Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Gleb Nikitin's congratulations on Physical Culture Day

      Dear workers of the physical culture and sports sector, coaches, professional athletes, amateurs, as well as veterans of the industry! Congratulations on Physical Culture Day! Sport, in one way or another, is present in each of our lives. Some pursue a professional sports career, others train periodically for pleasure, some get energized by participating in mass runs, ski races, and other competitions, while others actively cheer on their favorite athletes from the stands. Surveys show that more than half of the region's residents are choosing an active lifestyle and regularly engage in sports. It is very important that sports become more accessible to residents of Nizhny Novgorod of all ages each year — about 20 categories of citizens have the opportunity to visit state and municipal sports facilities for free. The region runs an intersectoral program for developing corporate and student sports, and school sports leagues are actively growing. The national program “Sports of Russia,” launched by the initiative of President Vladimir Putin, aims to support sports initiatives and develop professional sports in the country. In the Nizhny Novgorod region, the sports infrastructure is actively being upgraded: street courts are built and reconstructed, specialized halls and large multi-purpose complexes capable of hosting international competitions are being constructed. The long-awaited Ice Arena is nearing completion, seamlessly fitting into the Strelka panorama in Nizhny Novgorod, and soon the Boxing Center in Gorodets will open its doors. Sports facilities in the Nizhny Novgorod region regularly host all-Russian and international tournaments — we hold over 1,500 mass sporting events annually and will continue to develop various sports disciplines — from combat sambo and table tennis to basketball and hockey. We pay special attention to making sports accessible for people with disabilities. The “Sails” Adaptive Sports Center in Dzerzhinsk has become a base site for developing adaptive sports throughout the region. Nizhny Novgorod Paralympians proudly represent our area in high-level competitions in athletics, swimming, sled hockey, and the development of para-powerlifting, seated volleyball, wheelchair basketball, showdowns, and other sports. Special thanks go to coaches and specialists working in youth sports; thanks to you, a large number of children are involved in sports today. This creates a solid foundation for a future generation for whom sports and a healthy lifestyle will be normal and habitual from childhood. To all involved in sports, I wish new achievements and high results! Happy holidays!