A children’s football team from Boksitogorsk, Leningrad Oblast, is set to receive new artificial turf and equipment thanks to a donation made on a televised lottery show. Umar Kremlev, President of the International Boxing Association (IBA), pledged the gift to the Metallurg-BMR team after hearing about their need for an updated field surface.

The donation was made during a special Children’s Day edition of the “National Lottery” program on Channel One. Alexei Vinogradov, the team’s coach, and one of his 14-year-old players were invited to the show to discuss the challenges they face in organizing training sessions.

Kremlev, along with representatives from the “National Lottery” and the Russian Cross aid fund, presented the team with a certificate for the artificial turf. In addition to the new field, all of Vinogradov’s students – more than 80 children – will receive professional equipment.

Kremlev used the opportunity to call on the heads of all Russian sports federations to ensure that children can participate in sports and tournaments free of charge. He emphasized the unifying power of sports, stating, “Sport unites people, and when sport begins, politics ends.”

The Children’s Day edition of the lottery show also saw six participants become millionaires, with total winnings exceeding 30 million rubles.