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Russia In Depth: Sports in Russia

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1. Soviet society placed a heavy emphasis on physical strength, conditioning and participation in sports.

2. Taking part in sporting activities was seen not just as a way to nourish the body but also as a vehicle through which to strengthen the principles of communism and collective effort and build loyalty to party organizations.

3. All large Soviet cities had a Palace of Sports. These palaces usually had basketball courts, swimming pools and indoor facilities for track and field activities.

4. Soccer was also a popular sport, and it was not uncommon (nor is it today) to find soccer fields in and around cities and towns of all sizes. Large cities had soccer stadiums that were generally used by local teams.

5. Soviet sports teams sometimes had a military air to them. Team captains, as well as their superiors, placed a heavy emphasis on discipline and cooperation. Like any good team, their leaders tried their best to foster a team spirit. 

6. The Soviet Union did not like to turn away young aspiring athletes and had many state organizations for developing and tapping into budding talent.

7. Perhaps the most important state run sports organization was the GTO, which stood for Ready for Work and Defense. The GTO had a system for ranking its members in their respective sports and sought to develop the athletic talent of youngsters for eventual participation in national or Olympic teams.

8. Soviet citizens did not just play sports for fun and leisure. It was often times a requirement, with sports collectives being organized in offices, schools and other places were Soviet citizens spent time.

9. Soviet society, especially during Stalin’s reign, was carefully controlled. A good soccer or hockey game thus served as an outlet for many people, who could “let loose” a bit during sporting events without incurring official wrath.

10. Reportedly, during games, Soviet propaganda and the promotion of mass culture drifted into the background, and, for a little while at least, people felt as if they were separated from the harsh realities of daily life. During those games, they could feel and act as individuals.

11. Other public sporting performances included the Physcultura, also known as Physkultura, which were publicly staged performances of gymnastic programs and exercises.

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