The Vice President of the Liberia National Olympic Committee (LNOC), Malcolm W. Joseph, was among delegates that participated in the just-ended 13th International Sports Forum, “Russia: Country of Sports”, held on November 5–7 in Samara, Russia.
The global forum, organized by the Government of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Sports, and the Russian Olympic Committee, brought together heads of state, senior sports officials, and leaders of major sporting organizations from around the world.
Representing Liberia in his capacity as LNOC Vice President, Joseph joined delegates in discussing key challenges confronting the global sports sector, as well as expanding on laying out a roadmap for future development for international cooperation.
The event was held under the theme, “Sports for the Future: Winning Together”, and served as what participants described as a unique platform for dialogue and engagement.
In his address to the gathering, Russian President Vladimir Putin urged that sports should remain a neutral and unifying global activity. “Sports should not be held captive by political conflicts,” he said, emphasizing that the essence of sports lies in solidarity, respect, and mutual understanding.
Delegates reached several points of consensus, including sports remaining a space for unity, dialogue, and solidarity; sports belonging to all people, not to any political or regional grouping; a need to embrace digitalization and innovation in sports; sports being recognized as a basic human right, regardless of race, nationality, or political differences; and greater emphasis being placed on the use of science and technology in advancing sports development.
Speaking to reporters after the forum, Joseph described the event as “a valuable platform for international cooperation and shared learning.” He said, “The Samara forum offered great insight into how nations can collectively advance sports through innovation and inclusion. For Liberia, this presents an opportunity to strengthen partnerships, modernize our sports institutions, and align with global best practices.”
Joseph also expressed gratitude to the Government of Russia and the Russian Olympic Committee for their hospitality and for providing an inclusive environment for sports dialogue. He reaffirmed the Liberia National Olympic Committee’s commitment to promoting sports as a tool for peacebuilding, youth development, and national unity.
The “Russia: Country of Sports Forum” is an annual international event that gathers global sports stakeholders to discuss trends, policy, and collaboration in sports development. The 13th edition in Samara drew participants from dozens of countries and featured panel discussions, exhibitions, and high-level bilateral meetings aimed at building a stronger future for international sports cooperation.
