About a quarter of the residents of the Vitebsk region engage in physical culture and choose active recreation

It is enough to leave home to see how many people embrace active recreation and a healthy lifestyle. Cyclists ride along the streets, runners have chosen parks and squares, and stadiums and gyms are crowded. The region also pays serious attention to the training of reserve and high-class athletes so that they can prove to the whole world that the Vitebsk region is a sports region.

— In the specialized educational and sports institutions of the region, 43 sports are cultivated at the expense of budget funds, 33 of which are included in the program of the Winter and Summer Olympic Games, — said Vasily Zakharevich, Head of the Department of Sports and Tourism of the Regional Executive Committee. — 23 youth sports schools, 26 specialized youth sports schools for the Olympic reserve, 5 Olympic reserve centers, and 2 Olympic reserve colleges are involved in training the promising sports reserve and athletes for the national teams of Belarus. More than 21.5 thousand people are engaged there under the guidance of 1076 coaches. 25 of them have the honorary title "Honored Coach", and 102 have the highest category. In 2016, the income of physical culture and sports institutions from non-budgetary activities amounted to about 5.5 million rubles, and expenses for holding competitions were 2 million.

As Vasily Alekseevich noted, the athletes of the Vitebsk region demonstrated a high level of skill at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). 14 representatives of our region participated in the Games as part of the Belarusian delegation.

The performance of Vladislav Goncharov, a trainee of the Vitebsk trampoline school, who won a gold medal, and weightlifter Vadim Streltsov, who won a "silver" medal, became triumphant. Trampolinist Anna Gorchenok, weightlifters Daria Pochobut, Alexander Bersanov, Pavel Khodasevich, and track and field athlete Marina Arzamasova brought points to the national team's score by entering the top eight. Our Paralympians also showed worthy results: Andrey Pranevich became the champion of the four-year star event in fencing, and swimmers Grigory and Anastasia Zudilovs made it into the "scoring".

In total, at official international competitions in 2016, 123 representatives of the Vitebsk region

climbed the podium, including 40 to the top step.

For significant personal contribution to the training of athletes, coaches of the national team Olga Vlasova and Viktor Shershukov were awarded the Order of the Fatherland, III degree. Athletes who became Olympic and Paralympic champions were awarded the same honor.

— Of the 70 registered national records, 14, including 2 world records in water skiing, were set by our athletes, — emphasized Vasily Zakharevich.

The successes of professionals also contribute to the growth of popularity of physical culture and sports among the population. Today, about 22% of the region's residents choose active recreation and regularly engage in physical education.

New sports facilities are also being introduced in the Vitebsk region, allowing people to spend their free time interestingly and for the benefit of their health. This includes workout equipment and exercise machines appearing in courtyards. The number of winter seasonal sports facilities and equipment rental points is growing.

By the way: Among the new physical culture and sports facilities that will appear in the region in 2017 are the Yunost Sports and Recreation Complex in Ushachi, a swimming pool in Gorodok, the VSTU stadium (major overhaul with modernization), and the sports core in Dubrovno (major overhaul with elements of modernization).

Eduard Karolevich. Photos by Dmitry Osipov. Vitebskiye Vesti.