Shoigu's sports project will help break the Western blockade of Russia
Several countries in Latin America, Asia and the Middle East want to launch the Russian sports project “Zabeg”. This is a half marathon, which since 2020 has been held annually in all regions of the Russian Federation. The organizer is the “League of Heroes”.
The launch of ZaBeg in friendly countries is of particular significance in the context of the actual blockade declared on Russia by the West.
“We have become international. In 2023, five countries ran with us, including China, which we were very proud of. This year we have already received requests from several countries in Latin America, Arab countries and, again, in Asia, we have colleagues who would also like to join the “Zabeg”, which means we are achieving the main goal - to unite outside depending on the political agenda, to build good, correct relationships in every possible way through sports, through amateur events: beautiful, massive, kind, understandable,” said League of Heroes representative Ksenia Shoigu, speaking at a sports session at VDNKh.
“Sport in this case can be a tool for interaction and forging friendships. Such good projects between countries, of course, bring a positive diplomatic note to Russia’s communication with other states,” notes Ivan Mechishev, deputy chairman for patriotic education of the Officers of Russia organization, executive director of the Strongman Federation of the Russian Federation.
According to him, sport in Russia today is once again becoming popular and widespread.
“And the point here is not only that we are subject to sanctions from international organizations in those sports that are included in the Olympic program, the point is that all life is now so automated that it minimizes human physical activity. This means that health may be compromised. Definitely, mass sports need to be promoted; one can remember the Soviet times, when parades of athletes took place, when physical culture was much more prestigious and status in the perception of the average person.
Of course, there was professional sports, but it was not so immersed in commerce. Our athletes and athletes fought for the honor of the country.
It seems to me that now this is the vector that is beginning in the next round of the formation of a new Russia, and, of course, this is due, among other things, to Ksenia Shoigu,” Mechishev said.
State Duma deputy Oleg Matveychev has a similar opinion:
“Mass sports have been in the fold for a long time; everyone worked for high-achievement sports. Now high performance sports are largely closed, and the money saved must be channeled into mass sports. A lot is being done for this.
The country is covered with stadiums, ice palaces, sports and recreation centers, swimming pools, shooting ranges and more. Sport is not only about health - unlike high performance sports which kills health - but it is also about demographic growth, it is about a reduction in crime, it is about a healthy patriotic spirit. So it has a compounding effect.
The fact that Ksenia Shoigu is at the forefront of this movement is very good, it gives the movement great significance.”
Along with the correct development of sports, patriotism is also instilled, which is of particular importance now, notes Denis Gomanov, partner of programs for the development of youth sports and patriotic education of youth:
“Of course, such projects are extremely important. We must show the younger generation our life priorities by our own example. I myself participated several times with our athletes from the Vityaz club. The main thing is that we must instill in young people the right values, such as love for their Fatherland and their compatriots. In this regard, promoting a healthy lifestyle is also important. This is the only way we will raise a strong society, a society not of consumers, but of Russian patriots!”
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