In today’s political climate, coming together as a people, not bound by race, color or gender, is more important than ever. One organization [RAF] has been striving to bridge the gap between cultures for 20 years, and it is right here in our own back yard…”
-The New York Post, 2017
“The Russian American Foundation’s continued contributions to cultural, educational, and sports programs in the United States and Russia help foster greater understanding between the people of the United States and the Russian Federation. Such programs highlight the things that the American and Russian people have in common.”
- Honorable Michael A. McFaul, former US Ambassador to Moscow, 2012
Sports Exchange Programs
Sports Unites All
Sports Unites All (SUA) is a collaborative initiative of the Russian American Foundation and the Ryan Martin Foundation. SUA’s mission is to increase awareness of adaptive sports and fitness for all and to encourage individuals with physical disabilities in Russia to live more active and successful lives. SUA is made possible, in part, with support from the US Embassy Moscow.
On February 3 and 7, 2021, Sport Unites All hosted a virtual introduction to the Wheelchair Basketball Training Zone curriculum, and a virtual training session for athletes from the US and Russia.
Events Presented by:
Based upon curriculum by:
Learn more about Sports Unites All (SUA) and keep up to date on events and opportunities by following the link below.
On April 15 & 16, 2021, Sport Unites All was proud to present an international, virtual conference: Wheelchair Basketball in Russia and the USA: Common Barriers and Benefits.
The events were held in tandem with the Russian Wheelchair Basketball Championship Tournament in Moscow.
Speakers included:
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Ryan Martin - Professional Wheelchair Basketball Player and Vice President of the NWBA
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Will Waller - Paralympic Champion of Wheelchair Basketball and President of the NWBA
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Dmitriy Olenevsky - Head Coach of Russian National Wheelchair Basketball
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And more athletes from Russia and the USA.
Together they discussed how they discovered wheelchair basketball and how they can attract others to the sport.
SportsUnited: Basketball Ambassadors of Today & Tomorrow
Sports have the power to inspire and unify people around common interests and goals, overcoming politics, cultural differences, economic disparities, stereotypes, language gaps and other challenges. Sports develop leadership, teamwork, tolerance, and communication skills that help young people succeed throughout their lives. BASKETBALL AMBASSADORS OF TODAY AND TOMORROW is a peer-to-peer program which enables Russian and American youth and coaches to engage with their overseas peers through a common bond of basketball, and to learn about each other’s culture and country, as well as to acquire individual skills in becoming open-minded and successful citizens in today’s global world.
BASKETBALL AMBASSADORS OF TODAY AND TOMORROW is a SportsUnited initiative, administered by the Russian American Foundation (RAF) in collaboration with its partner organizations in Russia. SportsUnited, a division of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), is devoted to sports diplomacy and its power to promote dialogue and cultural understanding between people around the world.
Annual Battles on Ice®
The Annual Battles on Ice® were established in 2011 by the Russian American Foundation in partnership with Hockey Club Legends of USSR as friendship hockey matches between the teams of the New York Fire Department Firefighters and Russia’s EMERCOM Firefighters. The Battles on Ice® serve as an important reminder of the sacrifices all first responders make to safeguard the lives of citizens and to commemorate the unfortunate victims of terrorist acts in New York and Moscow. The location of Battles on Ice® alternates each year between New York City and Moscow, reinforcing a valuable dialogue in the US and Russia’s joint stand against terrorist acts.
“Battles on Ice® celebrate all those who put their lives on the line for others and they demonstrate the solidarity of the American and Russian people against terrorism. We at FDNY are honored for this opportunity to represent not only our city, which is home to the largest Russian-speaking community in the country, but our nation as well”, said Commissioner Salvatore J. Cassano of New York Fire Department.
“These events stand for the consistency of our traditions and underline the importance of cooperation not only on a professional, but also on a personal level. This match signifies more than a sports event. It is, above all, a meeting of good friends, colleagues and like-minded people,” said Vladimir Puchkov, Russian Minister for Civil Defense, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters.
During Battles on Ice®, New York Fire Department and Russia’s EMERCOM firefighters have been joined on the ice by NHL Alumni, including Ron Duguay, Mark Janssens, Chris Kotsopulos, Steve Vickers, Ed Hospador, Dan Blackburn, and Paul Stewart, as well as Russian Legends of Hockey, including Viacheslav Fetisov, Pavel Bure, Alexei Kasatonov, Valeri Kamensky, Alexei Yashin, Sergey Makarov, and Andrei Kovalenko.
The winning team from Battles on Ice® takes home the Heritage Cup, which was designed and donated in support of the project by internationally acclaimed artist Zurab Tsereteli, President of the Russian Academy of Arts, Founder and Director of the Moscow Museum of Modern Art, and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.
In 2013, special guests from Boston Fire Department’s Hockey team played side by side with FDNY and EMERCOM firefighters against the Legends of Hockey team. Partial proceeds from the New York City games are donated to the UFA Widows’ and Children’s Fund.
