The Art of Sport International Media Project
DOCUMENTARY TELEVISION SERIES ABOUT SPORT
History
More about the project
The television documentary media project The Art of Sport demonstrates Russia’s modern achievements in physical culture and sport, emphasising them with the aesthetics of various arts.
The films premiered on December 17 and 24, 2025 on the Russian-language TV BRICS channel. Following its screening in Russia, The Art of Sport documentary series was translated into foreign languages and distributed to the media partners of the TV BRICS International Media Network worldwide.
-
The presentation of the documentary series Art of Sport by the TV BRICS International Media Network and its launch into international television distribution took place at the BRICS+ International Information and Cultural Media Centre at the Russian State Library for Foreign Literature named after M. I. Rudomino in Moscow. Brazil became the first country for the international broadcast of the documentary series Art of Sport. -
Diplomats, government and public figures, journalists from leading media outlets from different countries, including Brazil, India, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Cuba, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Thailand, Singapore, Venezuela, and Uzbekistan, discussed formats of international sports cooperation within BRICS.
About the project
Relevance
The documentary series The Art of Sport consists of four short films, each 12 minutes long. It covers Russia’s achievements in wrestling, equestrian sports, triathlon, and curling. Each discipline is correlated with particular arts: sculpture, music, theatre, and painting.
The premiere of The Art of Sport in Russia took place in December 2025 on the Russian-language TV BRICS channel. The series was then translated into foreign languages for the international media network’s partners around the world. The media project was created with the support of the ANO "Council for the Support of Cultural and Sports Projects".
Presentation of the international media project The Art of Sport at the BRICS+ Media Centre
This is the first television media project in Russia that explores the similarities between sport and art and compares their values and approaches. Each film is filled with inspiring interviews and creative video metaphors showing how closely sports disciplines are intertwined with artistic movement: wrestling and sculpture, for instance, equestrian sports and music. Here, every victory is a masterpiece and training is a creative process. On the one hand, the series is designed to demonstrate the achievements of Russian sport to the global community. On the other hand, it is a media project with an important popularising mission, relevant to any of the BRICS+ countries where it will eventually be shown. The Art of Sport is a call for the physical and professional development of a person, especially children and young people. It represents TV BRICS’s contribution to strengthening international humanitarian cooperation.
Ivan Zakharenko
Director of the Department of Thematic Media Projects at TV BRICS
Ivan Zakharenko clarified that the media network carries out extensive and comprehensive work to support international cooperation in the field of physical culture and sports, promote a healthy lifestyle in the BRICS countries, encourage the exchange of professional experience and develop the expert community.
For example, TV BRICS acted as a key media partner of the BRICS Sports Games in Kazan, and also traditionally supports the Russia — Country of Sports forum and the Olympic Games.
The documentary series The Art of Sport features four short films of 12 minutes each, which tell about Russia’s achievements in wrestling, equestrian sports, triathlon, and curling. These sports are associated with such art forms as sculpture, painting, theatre, and music.
The documentary series The Art of Sport features four short films of 12 minutes each, which tell about Russia’s achievements in wrestling, equestrian sports, triathlon, and curling. These sports are associated with such art forms as sculpture, painting, theatre, and music.
The main characters of the films are Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling champion Davit Chakvetadze, Master of Sport of International Class in equestrian sports Anastasia Shcherbakova, European Triathlon Championship silver medallist Diana Isakova, and Russia’s most titled curler Nkeirouka Ezekh. Mikhail Mamiashvili, President of the Russian Wrestling Federation; Marina Sechina, President of the Russian Equestrian Federation; Ksenia Shoigu, President of the Russian Triathlon Federation; and Dmitry Svishchev, President of the Russian Curling Federation — all shared their views in The Art of Sport.
Previously, TV BRICS launched two other television projects on Russia's industry achievements, intended for media export to the BRICS+ countries. In 2024, the Laboratorium media project was launched about the latest technological developments and world-class scientific discoveries
made in Russia.
In 2025, the documentary series "BRICS Grain" was released, focusing on the production of grain crops and international coordination for ensuring food security.
made in Russia.
In 2025, the documentary series "BRICS Grain" was released, focusing on the production of grain crops and international coordination for ensuring food security.
Feedback
Feedback on the Documentary Series
In a video address to the conference participants, Maria Zakharova stated that the TV BRICS project is a shared contribution to the promotion of traditional sporting values.
"It is symbolic that its [project's] launch takes place in a country where sports and culture are intertwined in a single rhythm of carnival and football passion. The documentary series vividly illustrates how sporting achievements can become part of the cultural code of peoples, and serve as a source of inspiration for creativity and as a powerful tool for bringing countries closer together. It confirms that the BRICS countries are able to jointly form a meaningful humanitarian agenda," said Maria Zakharova, Director of the Information and Press Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
"It is symbolic that its [project's] launch takes place in a country where sports and culture are intertwined in a single rhythm of carnival and football passion. The documentary series vividly illustrates how sporting achievements can become part of the cultural code of peoples, and serve as a source of inspiration for creativity and as a powerful tool for bringing countries closer together. It confirms that the BRICS countries are able to jointly form a meaningful humanitarian agenda," said Maria Zakharova, Director of the Information and Press Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
Sergio Rodrigues dos Santos expressed gratitude for the fact that the international premiere of the documentary series The Art of Sport was entrusted to the Brazilian TV channels Com Brasil and TVC RIO.
"Brazil is an important platform for cooperation and partnership among the BRICS countries in areas ranging from politics and economy to science and culture. In this regard, sport is very important for bringing our countries closer together and strengthening our shared support for the idea of creating a multipolar world order. <…> Within the BRICS framework, we can learn a lot about each other, and especially about Russia. This agenda is already well established within BRICS. In 2024, Russia, as the chair of the association, placed great emphasis on the promotion of sporting events and championships. Last year, Brazil, as BRICS chair, stressed that our countries represent a rich sports culture, and remain committed to the idea of organising international sporting events within the BRICS framework," said Sergio Rodrigues dos Santos, Ambassador Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary of Brazil to Russia.
"Brazil is an important platform for cooperation and partnership among the BRICS countries in areas ranging from politics and economy to science and culture. In this regard, sport is very important for bringing our countries closer together and strengthening our shared support for the idea of creating a multipolar world order. <…> Within the BRICS framework, we can learn a lot about each other, and especially about Russia. This agenda is already well established within BRICS. In 2024, Russia, as the chair of the association, placed great emphasis on the promotion of sporting events and championships. Last year, Brazil, as BRICS chair, stressed that our countries represent a rich sports culture, and remain committed to the idea of organising international sporting events within the BRICS framework," said Sergio Rodrigues dos Santos, Ambassador Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary of Brazil to Russia.
Luiz Augusto Erthal called the TV BRICS films "one of the most inspiring programmes with enormous educational potential." According to him, "through this programme, the TV BRICS channel promotes one of the most important aspects of the BRICS spirit by fostering sincere friendships through the interaction of art and sport, using their universal languages."
Luiz Augusto Erthal also announced that the series will be broadcast on the TV Toda Palavra channel in the near future.
Luiz Augusto Erthal also announced that the series will be broadcast on the TV Toda Palavra channel in the near future.
Alexander Zhukov announced a new initiative proposed by the parliaments of the BRICS countries.
"The initiative has recently been put forward to establish a BRICS inter-parliamentary working group on sport. I believe it will be developed further this year. We are waiting for the Indian side’s position regarding the creation of this group. Its tasks include the harmonisation of national legislation in the field of physical culture and sport, the exchange of best practices in training sporting reserves, the formation of common approaches to the development of student, school, and grassroots sport, and, of course, the development of cooperation in the high-performance sport," said Alexander Zhukov, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation.
Alexander Zhukov also called The Art of Sport a unique project.
"This is an opportunity to learn about our best athletes, training methods, the upbringing of the younger generation in sport. <…> Presenting sport through media gives people in Brazil the chance to see important moments in the development of Russian sport," he said.
"The initiative has recently been put forward to establish a BRICS inter-parliamentary working group on sport. I believe it will be developed further this year. We are waiting for the Indian side’s position regarding the creation of this group. Its tasks include the harmonisation of national legislation in the field of physical culture and sport, the exchange of best practices in training sporting reserves, the formation of common approaches to the development of student, school, and grassroots sport, and, of course, the development of cooperation in the high-performance sport," said Alexander Zhukov, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation.
Alexander Zhukov also called The Art of Sport a unique project.
"This is an opportunity to learn about our best athletes, training methods, the upbringing of the younger generation in sport. <…> Presenting sport through media gives people in Brazil the chance to see important moments in the development of Russian sport," he said.
Marina Zakharenko emphasised the special role of media in promoting sports values:
"It is the media that capture how it happened, all sporting achievements, and create a certain product that is understandable to anyone of any part of the world, because this is the language of the body, the language of beauty, the language of willpower. It is the media that create the content that everyone understands. Modern technologies make it possible."
"It is the media that capture how it happened, all sporting achievements, and create a certain product that is understandable to anyone of any part of the world, because this is the language of the body, the language of beauty, the language of willpower. It is the media that create the content that everyone understands. Modern technologies make it possible."
Elena Terekhova proposed two initiatives for the development of equestrian sports in the BRICS countries.
"First, we need to create a single digital platform to unite our federations, equestrian and veterinary committees to facilitate quarantine procedures and horse transportation. Second, which is very important, is the creation of common training bases. <…> Russia could be a flagship in this area, because we have accumulated a vast methodological foundation of conducting training camps," said Elena Terekhova.
"First, we need to create a single digital platform to unite our federations, equestrian and veterinary committees to facilitate quarantine procedures and horse transportation. Second, which is very important, is the creation of common training bases. <…> Russia could be a flagship in this area, because we have accumulated a vast methodological foundation of conducting training camps," said Elena Terekhova.
Backstage from the filming of the international media project The Art of Sport
More
Additional Information
The TV BRICS International Media Network was established in 2017 following the BRICS summit in Xiamen, China, becoming the practical implementation of the initiative supported by the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, on the need to disseminate objective information about BRICS activities.
- The headquarters of TV BRICS is located in Moscow, Russia.
- TV BRICS is the latest system of multilateral information exchange between the media of the BRICS+ countries. The partners interact through the multilingual TV BRICS portal and round-the-clock TV channels broadcasting in six languages.
- TV BRICS has over 100 permanent media partners from more than 30 countries, and the international media network’s information presence extends to 80 countries.
- The total audience reach of the TV BRICS partner network exceeds 1.5 billion people.
- TV BRICS is an official partner of the United Nations and a member of the Organising Committee for the preparation and support of the Russian Federation’s BRICS chairmanship in 2024.
The mission of TV BRICS is to create a unified BRICS information space and to disseminate objective information about the humanitarian and economic activities of the group’s members and partners.
- As an international partner, TV BRICS provides communication and information support for major international events in the BRICS+ countries and ensures media support for the activities of government bodies, state, non-profit and public organisations.
- TV BRICS cooperates with higher education institutions, including members of the BRICS Network University, and organisations in the field of cinematography in order to develop professional industries and expert communities, and to promote the group’s ideology through education and art.
- TV BRICS initiates its own humanitarian projects and acts as a co-organiser of international and national events in the BRICS+ countries.