Sports for everyone: St Petersburg University holds the World Health Day
The St Petersburg University Sports Club invited its students and staff to spend their time at the celebration of the World Health Day. People could come to the pool for recreational swimming and aqua aerobics, try their hands at triathlon on ergometers or in a friendly water polo game. A volleyball tournament among mixed teams was held for students and staff living in Peterhof.
Last year, due to COVID-19 restrictions the sports event was held in the online format, but today the gym doors are open for all students. Dmitrii Korotchenkov, Head of the St Petersburg University Sports Club, noted that the main idea of the Health Day is to attract students and staff to regular physical education and sports, so the event was held in the format of free activities, not competitions. ‘We will explain how to properly use exercising machiness and offer to complete the triathlon distance. It includes three stages: 500 metres on cycling and rowing ergometers and 1,000 metres on a skiing ergometer. It will be really hard for an unprepared athlete,’ Dmitrii Korotchenkov explained. ‘Professional rowing machines are great for training rowers in winter. The mountaineering team love skiing machines. But every athlete will be able to find an exercising machine both for practicing specific skills and for functional training.’
I am positive that it is a great idea to hold mass physical education and sports classes on the Health Day in order to see more smiles and joy, without the frustration that sometimes arises during competitions.
Dmitrii Korotchenkov, Head of the St Petersburg University Sports Club
On the eve of the Health Day, the University held the multi-repeat bench press competition ‘Uncle Vania Cup’ (named after a famous Russian athlete Ivan Lebedev). It aroused great interest among both weightlifters and spectators. Many of them learned about the opportunity to attend classes in different sports clubs during this event. Meanwhile, students of the University can choose among 18 sports clubs to attend. Additionally, for those who show good results, want to train systematically and participate in high-level competitions, there are 11 sports teams that are recruiting new members. Students can perform in sports such as swimming, rugby, football, rowing, mountaineering and rock climbing. Also, the University has men's and women's volleyball and basketball teams. Moreover, this academic year, teams in athletics and powerlifting were introduced. Athletes from St Petersburg University regularly participate in student sports leagues events, national and international competitions. COVID-19 restrictions are gradually easing. Currently training of teams and classes within the clubs are therefore carried out in full scale.
Currently, the possibility of creating an aqua aerobics group for the University staff is being considered.
The Health Day will enable students to get acquainted with the sports presented at St Petersburg University and try something new. Right now the University is hosting championships in a number of sports, including rowing, badminton, athletics, rugby, football and others. The open chess tournament ‘Spassky Cup’ will also be held as part of the competition series. The full schedule can be found on the website of St Petersburg University.