Russian Army Sports
The sports program in the Russian Army is more than recreation and more than something which is meant to keep you physically fit. It serves to improve your physical fitness, to foster courage and self-control, the hallmarks of a soldier.
The main sports in the Army are gymnastics, obstacle course, hand-to-hand fighting, skiing, high-pace run and track and field events. These are the sports which develop different skills necessary for a serviceman.
Besides these sports, which are a must for body, a serviceman can participate in a sport to his liking. For this he joins one of the many athletic clubs which specialize in the following sports: football, basketball, handball, officers’ pentathlon /gymnastics, cross-country race, shooting, swimming, skiing/, etc…
Nowadays karate is becoming very popular with the young serviceman. Athletes in this field have already won a great number, of honours, for the Army, competing in the Moscow and Russian championships.
The Army has the finest sports facilities in the country. These facilities include the indoor facilities of the Military Sport Federation of Russia, which has a football pitch, a track-and-field arena, an ice-hockey and figure-skating rinks and a swimming pool. It also has rooms for wrestling, fencing, boxing, basketball, tennis and other sports.