Sports are highly valued in Russian society, supported by extensive state programs and local clubs.
* **Ice Hockey:** A national passion. The Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) is the premier league, featuring dominant clubs like CSKA Moscow and SKA St. Petersburg. * **Football (Soccer):** The most popular sport overall. The Russian Premier League features historic rivalries between teams like Spartak Moscow, CSKA, and Zenit St. Petersburg. The country hosted the 2018 FIFA World Cup at venues like **Luzhniki Stadium**. * **Figure Skating & Gymnastics:** Russia has a long, dominant history in both rhythmic and artistic gymnastics, as well as figure skating, consistently producing world and Olympic champions. * **Combat Sports & Chess:** Wrestling and mixed martial arts (MMA) are immensely popular, especially in the North Caucasus. Chess is treated as a highly respected national sport, producing generations of Grandmasters.