BRICS Sports Games kick off in Russia

Thousands of athletes will be vying for medals in the Russian city of Kazan at the sixth BRICS Sports Games, an international competition that kicked off on Wednesday amid Russia's exclusion from some sports events.

"The role of BRICS in global affairs grows rapidly," said Russian President Vladimir Putin in a video address at the opening ceremony of the Games.

"The Sports Games under the aegis of our organization are part of the comprehensive political, economic and humanitarian cooperation."