The State Department had two concurrent bilateral sports exchange programs with Russia in the summer of 2012. The programs—one of which brought Russians to the U.S. and the other which sent Americans to Russia—support the U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission’s (BPC) efforts to increase cooperation between the two countries. After an orientation in Washington, twenty young swimmers and four coaches from the United States went to Russia from July 14 to 27. The American participants were selected in coordination with USA Swimming and came from Oregon, Illinois, and Florida. The group participated in swimming practices and engaged with their Russian peers during cross-cultural programs.
