Faster, higher, smarter: the National Centre RUSSIA became the main venue for the II All-Russian Sports Dictation

On 4 October, the National Centre RUSSIA became the main venue for the All-Russian Sports Dictation for the second time. The large-scale sports and educational project was organised by the Russian Olympic Committee jointly with the Ministry of Sport of the Russian Federation. The initiative aims to promote a healthy lifestyle and knowledge of physical education, sport and the Olympic Games. Around 300 guests attended the opening ceremony, including renowned athletes from different generations. At the same time, the II All-Russian Sports Dictation was held at more than 1,400 venues across Russia and abroad.

The ceremony was opened by the Minister of Sport and President of the Russian Olympic Committee, Mikhail Degtyarev. He recalled that Russia had helped lay the foundations of the Olympic Movement and emphasised that efforts to protect the interests of Russian sport would continue.

Photo: Sergei Khakimov, Press Office of the National Centre RUSSIA

"One of the founders of the International Olympic Committee, alongside Pierre de Coubertin, was the Russian general Alexei Butovsky. Russia rightly helped lay the foundations of the modern Olympic Movement and is a leader in sporting achievements. We are one of nine countries to have hosted both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. The Russian Empire, the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation have therefore always been and remain part of the vast Olympic family. On the instructions of the President of Russia, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, the Ministry of Sport and the Russian Olympic Committee are conducting a diplomatic and legal offensive that has resulted in the full restoration of the Russian Olympic Committee’s status and the lifting of all sanctions on all Russian athletes in 25 sports, as well as on junior athletes in another 35. This work will continue," said Mikhail Degtyarev.

Photo: Sergei Khakimov, Press Office of the National Centre RUSSIA

The Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA, Natalia Virtuozova, highlighted the importance and scale of the All-Russian Sports Dictation.

"The scale of the initiative is truly impressive: people are taking the Dictation at 1,500 venues across the country, including the branch of the National Centre RUSSIA in Yugra. This clearly demonstrates how widely interest in sport and a healthy lifestyle is spreading. I would like to thank the Russian Ministry of Sport and the Russian Olympic Committee for choosing the National Centre RUSSIA as the main venue for this incredible event a year ago. The National Centre was established by the President, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, as a place of pride, and athletes have always been our pride — those who defend the honour of our country at the highest level. May this day be another step forward, and may your achievements inspire others," Natalia Virtuozova told the project participants.

The II All-Russian Sports Dictation was hosted by three-time Olympic champion in synchronised swimming and the driving force behind the project Maria Kiseleva, as well as renowned television commentator Dmitry Guberniev.

The participants were tested on their knowledge of sport, the Olympic Games and physical education. The questions covered various areas of sport: summer and winter disciplines, team and individual sports, martial arts, athletics, water sports, new sporting disciplines and Paralympic sport. The test questions were read out by Olympic champions and winners of world and European championships Alexei Svirin, Nikita Kryukov, Svetlana Khorkina, Vladlena Bobrovnikova, Svetlana Ishmuratova, Lidia Ivanova and Veronika Stepanova; multiple world champions Alexander Maltsev and Maya Doroshko; world champion Ruslan Ternovoy; European champion Maria Rakova; and other decorated and promising athletes, including Stepan Bortnik, a cyclist and member of the Russian team for the forthcoming Youth Olympic Games in Dakar.

Regional venues in Saint Petersburg, Novogorsk in the Moscow Region, Khanty-Mansiysk and the Sirius Federal Territory joined the ceremony by video link. Olympic champion Vera Shimanskaya, Paralympic medallist Konstantin Shikhov and others read out the questions at these venues. The final question came from the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre and was read out by test cosmonaut Alexei Zubritsky.

This year, the Dictation was held abroad for the first time, including in Armenia, the Republic of Belarus, Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Turkey. In particular, the Russian House in Astana joined the event by video link, where Olympic medallist Irek Zinnurov read out one of the Dictation questions.

The guests also enjoyed a cultural programme. The Igor Butman Quintet, the ensemble of People’s Artist of Russia and world-renowned saxophonist Igor Butman, performed at the National Centre RUSSIA. The renowned musician himself also read out one of the Dictation questions.

At the end of the event, the participants were immediately able to see the correct answers and check their results. In addition, personalised certificates were issued to everyone who wanted one, either in person or online. However, as with any contest, the main value of the initiative lay not in individual results, but in participation and a sense of unity.

The first All-Russian Sports Dictation was held across the country on 5 October 2025 at 850 venues, including universities, Olympic reserve sports schools, cultural institutions, and scientific and public organisations. The initiative is open to everyone. To take part, participants must register on the project website, sportdiktant.ru.