Results of first stage of GTO complex implementation summed up at Russia – country of sports international forum

The 6th Russia – Country of Sports International Sport Forum opened on October 10 in Vladimir Oblast, Russia. A number of events dedicated to implementation of the GTO Complex – panel discussions and sessions – were held at the same time at different places of the forum.

The forum started with an international research and practice conference, titled ‘Russian National GTO Health and Fitness Programme and Grassroots Sports in Population Health Promotion’, which was held in Vladimir State University.

Just like every year, the forum hosts the International Exhibition Modern Sports: Innovations and Prospects that has already become a traditional event. At the exhibition, the Directorate for Sports and Social Projects, the organisation responsible for the implementation of the GTO Complex on the federal level, set up a display booth featuring the model GTO testing centre, where every exhibition attendee can try to pass GTO tests. During its first day, the model testing centre saw around 200 people achieve GTO norms. Russian figure skater, Olympic silver medallist (2002), Olympic bronze medallist (2006), two-time world champion, Merited Master of Sport of the Russian Federation, Irina Slutskaya, also visited the centre to take GTO tests.

A presentation of the model testing centre was held for Russia’s Minister of Sport, Vitaly Mutko, during the exhibition’s opening ceremony. Director General of the Directorate for Sports and Social Projects, Azat Kadyrov, delivered a report, in which he gave updates on major results of implementing the GTO Complex in the Russian Federation. The ceremony of presenting GTO Ambassador titles to renowned athletes and public figures culminated the first day of the forum.

“At present, significant efforts are made to implement and develop the GTO Complex but we need ‘assistants’, people who through their high public profile will promote the importance of taking GTO tests. And these people are our GTO Ambassadors,” Vitaly Mutko explained.

The following athletes and public figures were awarded GTO Ambassador titles:

- two-time Olympic champion, Olympic bronze medallist (2012), seven-time world champion, President of the Yelena Isinbayeva Charity Foundation, Major of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, holder of 28 world records in the women’s pole vault, Merited Master of Sport of the Russian Federation, Member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Yelena Isinbayeva;

- Russian speed skater; Deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Merited Master of Sport of the Russian Federation, Svetlana Zhurova;

- Governor of the Vladimir Oblast, Svetlana Orlova.

The newly appointed GTO Ambassador swore a solemn oath to encourage Russian citizens to take GTO tests and to engage in physical activities and sports.