Physical culture islands: how mass sports are being developed on Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands

For two years in a row, the Sakhalin region has become the most sporting region in the country. The share of residents who regularly engage in physical activity and sports on the islands has already reached more than 63% and is constantly growing. This is facilitated by the systematic development of infrastructure – the construction of universal sports and recreation complexes, swimming pools, stadiums and other sports facilities. In addition, within the framework of the federal project “Sport is the norm of life” of the national project “Demography”, a number of projects are being implemented in educational institutions in the region: “Ski to school”, “Sambo to school”, “Kyokushinkai to school” and others, to which everyone More and more children join each year. How Sakhalin and Kuril residents are introduced to sports and a healthy lifestyle – in the material “MK on Sakhalin”.

From large objects to public events

As the regional Ministry of Sports said, in terms of the level of provision with sports facilities, the Sakhalin region is among the TOP 30 Russian regions. This figure on the islands is also at a fairly high level and amounts to 62%.

Mass sports events are also regularly held in the region, which annually attract thousands of amateur athletes. For example, “Cross of the Nation”, “Ski Track of Russia”, Athlete’s Day, International Ski Marathon named after Igor Farkhutdinov and others.

3.5 billion rubles were allocated for the construction of sports facilities in 2022. This money went to the development of sports infrastructure not only in regional centers, but also in villages.

“Last year we opened a sports complex in Gornozavodsk, half of the funds for its construction were allocated from the federal budget, the rest was co-financed by the region. In general, in recent years we have had many large facilities where both residents of the region and professional athletes can train. This is the Aquacity water sports complex with swimming pools of 25 and 50 meters, the Vostok training base, which the Sakhalin region acquired in 2021. Now another water sports complex is being built in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk with funds from the investor, PJSC Gazprom. In the future, the same company plans to invest in two more sports facilities: an ice arena and an educational and universal training center for team sports and gymnastics,” said the Minister of Sports of the Sakhalin Region Artem Podshivalov.

Court for Vityaz and football players

The construction of an athletics arena in the regional center also continues; its opening is scheduled for the end of next year. In addition, in 2023, sports and recreation complexes will be completed in Ilyinsky (Tomarinsky district) and Chekhov (Kholmsky district). According to the deputy of the Kholm District Assembly Roman Zakharov, the municipality has been actively constructing, repairing and updating sports facilities for several years now.

“At the beginning of the year, we opened a modern universal sports hall in Kholmsk on Pervomaiskaya Street for martial arts classes. This is a whole event for the sports community, because the old sports and recreation center can hardly accommodate everyone – guys from sections and amateur athletes. I would like to note that much attention is paid to sports in villages, and this is very important. Thus, a new hockey court was built in the village of Kostromskoye. In the winter, young hockey players from the Vityazi team train there, and in the summer, football players. There is also a free rental of stunt scooters and skateboards for kids. In addition, by the end of 2023, the construction of a sports and recreation complex in the village of Chekhov with a large hall for playing football, volleyball, tennis and other sports will be completed. We are also renovating a swimming pool and a small hall in Kholmsk, and we are planning a major overhaul of the stadium,” said Roman Zakharov.

He added that more than 1,200 children are currently studying at the municipal sports school; more than 20 sports are cultivated in the district.

“It’s nice to note that there are health groups for those over 60 years old. They have free access to the swimming pool, fitness center, bicycle rentals, Nordic walking rentals, and regular boccia classes. Recently, a section for sledge hockey classes was organized at the Kholmsk Arena. One child has already made it to the regional team,” said Roman Zakharov.

The head of the Aniva municipal control center, Alexey Samofalov, said that this year a sports complex with a 20-meter swimming pool opened in the regional center. Both pupils of the local swimming school and other residents of the area practice there. This year, construction of a sports complex began in the village of Troitsky.

“The administration of the Aniva district attracted federal funds for this under the program for the integrated development of rural areas. Thanks to Governor Valery Limarenko, Minister of Agriculture and Trade Inna Pavlenko and her colleagues who helped promote this project at the federal level. Next year, a full-fledged year-round playground for team sports will appear in Troitsky. This was preceded by a lot of work with residents of the area. In particular, villagers have turned to the administration and deputies many times with a request to build such a facility,” noted Alexey Samofalov.

Smart playgrounds and sports schoolchildren

Thanks to subsidies from the federal Business Sprint project, the island region has built several smart sports grounds in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Tymovsky and Dolinsky districts. In the next three years, five more similar open-type complexes will appear on Sakhalin. The municipality chooses itself which sports ground will be built on its territory: a summer version in the form of a football field or a universal ground that can be used for team sports in the warm season, and in winter as a hockey court. These complexes also have locker rooms, toilets and exercise equipment.

In general education and preschool institutions of the region, various projects are being implemented that allow children to become involved in winter sports and martial arts: “Skiing to School”, “Kyokushinkai to School”, “Sambo to School”, “Skiing to Kindergarten”, “Kindergarten and sport”. And others. For example, thanks to the “Ski to School” project, about 10 thousand children from 27 schools in the region learned to ski and snowboard.

The construction of sports facilities and the organization of mass physical education events in the Sakhalin region are carried out within the framework of the federal project “Sport is the norm of life” of the national project “Demography”, which is being implemented in Russia on the initiative of President Vladimir Putin. The project is aimed at improving the quality of life of citizens and creating a culture of sports life in the country. Its goal is to increase the number of Russians systematically involved in physical education and sports to 70% by 2030.