CIS program for development of traditional sports in the pipeline

The draft program identifies the major goals and guidelines for the interstate cooperation to support the traditional sports. "The document aims at creating conditions for the development of modern sports and also for the revival of the traditional ones. The document will also focus on the coaches' education and increase in the number of people involved in sports including by making sports programs available to vulnerable social groups. Another goal is to enhance sports and cultural cooperation in the CIS," the press service of the CIS Executive Committee noted.

Currently there are about 50 traditional sports in the CIS member states. For example, Russia's traditional sports are khapsagay, the Yakutian traditional jumping, kettlebell lifting, gorodki, lapta, sambo and others. Kazakhstan annually holds the Kazaksha kures fighting competitions and different equestrian events.

Over 3 million people in the CIS do traditional sports.

The CIS Executive Committee also said that a number of the CIS states have adopted the programs aimed at supporting their traditional sports. They have built the required infrastructure and included these sports in the school and university curriculum. Traditional sports competitions usually become part in different festival programs and are popular with spectators, BelTA reports.

However, the CIS have some problems to deal with, including poor physical infrastructure, lack of sports equipment and imperfect educational programs. "Further development of the traditional sports in the CIS requires combined efforts focused on the maintenance of sporting traditions, children and youth's involvement in traditional sports and the increase in the number of tournaments and other sports events," the CIS Executive Committee underscored.