GECF Summit: Vladimir Putin Responds to Senegal's Invitation to the Dakar Youth Olympic Games

At the plenary session of the 8th Gas Exporting Countries Forum summit in Moscow, Vladimir Putin thanked Senegalese Energy Minister Abdourahmane Diouf for inviting Russia to the Dakar Youth Olympic Games. The Russian president said cooperation between the two countries had not deteriorated and remained crucial, describing sport, art and energy cooperation as ways to bring peoples together. The IOC lifted its suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee in July, but Russian athletes’ participation depends on international federations: World Athletics continues to exclude them, while swimming and judo have allowed their return. The Youth Olympic Games, the first competition of its kind to be held in Africa, run through November 13.