Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited the teams of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to the International University Sports Festival in Yekaterinburg. The organisation includes China, India, Kazakhstan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

The competition will be held in Yekaterinburg from 7 to 19 August to replace the cancelled 2023 Universiade.

"I invite national teams from all your countries to the Russian city of Yekaterinburg, where the International University Sports Festival will be held in August with the participation of athletes from the SCO countries, as well as the BRICS and CIS," said Vladimir Putin, speaking at the SCO online summit.

Russian fans ridiculed their leader's message, deciphering the SCO acronym in a completely different way.

"I love the SCO acronym. Ffff***... him...," reads the most popular comment.

Users from Russia do not understand Putin's actions.

"Invitations, assignments... briks, highways... the fight for a multipolar world... no time to deal with your own country...", "Maps of the 17th century, the fight against neocolonialism, parents 1 and parents 2, historical excursions, every statement "Historical" that will turn the fate of the COUNTRY!!! So our Sunshine has enough to do!" users joke.

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