Our region's top leadership, famous athletes, media personalities and participants of the Special Military Operation took part in the "GTO People" campaign − a project of the Chelyabinsk Region government aimed at popularizing sports in our region.
Deputy Governors Aleksandr Kozlov and Andrey Faleychik, Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Kuznetsov, Minister of Information Technology Igor Fetisov, Minister of Social Relations Nataliia Lugacheva, Minister of Youth Yuri Boldyrev and others took part in the event. Some participants came with their wives and children.
"I pass the GTO qualifying standards at every level. Every five years the tests change, and you need to confirm your status. We are very interested in taking part in such sports events. Our whole family came here and we try to involve children in sports. I think that we can serve as role models for someone," said Deputy Governor of the Chelyabinsk Region Aleksandr Kozlov.
The "Ready for Labour and Defence" (GTO) complex included several standard points, including pull-ups, push-ups, shooting, abs exercises, weight lifting, long jump and running several distances. Based on the results of sports testing, participants were awarded the appropriate badges of distinction: bronze, silver and gold ones, similar to medals in big-time sports.
"The idea of holding such an event was suggested by the Ministry of Sports, where the "GTO People" project was developed. We decided to start with ourselves and show that sport is not just important to us, but is an integral part of our lives. In our family, everyone is interested in sports and actively practices them. We have long planned to pass the GTO standards as a family, and now an excellent opportunity has appeared," shared Vladimir Ivanov, Minister of Physical Culture and Sports of the Chelyabinsk Region.
For the first time the event was held at the Sports Complex of South Ural State University. As Director of the SUSU Institute of Sport, Tourism and Service Vadim Erlikh noted, the sports base of our university is equipped with all the technical means for passing the standards:
"We have the most interesting, bright and well-equipped site. All GTO standards can be passed in one place. The SUSU Sports Complex has everything you need, from health testing to swimming, running and other sports competitions."
The "Ready for Labour and Defence" standards complex had appeared in 1931, and since 2014, by decree of the President of the Russian Federation, the All-Russian Physical Culture and Sports Complex GTO was put into effect with the aim of improving the effectiveness of using the possibilities of physical culture and sports in strengthening health, harmonious and comprehensive development of an individual, fostering patriotism and ensuring continuity in the implementation of physical education of the population. Over a 10-year period, more than 13 million Russians have passed the test.
"Our goals within the GTO are very ambitious. The South Ural region is rightfully considered an important centre of sports and physical culture, and we are always ready to support such events. It is nice to see how many people have shown interest in this event and demonstrate by their example that even in the conditions of a busy work schedule it is possible and necessary to find time for sports," shared two-time world and European record holder in athletics, ambassador of the All-Russian Physical Culture and Sports Complex "Ready for Labour and Defence" in the Chelyabinsk Region Evgeniia Zinurova.
It should be noted that the "GTO People" campaign is being held for the first time. In the future, athletes, city labour teams, sports veterans, famous figures of our region, schoolchildren, and also participants of the Special Military Operation will be participating in the project.