Sports venue construction programme in the Russian Federation
There are 238,300 sports venues in the Russian Federation, including 123,200 sports grounds, 68,600 sports halls, 3,800 swimming pools, 2,700 stadiums, 3,100 ski lodges and 8,100 venues for archery and shooting. Of them 10.4% are federal property, 7.6% belong to the regions, and 82% are local authority property.
The level of provision of sports halls is 55.3% of the norm, sports facilities 24%, and swimming pools 7.1%
In 2008 the number of people in the Russian Federation who exercise or do sport regularly rose by 1.5 million, to 22.5 million people or 15.9% of the population.
In line with the Strategy for Promoting Fitness and Sport in the Russian Federation in the period to 2020 (henceforth referred to as - the Strategy) the provision of sports facilities for the population (in terms of reception capacity) will increase, in the first stage (2009-2015) from 22.7% to 30% and to 48% in the second phase (2016-2020).
As part of the implementation of the Federal Targeted Programme "Developing Fitness and Sport in the Russian Federation 2006-2015" (henceforth referred to as the Programme) budgetary funds will be used to build about 4,500 sports venues, including 1,467 multi-purpose halls, 733 venues equipped with swimming pools, 1,000 sports centres, 520 artificial playing fields, and 7 covered football stadiums.
Targeted programmes on developing fitness and sport have been adopted and are underway in 33 constituent entities of the Russian Federation, which include sports venue construction.
In the period 2006-2008 in accordance with the programme, 206 sports venues were brought online, including 89 multi-purpose halls, 16 swimming pools, 15 covered ice rinks with artificial ice, 14 stadiums, and 72 artificial turf football pitches.
In the period 2006-2008 23.3 billion roubles was provided in funding, of which 12.5 billion roubles came from the Federal Budget; 9.7 billion roubles from the regions of the Russian Federation, and 1.2 billion roubles from extra-budgetary sources.
In 2009 16.2 billion roubles are to be provided for the construction of 100 sports venues and 70 football pitches with artificial turf: 10.8 billion roubles came from the Federal Budget, 5 billion roubles from regional budgets, and 379.2 million roubles from extra-budgetary sources.
In addition to the Programme, Developing Fitness and Sport in the Russian Federation 2006-2015, a United Russia party programme for the construction of sports and recreation centres is underway.
This project includes 260 sports venues, of which 144 venues have been built and are already open to the public: 88 halls, 47 ice palaces, 7 swimming pools, 2 multi-purpose centres (combining sports hall and ice rink). Currently the construction of 116 venues is ongoing and by the end of the year about 60 venues will be completed.
In the period 2006-2009 8.7 billion roubles were provided by the Federal Budget for the United Russia sports and recreation centre construction programme. In 2010 there is a planned allocation of 1 billion roubles towards the construction of 25 sports venues.
Practically all sports facilities (over 90%) function as inter-school centres for free school lessons in PE and extra curricular sport. In summer 79% of the sports and recreation venues allow children from recreational summer camps free access.
Most of the sports and recreation centres run classes for disabled people.
The average cost of visiting a fitness centre ranges from 40 to 50 roubles, an ice rink costs from 25 to 50 roubles, and a swimming pool from 60 to 100 roubles.
One result of the project to build sports and recreational centres is the prevention of child and youth crime. According to data from internal affairs agencies the number of law-breaking children and youths fell by 10-40% in several Russian Federation regions (the republics of Mordovia and Tatarstan, the Krasnodar Territory, and the Vladimir Region).
The completed sports facilities makes it possible to hold competitions at any level, including international. This year the European International Badminton Cup was held in Gatchina, Leningrad Region. During two recent years the sports hall in Razumnoe village, Belgorod Region, hosted the Slavyanochka International Competition in Rhythmic Gymnastics. In 2013 the International Summer Universiade will be held in Kazan. The Russian Cup finals of Figure Skating competition are hosted for the second year in a row by ice rinks in Tver and Staritsa, Tver Region).
