The Smolensk Academy of Physical Culture is the gravity center of the Russian sports

Today Russian Minister of sports Vitaly Mutko visited Smolensk. During the visit, which took place during the anniversary events, the Minister went to the Smolensk State Academy of Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism, which is rightfully one of the leading educational sports institutions of Russia.

Governor Alexey Ostrovskiy, Head of General Administration of Sports in Smolensk region Eduard Zaenchkovsky, Rector of the Academy Georgiy Grets accompanied Vitaly Mutko.

Over the years, the Academy has trained more than 16,000 highly skilled professionals, more than 600 sports masters, international class sports masters and honored sports masters. The reconstruction of the stadium at the Smolensk State Academy of Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism has become one of the most significant events within the framework of the preparations for celebrating the 1150th anniversary of Smolensk.

The regional center needed a modern sports complex such as the stadium of the Academy for a long time. New sports facilities are the center of preparing athletes for more than 40 kinds of Olympic sports, and our outstanding athletes are already training there.

Vitaly Mutko examined the sports facilities of the Academy – the Ice Palace, the track and field arena, the swimming pool and the stadium, which were put into operation as part of the preparations for the 1150th anniversary of Smolensk, and took part in the opening ceremony of the sports complex of the Smolensk Sport Academy.

The head of the Russian Ministry of Sports talked to the students of the Smolensk Sports Academy. Vitaly Mutko was interested in the living conditions in the hostels and other sports-related and everyday aspects of the student life. After that, the Minister launched the All-Russia festival of physical culture universities’ students and held a meeting with the rectors of the 14 leading sports universities in Russia.

Vitaly Mutko also met the hockey club "Slavutich" players, who were training on the new ice arena for the match of the RHL championship with the team "Sokol" (Novocheboksarsk).