Nizhny Novgorod to have 29 sports complexes by year-end

By New Year, residents of the Nizhny Novgorod region received a long-expected gift. New fitness center - "Pearl" - opened in the work settlement of Sharanga. The  sports facility became the 24th regional sports and recreation complex, which was put into operation during the last five years. Its construction started in March of 2012 and was conducted at the expense of the regional budget.

According to the governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, Valery Shantsev, the regional program for the construction of sports and recreation centers will be continued.

"We do not disclaim any obligation to build sports complexes in every district of the Nizhny Novgorod region. This year we have opened three, next year we will put into operation five more - in Kstovo, Knyaginino, Ardatova and two sports complexes in the city of Nizhny Novgorod," Valery Shantsev said.

As a rule, immediately after their opening, sports and recreation complexes become the center of sports and cultural life in districts. "I saw people from neighboring territories coming to the complex during summer to go ice skating on the ice arena," said the governor.

"I can say that there are no such sports and recreation centers in any other region of Russia. Professional athletes Professional athletes who travel around the world told me that they do not build such complexes in rural territories of the U.S., Canada and Europe. Implementing the program, we should not catch up with anyone. We set the goal to raise a healthy, well-educated and spiritually rich generation, and in order to achieve that, we should be ahead all," said Valery Shantsev.

It was the second sports and recreation center that opened last week. Sports complex "Northern Star" was opened in the Avtozavodskoy district of the Nizhny Novgorod region on December 25^th.

Thus, there are 24 sports and recreation complexes operating in the region: in Sergachev, Semenov, Lyskovo, Pervomaisk, Perevoz, Kulebaki, Uren, Shahunya, Bogorodsk, Balakhna, Bor, Dzerzhinsk, Shatky, Vorotyntsev, Arzamas, Volodarsk, Sokol, Pavlov, Lukoyanov, Krasniye Baki, Sharanga, Leninsky, Kanavinsky and Avtozavodsky districts of Nizhny Novgorod.

In 2013, with the opening of five more sports and recreation centers, the total number of sports complexes in the region will reach 29.

It is worth noting that the program to build sports and recreation centers has been praised by both the country's leadership and professional athletes. According to statistics, the construction of sports facilities fundamentally changes social situation in territories. In the territories, where the complexes already work, the number engaged in physical training and sports activities has increases by more than 40 percent, while juvenile crime has dropped by almost 50 percent.