About Br32.5 billion was allocated in the Vitebsk region for the construction and renovation of sports facilities in 2008

May 15, Vitebsk / Sergey Kochetov - BELTA /. About Br32.5 billion was allocated in the Vitebsk region for the construction, reconstruction, and repair of sports facilities in 2008, and another Br1.9 billion for the purchase of sports equipment and gear. This was announced by Sergey Marchenko, Head of the Department of Physical Culture, Sports, and Tourism of the Regional Executive Committee, today at a gala event dedicated to the Day of Physical Culture and Sports Workers, held at the Vitebsk State University named after P. Masherov, BELTA correspondent reports. In the Year of Health, as 2008 was declared, 1.8 thousand sports and mass events were held in the region with the participation of over 170 thousand people, including more than 40 republican-level competitions, 150 regional competitions, and 19 competitions for athletes with disabilities. For rural residents, 22 regional and district Spartakiads in 10 sports were organized, with about 4.3 thousand people participating. During the implementation of the state program for the revival and development of the village, repair and reconstruction were completed at 10 physical culture and sports facilities located in agro-towns, with an additional 45 jobs created. In the region, district physical culture and sports clubs have been established under all sports and tourism departments to work with rural residents. In addition, 21 sports departments have been organized at the district branches of Children and Youth Sports Schools in rural areas. In total, more than 8% of students living in rural areas are involved in sports schools in the countryside. In the Vitebsk region, there are over 1.3 thousand physical culture groups and clubs, with about 13% of the region's population engaged in physical culture. -0-