Rif Gainanov, President of the International Belt Wrestling Federation, told a news conference that Russia would be represented by its national team and Tatarstan's team, since the international wrestling forum is dedicated to the 1,000th anniversary of Kazan.
Ravil Gainutdin, head of the Council of Muftis of Russia, expressed appreciation that the event was being held in Kazan, noting that belt wrestling was a traditional contest popular in the Russian republics of Tatarstan and Bashkortostan and among some ethnic groups in Europe, Africa, and North and South America.
The first belt wrestling championship took place in Kyrgyzstan in 2004. Iran hosted the second championship that same year, and Turkey hosted the most recent championship.
