"It will be a record-breaking tournament in terms of its size and the preparation time. There will be 36 types of sports programmes, 208 sports disciplines and 283 sets of medals. We have already signed an agreement with the International Friendship Association (IFA). We plan to hold a joint press conference soon," he said at a press conference.

"The organising committee has already been formed and has held several meetings under the chairmanship of the Russian Deputy Prime Minister [Dmitry] Chernyshenko and Presidential Aide [Igor] Levitin. A bill on the Games has been submitted to the State Duma (lower house of the Russian parliament). We hope that it will be adopted soon in order to create a solid legislative basis," he added. Sorokin also said that athletes from at least 70 nations around the world are expected to take part in the 2024 Friendship Games.

"I would like to point out that these are not the BRICS Games, as because athletes are invited, not countries. Countries will be represented by athletes who are willing to participate in them. We are expecting athletes from at least 70 countries. That is the minimum we can count on," he said, adding that the sports infrastructure is already being prepared. "The competitions will be held in existing facilities and nothing will be built specifically for the Games, so everything is ready," he stressed.

The 2024 World Friendship Games will be held in the co-host cities of Moscow and Yekaterinburg from 15-29 September. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) accused Russia of "politicising sport" and called on the sporting world and the governments invited by Moscow "to reject any participation in and support for this event," it said in a statement.