Vitebsk Lokomotiv recognized as the best sports complex in the region

Even in the current challenging economic times for the country, many enterprises and organizations in the Vitebsk region do not forget about the health and social protection of their employees. A prime example is the Vitebsk branch of the Belarusian Railway, which employs about 10,000 people. For almost a quarter of a century, the "Lokomotiv" cultural and sports complex has allowed railway workers, their families, and also retirees of the department to maintain good physical shape and engage in creative activities.

According to Anatoly Gonchar, Deputy Head of the Vitebsk Branch of Belarusian Railway, the collective agreement places great emphasis on social support for employees: significant payments are provided upon the birth of children, marriage, retirement, and in difficult life situations. Pensioners and large families receive regular financial support, and there are opportunities for children's health improvement at the "Magistral" camp, and for employees with families – at the recently reconstructed modern "Zheleznodorozhnik" sanatorium with 150 beds.

Employees and retirees, numbering about 4.5 thousand at the enterprise, can visit all the facilities of the branch's cultural and sports center, which are mainly located in Vitebsk. However, in Polotsk, the railway also rents a swimming pool and sports halls for its employees.

— About a third of our employees are young people, — emphasizes Anatoly Gonchar. — We are convinced that a healthy lifestyle must be instilled from the earliest years, and much here depends on family upbringing. Railway workers often live and work according to a very intensive schedule. Therefore, despite all the difficulties, the enterprise strives to preserve all social payments as much as possible, and to provide opportunities for sports and creative activities.

The Lokomotiv Sports Complex, which we visited, impresses with its spaciousness, modern interior, and functionality. It has everything you could wish for! A 25-meter swimming pool with five lanes, equipped with a modern water filtration system (odorless of chlorine), where swimming competitions of any level can be held. A small pool for children aged 5-7 with a special air conditioning and heating system, and heated floors. There is also a magnificent hall for sports games, which regularly hosts prestigious competitions in football, basketball, and mini-football.

In the general physical training hall, adult groups engage in various fitness activities—from yoga to Pilates. The railway workers also have access to a gym, two saunas, a solarium, a football stadium with a beautiful lawn, and an artificial turf pitch for mini-football. The sports complex employs about 40 people, including outstanding athletes: Master of Sports in swimming Andrey Ostapyuk, Master of Sports in tourist multi-event Sergey Kozlov, and Master of Sports in tourist multi-event and cycling Natalia Osipuk.

All this allows the Vitebsk branch of the railway to hold one of the most massive sports games among employees in 13 sports.

— The sports complex emphasizes a variety of activities so that everyone can find something to their liking and physical fitness level, — notes Sergey Kozlov, Deputy Head of the Center for Physical Culture and Sports Work. — At the same time, the most convenient times for visits, of course, are for railway workers and their families. However, thanks to the high throughput of the complex, with 800 to 1200 people visiting daily, we have enough "gaps" for commercial visits. Thanks to this, last year we managed to earn over 3.4 billion rubles, which allowed us to reach 70 percent cost recovery. Support from the enterprise is also felt. Annually, about 700 million rubles are allocated solely for sports activities.

Therefore, it is not surprising that for the second year in a row, "Lokomotiv" has taken first place in the regional competition of sports facilities "Lokomotiv".

Alexander Kutynko, photo by the author. "Vitebskiye Vesti".