The annual “SUSU Is a Sports University!” festival, which brought together more than 3000 students, athletes, guests and residents of our city, was held at Elena Elesina Track-and-field Complex on May 16th. This year, the event is dedicated to the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War and is organised in the spirit of the legendary 1980 Olympics.
The opening ceremony was decorated with a real Olympic flame, symbolizing the desire for victory, unity and sporting spirit.
“This event represents popularization of sports, involvement of our students in various sections of physical education. Of course, we have great ambitions to develop in new areas, for example, digital sports. And, probably, in the near future we will hold several festivals: classical sports and digital sports,” said SUSU Rector Alexander Wagner. “I can say with absolute confidence that our university, thanks to the achievements of our student sports teams, that are represented in various sports, is the most athletic one in the Chelyabinsk Region.”
The First Deputy Governor of the Chelyabinsk Region Stanislav Mosharov, Minister of Physical Culture and Sports of the Chelyabinsk Region Vladimir Ivanov, Head of the Apparatus of the Chelyabinsk Regional Branch of the Russian Engineering Union Sergey Kashigin, Rector of South Ural State University Alexander Wagner, President of South Ural State University Aleksandr Shestakov, Rector of the Ural State University of Physical Education Evgeniy Cherepov, Director of the Centre for Sports Training in Adaptive Sports of the Chelyabinsk Region Aleksandr Kazakov, and Director of the Autonomous Non-profit Organization “Administration for Sporting Events in the Chelyabinsk Region” Elena Eremeeva became honorary guests to the event.
“I am very happy to participate in this sports festival. The successes of the university students in the all-Russian and international arenas prove that for many, sports have become a style of life. SUSU is a university that has a very developed sports infrastructure, one of the best in the region. I wish all the athletes to have fun, show your best qualities and, of course, win. Good luck to you and way to go!” First Deputy Governor of the Chelyabinsk Region Stanislav Mosharov addressed the participants of the event.
Interactive entertainment areas were also open, sports contests from the coaches of the SUSU Sports Complex in darts, tennis, basketball and other sports were held, and a festive opening with performances by creative teams of the university and the city were organized for the guests of the event. The participants of the festival competed for the branded prizes of the partners: the Russian Engineering Union, SpetsAgregat Plant, LD Group of Companies, VTB Bank, SOYUZPISHCHEPROM Association, Fantel confectionery factory, Dodo Pizza Chelyabinsk pizzeria chain, Radio Continental, Vector Federal Driving Academy, Chelbasket Basketball Club, Voda thermal baths, GameSpot computer club, and Vladimir Yezhov Academy of Running and Triathlon.
According to the tradition of the festival, the Head of the Department of Technology and Organization of Public Catering of the Institute of Sport, Tourism and Service Abduvali Toshev fed the athletes and guests with the most delicious pilaf cooked over an open fire according to his own recipe.
“This event was first held 56 years ago, when faculties used to compete in the student track and field relay race. We decided to add brightness and interest to the sports festival. We did all this to raise the sports spirit, to unite the teaching staff and students of the university. Everything in a person should be beautiful: they should be pretty, healthy and smart. These factors are combined in our holiday,” noted Director of the SUSU Institute of Sport, Tourism and Service Vadim Erlikh.
The event included the 56th “SMART University” track and field relay race, the Olympic race of the teachers and staff members of the university, the fulfilment of the standards of the All-Russian complex “Ready for Labour and Defence” by all interested. The winners and prize-winners of the track and field competitions will be announced later in the SUSU Institute of Sport, Tourism and Service online group.
“It was a wonderful day! You can feel the atmosphere of a real sports festival. It was especially great to take part in the relay race, to test myself in it,” shared SUSU student Alina Zaitseva.
The holiday was traditionally held and organized by the SUSU Institute of Sport, Tourism and Service with the support from the Governor, the Ministry of Physical Culture and Sports, and Administration for Sporting Events in the Chelyabinsk Region.
