Opening of the Moscow Martial Arts Festival at the Exposition: Steven Seagal and athletes' demonstrations

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The opening ceremony of the III Moscow Martial Arts Festival took place at the RUSSIA EXPO. It was held at the "Sports Russia" site. The program included the performance of the orchestra and demonstration performances of martial arts and martial arts federations.

"Russia was, is and will be a world sports power. And today we once again see the confirmation of this. Many thanks to our guests for being with us today!" said Natalia Virtuozova, Director General of the RUSSIA EXPO.

Actor, special representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation for humanitarian relations with the United States, aikido master Steven Seagal noted that he was very happy to visit the festival at the RUSSIA EXPO.

"I am very happy to be here with you today, at this wonderful forum where representatives of different martial arts have gathered from different parts of this country. I practice martial arts myself, and it's great that we can all develop and train our strength together as one family," Steven Seagal emphasized.

Steven Seagal also visited the regional expositions in Pavilion No. 75. In particular, he examined the stands of Buryatia, Kamchatka region, the Republic of Tuva and other regions. In addition, he visited the Department Store space, where he was presented with a kosovorotka shirt. Natalia Virtuozova, Director General of the RUSSIA EXPO, presented Steven Seagal with a sweatshirt with the RUSSIA EXPO symbols and a medal "Sports Russia".

During the day, the site hosted exercise sessions by aikido masters, open martial arts masterclasses for all comers and other activities. In addition, the festival participants discussed the role of a mentor in martial arts and the social mission of martial arts within the panel session "Social Mission and Development Strategy of Traditional Martial Arts" held under the auspices of the festival "Aikido Gathers Friends".