Russia will develop sports in the Arctic as part of the National Security Strategy

The development of physical culture and sports in the Arctic zone is the main element of the national security strategy. This was stated by Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation Oleg Matytsin at a meeting "Russian Arctic - Territory of Sports and Tourism", which took place on Saturday in Zapolyarny Norilsk.

“It is important not only to hold Russian competitions, but also to strengthen the role of Russia in the international community. We understand that sports are currently one of the most effective means of propaganda and unity, Russia's positioning at this difficult time as a country that consolidates the efforts, an open country demonstrating the principles of equal cooperation,” TASS quotes an official quoted.

According to him, Russia is ready to share with the international community the experience of conducting competitions in the Arctic, which will be interesting for all countries, and a striking example of polar sports is the holding of five Kerling competitions in Norilsk.

Matytsin added that the sport should become an important part of the life of citizens living in the northern region, "so that people do not have a desire to leave this beautiful land." To do this, it is necessary to hold a large number of competitions there.

In the same way, Igor Levitin, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation, also spoke out at a meeting.

“The region is important, it is necessary to use this enormous potential,” said Levitin. “It is very important for us that more competitions are held here. So that people who have never been here see the conditions that are here, how sport is organized.”

One of the first steps in the direction of the development of sports and tourism in the northern territories of the Russian Federation will be the construction of runways for small aircraft and helicopters, as well as putting in the order of seaports.

“The interest of people in traveling to these territories is very important. But for this, the investor must create a transport infrastructure. There are problems that need to solve the federal center, region and of course, local authorities,” Levitin said, adding that the corresponding project in the Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Murmansk region implements Norilskel, whose scope is impressive.

According to another strategic vector, the statewill in the near future reduce financing of professional sports , which has already suffered huge losses due to the pandemic of coronavirus. We are talking about leagues and clubs, and not about athletes included in the national teams. The money will be redirected to the social segment of the development of sports, and the leagues were offered to create a mechanism for attracting extrabudgetary funds.