The future of big sport: Student Games of the Union State in volleyball and chess began in Orsha

In Orsha today, November 9, the Spartakiad of the Union State among student youth was solemnly opened. Six days the city on the Dnieper will host the best volleyball and chess teams of universities of Belarus and Russia, the correspondent of sb.by reports.

To the sounds of the anthems of the two countries, with the traditional caravan and the exchange of memorable pennants, one of the largest youth projects of the Union State was launched in the Orsha district center of culture “Victory”. Over 23 years, more than 17 thousand schoolchildren and students participated in the competition, and the geography of the competition covered 27 cities of Belarus and Russia.

For Orsha, this is the third Union Spartakiad: in 2015, young hockey players competed here, in 2021 – young volleyball players and hockey players. Now the relay took the student youth.

- Today, the best of the best have gathered in Orsha – students of nine Russian and seven Belarusian universities. From Novosibirsk and Volgograd to St. Petersburg and Moscow, from Gomel and Grodno to Vitebsk and Minsk, said Alexander Dorokhovich, First Deputy Minister of Sport of the Republic of Belarus. – The Spartakiad is not only an opportunity to prove yourself on the sports ground, but also a chance to get acquainted, make friends, and in the future – to benefit our states. It is you, 17-21 years old, who will build our countries tomorrow. It is important that you come together and work together.

The main importance of the Spartakiad is not on a state scale, but in the fate of young athletes, says the representative of the Standing Committee of the Union State Viktor Sirenko:

- They need a competitive environment, an opportunity to test their strength against worthy rivals from another country. This is always interesting, especially since we are brotherly nations. We are happy to support and develop these competitions, to rejoice together with our young athletes in their victories. Even if they are small, it is still a victory. This is the future of our great sport.

Sports grounds of the city these days will be the two poles of the Union sport. In the sports complex "Olympic" will be held volleyball battles of men's and women's teams, and in the meeting room of the Ice Arena of HC "Lokomotiv-Orsha" will unfold intellectual chess matches.

Students of BSU, BNTU, BSUFK, BSUE, BSUE, GrSU named after Yanka Kupala, VSTU, Belarusian Trade and Economic University will compete for the medals - and their peers from universities of Novosibirsk, Volgograd, Tyumen, Moscow, Krasnoyarsk, St. Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don.

- For me, participation in the Union State Spartakiad is an opportunity to test yourself as an athlete, to establish contacts with guys from another country, said Elizabeth Medvedeva, a student of BSUFK, a participant of four world chess championships. I want to see how the Russian chess school is training and see new technologies. In any case, it is an invaluable experience and new acquaintances.

The organizers prepared for the delegations not only modern venues, but also a rich cultural program, so that each participant took home the warmest memories of Orsha. After the matches - excursions to the historic city, in the evenings - skating, bowling tournaments, going to the movies and restoring strength in the pool.

Chess player from Tyumen Pavel Trofimov, who first found himself in Belarus, admits:

- The program is impressive. For me, the most interesting thing is bowling. I think I will leave with new experiences and new friends.

It is at such moments, outside the competition, that the warm ties that bind the Union State of the two fraternal peoples are born.

The competition will last until November 13. On the same evening in the RCC "Victory" will be held the solemn closing and awarding of the winners.

alimova@sb.by