On October 22, 2026, a round table discussion "Sport and Spirituality: the path to human Education" was held in Krasnoyarsk at the XIV International Forum "Russia — a Sporting Power". It was organized by the Patriarchal Commission on Physical Culture and Sports, the Russian Ministry of Sports and the Roscongress Foundation.
The discussion was attended by the chairman of the Patriarchal Commission, Metropolitan Mitrofan of Murmansk and Monchegorsk, Metropolitan Nikita of Krasnoyarsk and Achinsk, representatives of Muslim and Jewish communities, authorities and public organizations, athletes and coaches. Olympic champions Evgenia Lamonova and Maria Kiselyova were among the speakers.
The participants discussed the issues of spiritual, moral and patriotic education of young people, popularization of a healthy lifestyle and cooperation of religious organizations with the sports community. During the discussion, it was noted that sports activities help to foster discipline, willpower and respect for others, and physical development should be accompanied by concern for the spiritual health of a person.
One example of this approach is the International Children's and Youth Sports Games of St. Alexander Nevsky, which have been held since 2023 with the blessing of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. Each national team has a spiritual father, a clergyman of a traditional denomination, who provides spiritual support to young athletes.
The program of the games includes the international forum "Faith and Sport". At its venues, representatives of religious organizations, the state and the sports community share their experiences of educating young people and discuss joint initiatives in the field of physical culture.