The Final of the All-Russian Computer All-Around Championship among Pensioners has started at the National Centre RUSSIA
The opening ceremony of the final of the 15th All-Russian Computer All-Around Championship among Pensioners took place today at the National Centre RUSSIA. 206 winners of regional stages from 75 regions of the Russian Federation, including new regions, will compete there, as well as compatriots from 10 countries. A special role is assigned to new participants – 35 veterans of military operations and the Special Military Operation. The contest is held in a phygital format: 123 people are competing in person in Moscow, and 83 are online. The entire championship brought together more than 10,000 Russians and compatriots.
Organizers of the event are: the All-Russian Public Organization "Union of Pensioners of Russia" and the Russian State University of Social Technologies (RSU Soctech); with support of: the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Russian Federation; the Party United Russia"; the National Centre RUSSIA. The partner of the event is the "InfoWatch" group of companies, a leading developer of information security solutions.
Valery Ryazansky, Chairman of the Union of Pensioners of Russia: "In anticipation of this exciting event, we are approaching the home stretch in preparation for the final of the anniversary All-around Computer Championship. It is symbolic that this unique project for the older generation, which has no analogues in Russia and the world, is being held at the National Centre RUSSIA, where the most socially significant events have been presented. As for digital literacy, many pensioners have already acquired this skill, and today we are talking about expanding the toolkit and about new ways to obtain information. If in doubt, join the project. It will be interesting and informative."
The current Championship brought together participants from all over Russia: 1,200 municipalities from Magadan to Lugansk, and from Salekhard to Makhachkala. Despite the fact that 76% of the participants live in cities (including small ones), residents of rural areas also reached the finals. Among them, 42 persons (26%) are residents of villages and towns, and 6 ones (4%) are from villages. The most remote continental settlement that gave us a finalist is the village of Amurzet (Jewish Autonomous Region), and in Russia - Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. The distance from Moscow to Amurzet is 8334 km along the highway, to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk - more than nine thousand km. The most sparsely populated place that gave us the Championship finalist is the village of Zimenki in the Ivanovo region, where only 82 people live, but the oldest public library in Russia is still open.
Konstantin Kosachev, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation: "Previously, we believed that it was enough to simply pay pensions to the elderly, to provide conditions for them to get sick less, and then let them go about their lives. This is wrong. People need to be given the opportunity to find themselves after they have stopped being engaged in their main professional activities, so that they feel they are needed, know that they are seen, appreciated and expected. We waited for them to come to our All-around Computer Championship, to our final."
On its Anniversary, the Championship reached an international level due to participants from all over the world: from Athens to Ulaanbaatar. It's no wonder that not all finalists will be able to get to Moscow. For those who, for some reason, could not personally come to the capital, a possibility of remote competition has been organized. Hints and doping are excluded, because a special electronic monitoring system makes all participants equal in their sports rivalry.
Olga Batalova, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection: "The All-Russian Computer All-Around Championship is the largest event in our country to promote computer training and modern IT technologies among older people. Such social projects are extremely important and will receive governmental support."
Training the older generation for computer literacy has not just gave additional opportunities for maintaining social activity of more than 1.5 million graduates of specialized programs. It has also formed a community, and many of its representatives met today at the final in Moscow.
Igor Mikhalev, Rector of the Russian State University of Social Technology: "The Computer All-around Championship among pensioners is not just a competition, but a vivid example of how experience, knowledge and modern technologies unite people of all generations. For RSU Soctech, participation in its organization is a part of our strategic mission: to help everyone, regardless of age, to be confident and independent in the digital world, to realize their ambitions. We highly value our long-term cooperation with the Union of Pensioners of Russia - together we are creating a space where the older generation has opportunities for growth, communication and self-realization."
The social significance of the Championship is reflected in the biographies of the finalists. 43% of them are working pensioners, one in four is a resident of rural areas, one in five has celebrated the 70th birthday, almost all are active computer users, and 70% of them are active users of social networks. The youngest veteran of military operations is 22 years old, while the oldest female veteran has celebrated her 73 birthday. In the overall ranking of the retired finalists, the oldest one is a 74-year-old "mountaineer" from the Urals. It is not surprising that the official social network of the Championship is Odnoklassniki. And thanks to the live broadcast organized via this social network, thousands of participants of the regional stages will join the final.
According to 71-year-old finalist Vladimir Pishchalev from the Finnish city of Espoo, who came to Moscow to participate in the final, "Computer literacy is needed at any age. A modern pensioner uses a computer for solving household and communal issues, making an appointment at a medical institution, for interacting with authorities and social services. Also, he or she needs it for getting access to electronic libraries to read books, and to streaming services to watch films and TV shows. I am glad that social networks and modern technologies allow me to stay in touch with my homeland, and participating in the finals is a great reason to come to my favorite city, Moscow."
In the year of the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, veterans of military operations and the Special Military Operation took part in the Championship. For many, the front-line exploits are left behind, and the time has come to work in a peaceful life. The Union of Pensioners' programs aimed at the development of computer literacy among the general population are a good way for military veterans to shift to civil affairs.
"I have a great desire to continue serving my Homeland and my people as a civilian! Our country is in a particular need of highly qualified specialists, young minds and working youth, because the future of our Mother Russia depends on it!" said Maxim, a combat veteran, succinctly expressing the general mood.
The finalists will compete in the following categories: "The whole world is in your pocket" (working with a smartphone); "Healthy lifestyle is the basis of longevity"; "80 years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War". Special nominations: "The oldest participant"; "Participant from a small settlement"; "The best among compatriots" (for those living abroad). Without exaggeration, the whole of Russia is among the fans.
The Union of Pensioners of Russia, which has more than 1.5 million members in 2025, has been active for 30 years in supporting the involvement of older people in social processes. The educational programs worked out and implemented by the Union are the basis of the Championship.
Olga Markova, Executive Director of the Union of Pensioners of Russia: "Each Championship is a big emotionally intense event for us, the organizers. This is an illustration of the national character of our people at an intellectually mature age, which is characterized by professional and human wisdom, positive thinking, healthy lifestyle and the absence of boundaries of what is possible. I am glad that I know these people, and that have the pleasure of working with them."
Event photobank
On June 20, the Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
