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"All I've Been Receiving is Love": Street Sports Become New Bridge in Africa–Russia Relations
"All I've Been Receiving is Love": Street Sports Become New Bridge in Africa–Russia Relations
Sputnik Africa
As diplomacy seeks new ways to reach younger generations, street sports are emerging as a platform for people-to-people connections. The BRICS Skate Cup 2026... 01.10.2026, Sputnik Africa
2026-10-01T17:33+0200
2026-10-01T17:33+0200
2026-10-01T17:33+0200
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"All I've Been Receiving is Love": Street Sports Become New Bridge in Africa–Russia Relations
Sputnik Africa
As diplomacy seeks new ways to reach younger generations, street sports are emerging as a platform for people-to-people connections. The BRICS Skate Cup 2026 in Russia brought together African, Russian, and international skateboarders, showing how shared passions can build bridges and create opportunities for youth.
The international sporting event gave African skateboarders a rare opportunity to compete internationally, gain technical experience, and bring new knowledge back to growing skate communities at home. While countries such as Uganda and Madagascar are developing grassroots movements around the sport, athletes say limited infrastructure, a shortage of skateparks, and gaps in training systems remain major challenges. However, expanding skateboarding and other non-mainstream sporting activities in Africa requires long-term investment, partnership, mentorship, knowledge-sharing, and programs that help build sustainable pathways for the next generation of athletes.African Currents interviewed two African pioneers driving the growth of skateboarding in their countries to reflect on how street sports are opening opportunities for young athletes, strengthening grassroots communities, and expanding the sport across the continent.Uganda’s Gose Gerald, coach of the country’s Olympic skateboarding team and founder of the Uganda Skateboard Society, describes skateboarding as a bridge connecting African and Russian youth through shared experiences. He says the sport brings together young people from different social and economic backgrounds while giving athletes access to international exposure, mentorship, and training opportunities that can help develop skateboarding infrastructure and leadership in Africa.Madagascar’s Jean-Christ Rasolofonirina, president of the Gorisagorisa Team, ambassador for the Grand Skate Tour, and Madagascar’s Skater of the Year, says skateboarding started as a hobby but became a source of confidence, purpose, and opportunity. He explains how the sport helped him pursue his ambitions, build international relationships, and support the growth of skateboarding in Madagascar while bringing African and Russian skaters together through a shared culture.To find out what else our guest had to say, tune in to the African Currents podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.In addition to the website, you can also catch our episodes on Telegram.► You can also listen to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, Pocket Casts, Afripods, Podcast Addict.► Check out all the episodes of African Currents.
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"All I've Been Receiving is Love": Street Sports Become New Bridge in Africa–Russia Relations
As diplomacy seeks new ways to reach younger generations, street sports are emerging as a platform for people-to-people connections. The BRICS Skate Cup 2026 in Russia brought together African, Russian, and international skateboarders, showing how shared passions can build bridges and create opportunities for youth.
The international sporting event gave African skateboarders a rare opportunity to compete internationally, gain technical experience, and bring new knowledge back to growing skate communities at home. While countries such as Uganda and Madagascar are developing grassroots movements around the sport, athletes say limited infrastructure, a shortage of skateparks, and gaps in training systems remain major challenges. However, expanding skateboarding and other non-mainstream sporting activities in Africa requires long-term investment, partnership, mentorship, knowledge-sharing, and programs that help build sustainable pathways for the next generation of athletes.
African Currents interviewed two African pioneers driving the growth of skateboarding in their countries to reflect on how street sports are opening opportunities for young athletes, strengthening grassroots communities, and expanding the sport across the continent.
Uganda’s Gose Gerald, coach of the country’s Olympic skateboarding team and founder of the Uganda Skateboard Society, describes skateboarding as a bridge connecting African and Russian youth through shared experiences. He says the sport brings together young people from different social and economic backgrounds while giving athletes access to international exposure, mentorship, and training opportunities that can help develop skateboarding infrastructure and leadership in Africa.
Madagascar’s Jean-Christ Rasolofonirina, president of the Gorisagorisa Team, ambassador for the Grand Skate Tour, and Madagascar’s Skater of the Year, says skateboarding started as a hobby but became a source of confidence, purpose, and opportunity. He explains how the sport helped him pursue his ambitions, build international relationships, and support the growth of skateboarding in Madagascar while bringing African and Russian skaters together through a shared culture.
"These contests, competitions, and skateboarding events, first of all, give exposure to the African skaters. When these skaters are being invited, they have the opportunity of having a skate park experience; that's one. And secondly, they get the opportunity of skating with their idols, with their role models [...]. For example, the Russian skateboarding federation has got educational development programs and workshops. So, every year that I go to Russia, I always attend these educational programs and then get to learn a lot of stuff when it comes to organization, administration, coaching, a lot. As African skaters, we don't only go to Russia to compete, but we also go there to learn and also bring back this knowledge to our countries and then get to develop our countries through skateboarding," Gerald said.
To find out what else our guest had to say, tune in to the African Currents podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.
In addition to the website, you can also catch our episodes on
Telegram.► Check out all the episodes of African Currents. 
