More than two thousand athletes participated in the sports parade organized by the RUSSIA EXPO and the "Healthy Fatherland" movement
On May 25,
a large-scale sports procession was held at the International RUSSIA EXPO to
mark the 105th anniversary of the first sports parade on Red Square. More than
two thousand athletes took part in the celebration of the country's sporting
achievements aimed at popularizing sports and a healthy lifestyle. The parade
was organized by the RUSSIA EXPO and the All-Russian Public Movement
"Healthy Fatherland".
"A
wonderful tradition of athletes and physical trainers' parades on the Red
Square in Moscow emerged in 1919. From 1931 to 1954 they were held on a regular
basis, gathering hundreds of thousands of residents of the Soviet Union both in
Moscow and Leningrad, but, unfortunately, later this tradition was lost. And
only thanks to our national leader, President of Russia Vladimir Putin, we are
reviving it. This year's procession is dedicated to the 105th anniversary of
the first parade of athletes and sportsmen. As early as next year we are
planning to organize a procession of athletes on Red Square - the most
beautiful square in the world," said the Minister of Sport of the Russian
Federation Mikhail Degtyarev.
The route
was followed by runners, gymnasts, boxers, swimmers, sambo wrestlers,
volleyball players, football players, skaters, figure skaters and
representatives of other sports. The columns were led by famous athletes of our
time - two-time Olympic boxing champion Oleg Saitov, gymnast Nikita Nagorny and
his wife Daria, synchronized swimmer Svetlana
Romashina and many others. Paralympic athletes also took part in the
procession.
"This
is a historic event. It is a great joy that today both children and legends of
national sports marched together in one formation. This is a healthy
nation!" said Umar Kremlev, President of the International Boxing
Association.
The main
idea of the large-scale parade at the RUSSIA EXPO was the demonstration of the
best achievements of different sports eras of Russia, as well as the sports
life of the country that is constantly developing and moving. With the help of
special props, costumes and program installations, the audience was
symbolically transported to the era of grandiose sports parades and then
returned to the present - to the best sports achievements of our time. The
finale of the procession was a representation of the country's future sporting
successes. The special symbolism lay in the fact that the festive columns
included both veterans, current athletes and representatives of the younger
generation.
"It is
important that the tradition of such processions is being revived here at the
RUSSIA EXPO. Sport is not only about achievements. It, like our Exposition,
unites. Athletes from all over Russia, both famous and young generation, came
to take part in today's procession. Looking at them, we see that we have a lot
to be proud of. By reviving traditions, we are creating our future," said
Anastasia Zvyagina, Deputy Director General of the RUSSIA EXPO.
The
procession ended with a mass flash mob, sports exercises for everyone and a
festive concert. The headliner of the final show was the Pizza band.
"Today
'Healthy Fatherland' starts the countdown to the parade on Red Square in 2025.
Today more than two thousand athletes who demonstrated their achievements,
representatives of more than 30 federations of sports labor reserves,
participants of the GTO, and, of course, sports families have marched shoulder
to shoulder in the procession. Together we are a healthy nation and a great
sports power," said Ekaterina Leshchinskaya, head of the All-Russian
Public Movement "Healthy Fatherland".
"Holding
the parade is a great idea. Russia should know its sports heroes, strive for a
healthy lifestyle. Such events unite us and show the whole world that we are
here, we exist, we work and live in a great country!" said gymnast,
four-time Olympic champion Alexei Nemov.
"Sport really unites and brings people together. Today's procession was an opportunity for everyone to come together, to socialize, to thank the fans for their support. I hope that next year there will be even more athletes, representatives of different sports and disciplines, federations on Red Square. We once again show that we are a sports power and we cannot be defeated!" emphasized gymnast, Olympic champion Nikita Nagorny.
In April,
the RUSSIA EXPO launched a large-scale sports program in cooperation with the
All-Russian Movement "Healthy Fatherland". Champions conduct daily
exercises for guests of the Exposition, and everyone can find activities for
themselves on the sports ground. And the exercise led by Olympic champion
Nikita Nagorny on April 20 became a record-breaking largest mass exercise in
Russia - 5,773 people took part in it.
The event will feature a presentation of a collection of essays written by participants of the international project "Open Dialogue: The Future of the World. New Platform for Global Growth."
