On May 17, Saratov University hosted a meeting of the working party of the Interdepartmental Commission under the Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation. Its members commented on the development of physical training and mass sports. The meeting was held within the V All-Russian Research-to-Practice Conference titled The Modern Issues of Physical Education of Youth and University Sports which was also held at SSU.

The President of the Russian Student Sports Union All-Russian Public Organisation, Academician of the Russian Academy of Education Sergei Seiranov, the SSU Rector Aleksei Chumachenko, the Director of the Institute of Sports and Physical Training, SSU, Nailya Brilyonok, the Director of the Federal Centre for Athletic Training Kadriya Akhmerova, an Olympic champion Tatyana Lebedeva, and representatives of federal executive boards as well as public sports and scientific organisations.

The meeting participants discussed the main activities of the interdepartmental commission, the development of physical training and mass sports in the regions.

The Head of the working party, the Rector of the Russian State University of Physical Education, Sport, Youth and Tourism, the President of the Russian Student Sports Union (RSSU) Sergei Seiranov thanked the SSU administration for the cooperation and an opportunity to hold an all-Russian conference at the site of the university. The speaker commented on student leagues, all-Russian and international tournaments where Russian athletes participated. ‘This year there are competitions in 29 Olympic and 29 non-Olympic sports. Even during the pandemic, we have managed to maintain our calendar plan for sporting events,’ he emphasised.

The head of the RSSU spoke about the results of the All-Russian Winter Universiade in Chelyabinsk and plans to hold the VIII All-Russian Summer Universiade in Ulyanovsk in 14 sports. It is also planned to organise the All-Russian Forum of Volunteers there.

‘We have a small anniversary today. For five years we have been trusted by the Ministry of Sports of Russia to hold an all-Russian conference on topical issues of youth physical education. It brings together representatives of authorities, public organisations, employees, and students involved in the sports movement. Today is the first meeting of the working commission at the SSU site and the presentation of the Physical Education and Student Sports journal established by Saratov University together with the Russian Student Sports Union,’ the SSU Rector A.N. Chumachenko addressed to the audience.

The First Vice-President of the Russian Student Sports Union all-Russian public organisation, a member of the SSU Board of Trustees Roman Olkhovskii spoke about monitoring the level of development of student sports in Russia. He also made a proposal to postpone the development of an intersectoral programme for the development of university sports until 2030.

The Head of the Office of the Department of State Youth Policy and Educational Affairs of the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education Kaira Kaloyeva devoted her speech to the issues of methodological support of student sports in universities.

Another report was dedicated to methodological support of student sports clubs in professional educational organisations. It was delivered by the Head of the Office of Physical Training, Sports, Children's Tourism and the Promotion of a Healthy Lifestyle of the Department of Upbringing, Supplementary Education and Children's Recreation of the Russian Ministry of Education Alexander Minayev.

The results of the VII All-Russian Winter Universiade 2022 as well as information on the admission of students from professional educational organisations to participate in the Universiade events, were presented by the Secretary General of the RSSU Dmitrii Kiselyov.

The Deputy Director of the Department of Physical Education and Mass Sports of the Russian Ministry of Sports Irina Praskanova told the participants about a new form for holding student physical education and sports events included in Part I of the 2022 Unified Calendar Plan of the Russian Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation for “friendly” republics and countries.

The meeting members also discussed medical support for student sports and the working features of specialists in school and student sports.

A significant part of the event became the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Russian State University of Physical Education, Sport, Youth and Tourism and the Saratov State University. Another cooperation agreement was signed by the Russian Student Sports Union with the Blind Sports Federation All-Russian Public Physical Education and Sports Organisation.

The first issue of the Physical Education and Student Sports research journal was presented at the meeting. It was established due to the provisions of the Intersectoral Programme for the Development of University Sports. The founders of the journal are the Russian Student Sports Union All-Russian Public Organisation and Saratov University.

The participants of the meeting continued their communication at the plenary session of the Modern Issues of Physical Education of Youth and Student Sports V All-Russian Research-to-Practice Conference. The conference is held at Saratov University on May 17–18.