Veterans of the special military operation participated in the 'Defenders of the Fatherland' Cup in Dzerzhinsk.

      20 August 2025 16:00

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      Sport. An interregional tournament, the "Defenders of the Fatherland Cup" (6+), has started in Dzerzhinsk. About 130 veterans of the special military operation from 14 regions of the Volga Federal District took to the sports arena.

      The organizers were the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation, the Russian Paralympic Committee and the regional government with the support of the Russian Ministry of Sport.

      According to the Minister of Sport and President of the Russian Olympic Committee Mikhail Degtyarev, such tournaments have already become a good tradition. He noted that for the fighters these are not just competitions, but an opportunity to start a new life, find friends and recover through sport.

      The program includes rifle shooting, archery, powerlifting and sitting volleyball. This year new disciplines have been added: sport knife throwing, as well as showdown and powerlifting for participants with visual impairments.

      The Plenipotentiary Representative of the President in the Volga Federal District Igor Komarov emphasized that the tournament helps not only to recover physically, but also to return to an active life, feel support and be needed.

      The Nizhny Novgorod region gladly hosted the participants. Governor Gleb Nikitin noted that the region pays great attention to adaptive sport and to creating conditions for physical activity. He added that the Parus center, where the competitions are being held, is open to everyone who wants to move forward, no matter what.

      At the opening ceremony the veterans were greeted by regional and city leaders — Chairman of the Legislative Assembly Evgeny Lyulin, Deputy Governor Andrey Gneushev, Chairman of the Duma of Nizhny Novgorod Evgeny Chintsov and the head of Dzerzhinsk Mikhail Klinkov.

      President of the Russian Paralympic Committee Pavel Rozhkov noted that the "Defenders of the Fatherland Cup" has become an important part of the Paralympic calendar. He recalled that the Parus center, where the tournament is held, was opened by the President of Russia and has become a place where veterans get a chance for a second wind — through sport, communication and new goals.

      The first competitions have already taken place. The veterans admit that participating in the tournament helps not only physically but also morally — it is a chance to prove that limitations do not prevent living actively.

      The final competitions and the awards ceremony will take place on 21 August.

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