Sergei Sobyanin: Moscow proves its role as Russia’s most sports-oriented city
Moscow has reaffirmed its role of Russia’s most sports-oriented city. Indeed, this summer, it hosted over 50 major sports festivals and more than 25,000 open-to-the-public workout sessions, which brought together over seven million people, Sergei Sobyanin blogs.
“We placed a particular focus on family-oriented and children-oriented sports — specifically on the Family Games project running throughout the parks, public gardens and courtyards, as well as the school sports festival,” the Moscow Mayor writes.
The school sports festival in fact gathered more than 600 teams from school and student sports clubs; over 50,000 participants attended the Family Games throughout the season, while the summer’s focal sporting event — the sports festival at Luzhniki — attracted nearly two million people over the course of one month.
In addition, Muscovites eagerly played padel on courts near metro stations and chess as chess tables were available in local public gardens. The grand running festival, regular races, cycling races and cycling marathons set new mass participation records, too.
What is more, in the summer Moscow set world records for the length of The Floor is Lava obstacle course (over half a kilometer long), the scale of its table tennis tournament (more than 6,000 attendees), and cycling sessions (nearly 2,500 people).
Moreover, Moscow’s jumping event (1,700 athletes), SUP yoga in Strogino, a simultaneous chess match (2,800 players), and unique hydroflyer stunts on the Moskva River set records for Russia and the BRICS nations.
The Sports Weekend, My Sports District and Summer. Beach. Moscow Sport projects have expanded their geographical reach and formats, more than 290,000 Muscovites taking workouts under the guidance of professional coaches at 200 locations across the city, including parks, courtyards, and even on the rooftops of neighborhood centers.
“Our priority is to make sports accessible and offer round-the-corner sports-related opportunities everywhere in Moscow,” adds Sergei Sobyanin.
The summer sports season has come to an end, though the autumn will also offer an amazing and action-packed sports agenda for residents of all ages to have the opportunity to live a healthy and active life.