The first mini-football festival for preschoolers in Russia took place in Dzerzhinsk.

      On September 25, the first city mini-football festival for kindergarten pupils, "Stars of Football," took place at Kaprolaktamovets Stadium in Dzerzhinsk. The event became the first project of its kind in Russia. Two hundred forty children from 24 preschool educational institutions in the city took part. The festival was initiated by Evgeny Lyulin, Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast. On that day he also addressed the participants with a welcoming speech, the regional parliament’s press service reported.

      The festival is held to introduce children to physical culture, to popularize football, and to strengthen family values. After the ceremonial opening, the participants were divided into two groups to play in a 3x3 format. The children were given the task of scoring 95 goals in honor of Dzerzhinsk’s 95th anniversary, which was accomplished. The matches were officiated by players of the Khimik football club.

      "To see with what enthusiasm and joy our little ones play football is a huge pleasure. Dzerzhinsk sets a high bar, becoming a leader in the development of mass children’s sport from the very earliest age. I am sure that today we are witnessing the birth of new sports stars, and for some of these kids this festival will become the first step into big sport," said Evgeny Lyulin, Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast.

      Recall that since 2024, at the initiative of Evgeny Lyulin and Andrey Kuvaev, director of the Parus Center for Adaptive Sports, a project unique to Russia has been implemented in Dzerzhinsk to create football fields for the very young. Last year, eight fields were opened in the city of chemists. By the end of this year there will be 19. Plans for the future include equipping all Dzerzhinsk kindergartens with football pitches.

      "When a few years ago we started the project to build mini-pitches in kindergartens, we dreamed that football would become not just an activity for children but a real celebration. Today, looking at hundreds of enthusiastic little ones and their parents, you can clearly see: we are moving in the right direction. It is important that Dzerzhinsk’s experience, where even five-year-old children come out to the city stadium, is already being adopted at the federal level. This proves that big victories really do begin with small 'stars'," Evgeny Lyulin shared.

      The program also included family relays "Mom, Dad, and I — a Football Family!" Each festival participant received commemorative prizes and gifts.

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