On 13 March, the VDNH House of Culture will host Russian panna footballer Jean-Pierre Papin and the executive director of the Russian Chess Federation Mark Glukhovsky, together with the chess grandmaster, coach and chess tournament commentator Yevgeny Miroshnichenko, who will all lead-free lectures. The sports festival was organised by VDNH and Mossport with support from Moscow City Department of Sports.
At 4 p.m. on 13 March, the VDNH House of Culture will host a lecture: Street Soccer: Where Legends Are Born. Panna footballer Jean-Pierre Papin (pseudonym used by the Russian athlete Denis Popkov) will speak with the guests about how he was signed on by Street Kings and why he considers panna the most genuine, clean type of football. He will offer advice on how to complete the tricks, how to play and how to build a personal style of play.
On the same day at 6:30 p.m., there will be another lecture: The New Chess Craze. Why Has Chess Become Relevant Again in 21st Century? Executive Director of the Russian Chess Federation Mark Glukhovsky will discuss how chess can help people in life and in business, why schools need chess education and what prospects the profession of a chess player opens up. Glukhovsky will be joined by the international grandmaster Evgeny Miroshnichenko during the lecture: he is one of the top 50 best chess players in the world.
Lectures are freely available to everyone who wishes to attend. All you have to do is to sign up for the lectures online. The number of seats is limited to allow for social distancing and observance of all safety measures. You can watch the lectures on the Moscow Sport YouTube channel via livestream or an uploaded recording.
The Nation's Main Exhibit will host the Festival of Sports from 27 February to 22 May 2021. Moscow residents and visitors of the capital will be able to attend free lectures and workshops by famous Russian athletes. The festival's speakers will represent the sports VDNH is equipped for: skateboarding, cycling (BMX, MTB), wakeboarding, football, basketball, figure skating, chess, rock climbing, workout, track and yoga.
The Festival of Sports is the first collaborative event between VDNH and Mossport. Over the course of the year, conditions for the organisation of sporting events in the park are to be created and many sporting events will be hosted within the framework of this partnership. Frequent activities will help popularise mass sports among Muscovites and engage audiences of all ages in the sporting life of the capital.