Russia. After theRussian invasion of Ukraine,Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) banned all Russian and Belarusian motorcycle riders, teams, officials, and competitions.[50] It cancelled one of the2022 Speedway Grand Prix events, FIM Speedway GP of MFR – Togliatti, which was supposed to be held inTolyatti on 9 July, stating that "in the current circumstances it is not possible to hold the FIM Speedway GP of MFR Togliatti."[51]
Sambo was created in theRussian SFSR in theSoviet Union, by both Russian-bornViktor Spiridonov andVasili Oshchepkov. The word Sambo is an acronym of samozashchita bez oruzhiya (Russian: самозащита без оружия), which literally translates to 'self-defence without weapons'.[52]Combat Sambo sport matches allow for strikes, ground strikes, wrestling and submissions, and is similar to MMA.[53]
Russian MMA fightersFedor Emelianenko, andKhabib Nurmagomedov are both former Sambo competitors.[54]
.jpg)
Long track speed skating has a tradition in Russia since the Russian Empire. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, theRussian Federation won medals in speed skating in World Championships and World Cups.[citation needed]
After theRussian invasion of Ukraine, theInternational Skating Union banned all speed skating athletes from Russia from events until further notice.[39] In June 2023 it announced that it was maintaining its ban.[55]
Other winter sports the Soviets and Russians have participated in arebobsleigh,skeleton, andluge.
After theRussian invasion of Ukraine, theInternational Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation suspended the participation of Russian athletes and officials.[56] It also suspended the Bobsleigh Federation of Russia until its next Congress in July 2022.[56]
Also after the Russian invasion, theInternational Luge Federation banned all Russian athletes, coaches, and officials from its events.[57] It also suspended all Russian officials appointed to its Commissions and Working Groups by the executive board, and made Russia ineligible to host any of its events.[58] In May 2023, theInternational Ski Federation (FIS) extended its ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials at its events.[59]
Swimming is mostly an elite sport for most Russians; however, before the dissolution of theUSSR, swimming was an institutionalized and recreational sport. Russia has not achieved the same success as that of the Soviet Union.[citation needed]
In March 2022, after theRussian invasion of Ukraine,FINA banned all Russians from competing at the2022 World Aquatics Championships, and withdrew the2022 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) from being held in Russia.[60] This came after indefinitely banning athletes and officials of Russia from wearing the colours of Russia, swimming representing Russia with Russia's name, and the playing of Russia's national anthem in the case an athlete from Russia won an event.[61]
Russia has produced a number of successfultennis players. RussiansMaria Sharapova andDinara Safina reached number one in the WTA rankings.Anastasia Myskina won the2004 French Open. Sharapova won five Grand Slam titles. The Russian Federation won theFed Cup 4 times, in2004,2005,2007, and2008. At the2008 Beijing Olympics, Russia swept the women's tennis podium withElena Dementieva winning the gold, Safina andVera Zvonareva the silver and bronze. As of January 2022, one Russian woman was ranked in the WTA tour's top 20,Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
Marat Safin andYevgeny Kafelnikov are amongst Russia's most successful male players. They won two Grand Slam titles each, with Kafelnikov winning the1996 French Open and1999 Australian Open. Safin won theUS Open in2000, and the2005 Australian Open. Kafelnikov also won a gold medal at the2000 Olympic Games. The Russian men won threeDavis Cup titles (2002,2006,2021) and oneATP Cup (2021). Russia has also seen new talent come through the men's rankings withDaniil Medvedev, who briefly reached number one in the rankings in early 2022, andAndrey Rublev. Medvedev won the2021 US Open againstNovak Djokovic, and has reached five other grand slam finals; the2019 US Open, where he lost toRafael Nadal, the2021 Australian Open which he lost to Djokovic, the2022 Australian Open, which he also lost to Nadal, the2023 US Open to Djokovic and the2024 Australian Open toJannik Sinner. Other notable Russian players includeNikolay Davydenko, who won theATP Finals in 2009,Mikhail Youzhny andKaren Khachanov.
In reaction to theRussian invasion of Ukraine, theAssociation of Tennis Professionals (ATP) moved the 2022St. Petersburg Open from Saint Petersburg toKazakhstan.[62] TheInternational Tennis Federation (ITF) cancelled all events in Russia.[63][64] The ITF also excluded Russia from international team events, which include theDavis Cup, theBillie Jean King Cup, and theATP Cup, and suspended theRussian Tennis Federation.[63] However, the ATP and the WTA refused to yield to international pressure to ban individual players from competition.[65] Russian players will carry on, but not play under the Russian national flag.[66]
In April 2022, the organisers of theWimbledon Championships, aGrand Slam-level event in the UK,banned players representing Russia from entering the 2022 edition of the competition.[67] TheLTA, the British tennis association, also banned players representing Russia from smaller tennis tournaments in the UK.[68] In response, theATP,WTA, andITF stripped Wimbledon of its ranking points, with their concerns being based on the principle of participation based on merit, rather than nationality, as well as the unilateral decision by Wimbledon, in contrast with the remainder of the tour.[69]
TheRussian women's national volleyball team is ranked 8th in theFIVB World Rankings. Record for achievements of the Russian women's volleyball team:
Russia featured a women's national team inbeach volleyball that competed at the2018–2020 CEV Beach Volleyball Continental Cup.[70]
In response to theRussian invasion of Ukraine, theInternational Volleyball Federation suspended all Russian national teams, clubs, and officials, as well as beach and snow volleyball athletes, from all events, and stripped Russia of the right to host the2022 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship in August 2022, and relocated games that were to be in Russia in June and July.[71][72] TheEuropean Volleyball Confederation (CEV) also banned all Russian national teams, clubs, and officials from participating in European competition, and suspended all members of Russia from their respective functions in CEV organs.[73] In June 2023, the federation announced that it had decided to keep in place its ban on Russian and Belarusian teams in volleyball, beach volleyball and snow volleyball, covering Russian and Belarusian national teams, clubs, officials and beach volleyball and snow volleyball players in international and continental events.[74]
Russia has produced multiple Olympic and World wrestling champions, including 3 timeGreco-Roman Olympic gold medalistAlexander Karelin, who was named the greatest everGreco-Roman wrestler of the 20th century by the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA),[75]
Wrestling is the most accessible and played out sport for boys and young adults in Russia especially in the Caucasus Republics and regions (Chechnya,Dagestan,Karachay-Cherkessia,North-Ossetia,Kabardino-Balkaria,Ingushetia).
Rugby union is played in Russia.Russia was ranked 25th worldwide by theInternational Rugby Board (IRB) in March 2022,[76] with over 100 clubs and close to 20,000 players nationally.[77] Russian domestic rugby went professional in 2005 with the launch of theProfessional Rugby League.
Rugby football in theRussian Empire pre-dated theRussian Revolution, but was only played sporadically. It appears to have been the first (non-indigenous) football code to be played in Russia, around a decade before the introduction ofassociation football.[78] In 1886, however, the Russian police clamped down on rugby because they considered it "brutal, and liable to incite demonstrations and riots"[78] Russia competed in the2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
After theRussian invasion of Ukraine,World Rugby andRugby Europe suspended Russia from international and European continental rugby union competition. In addition, theRugby Union of Russia was suspended from World Rugby and Rugby Europe.[79][80]
Rugby league has historically been overshadowed byRugby union in the nation, with Union being the more dominant code. Inrugby league,Russia was ranked 35th worldwide by theRugby League International Federation (RLIF) as of March 2022,[81] with over 2,000 participants nationwide.
After theRussian invasion of Ukraine, theInternational Rugby League andEuropean Rugby League banned Russia from all international rugby league competitions.[82]
A strongman competition in Russia isPowerlifting, which is akin to a variant evolving from weightlifting. Russia is an active in theInternational Powerlifting Federation and one of the most successful countries along with theUnited States,Poland,Norway,United Kingdom,Taiwan,Sweden,Finland,Japan, andUkraine.
Chess is a favorite pastime, and a sport that has been dominated by Russians in the post-war (1945–) era. The winner of the 1948World Chess Championship, RussianMikhail Botvinnik, started an era of Soviet dominance in the chess world.
The 1990s were dominated byKasparov, who won most of the tournaments that he participated in and reached a then-record rating of 2851 on the July 1999 list.[83] In 2017, 25 of the world's top 100 chess players are Russian.[84]
Vitaly Petrov became Russia's firstFormula One driver in 2010. He drove in F1 for three seasons with theRenault andCaterham F1 teams, and finished third at the2011 Australian Grand Prix.Daniil Kvyat made his debut in F1 in 2014, and took second place at the2015 Hungarian Grand Prix.[85] TheRussian Grand Prix joined the calendar for the2014 Formula One season, held at theSochi Autodrom.Sergey Sirotkin joined the grid in2018 but did not continue after that season.Nikita Mazepin became the 4th Russian driver to compete in Formula 1, forHaas F1 Team. He did compete in the2021 Formula One World Championship, but due to theRussia Doping Scandal, he competed as a neutral competitor.[86]
In 2022, the Russian Grand Prix, in theSochi Autodrom, was scheduled to go ahead, but due to theRussian invasion of Ukraine, the FIA cancelled the race.[87] After the Russian invasion led to sanctions from the EU, including some againstUralkali, a company owned by Nikita Mazepin's father, Haas sacked him ahead of the first race.[88]
Also due to the invasion, theFédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) banned Russian teams, and banned the holding of competitions in Russia.[66][71] It also excluded Russian FIA members from roles as elected officers or commission members, and banned FIA grants to Russian members.[71] Individual Russian competitors were allowed to enter races as neutrals, without their national symbols, flags, colors, and anthems.[66] British motorsport governing bodyMotorsport UK barred Russian drivers from competing in British motorsport events, thus preventing Russian F1 driverNikita Mazepin from participating in the upcoming 2022 edition of theBritish Grand Prix inSilverstone scheduled to be held in July (in any event, he was sacked by his team),[89][90] withMotorsport Australia considering a similar move.[91][92][93]
Timur Timerzyanov enjoyed success inrallycross, winning theFIA European Rallycross Championship in2012 and2013.
Russian car manufacturerLada (known domestically asAvtoVAZ) has competed in theWorld Touring Car Championship, making their debut in2008 withRussian Bears Motorsport enteringLada 110s. Lada provided factory support in2009, with the team running three cars and upgrading to theLada Priora during the season. The team's best performances were a pair of sixth places byJames Thompson at theRace of Italy. Lada subsequently withdrew from the championship, but returned in2012, entering aLada Granta WTCC driven by Thompson at a couple of race meetings. Subsequently, they announced plans to contest a full season in2013. The team ran two cars in 2013, with a best result of a fifth place for Thompson in theRace of Russia, and expanded to a three car squad for2014. Former World Touring Car ChampionRobert Huff gave Lada their first WTCC win at the 2014 Beijing round.[94]
| Summer Olympic Sports |
|  |
|---|---|---|
| Winter Olympic Sports |
| |
| Other IOC Recognised Sports |
| |
| Paralympics and Disabled Sports | ||
| Other Sports | ||
| Sovereign states |
|
|---|---|
| States with limited recognition | |
| Dependencies and other territories | |
