Tatarstan has a strong potential for developing a healthy lifestyle, physical fitness and high-performance sports. Gennady Onishchenko, Deputy President of the Russian Academy of Education, member of the Seventh State Duma, academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences and Russian Academy of Sciences, told journalists in Kazan.
"This is the most powerful base that was created for holding the Universiade in Kazan. Now future teachers study here and teach children a healthy lifestyle. Today these facilities are the foundation for tackling major tasks set in the national development goals by 2030. Health, demography and education are in the first place," said the Speaker.
During his working trip to Kazan, Onishchenko visited the Aquatics Palace, Rowing Centre, Gymnastics Centre, Badminton Centre, Zilant Ice Complex as well as the training and laboratory building of the Volga Region University of Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism.
"I saw how these facilities are being introduced into the field of IT. Now all children are sitting on their phones, and here virtual sports are being developed through certain programmes. The most important thing is to create high-performance sport that also solves political problems. It requires tremendous support, when one determines at the genetic level who is more inclined to what, and what risks exist," said the Deputy President of the Russian Academy of Education.
According to Onishchenko, no other university in Russia has such unique potential as the Volga University of Physical Culture, Sport and Tourism. "No one has such a variety of technologies to train specialists - teachers and those who have decided to dedicate their lives to sports. Let's think how to attract science here. After all, Kazan is also one of the biggest scientific centres of Russia," he stressed.
According to Airat Farrakhov, Member of the State Duma of the 8th convocation, it is important to use all medical instruments in order to protect the health of citizens and make breakthroughs in reducing mortality rates and increasing life expectancy. "The key condition is to change one's behaviour, to eat right, to play sport. It is universities like the Volga Region University that can join in this task," said the MP.
The Volga Region University is a research centre for physical education and sport at the Russian Academy of Education, Rafis Burganov, the rector of the university, added. The scientific centre was established last year to conduct research in pedagogy, psychology, age-related physiology, physical culture and sports, as well as to implement innovative projects in education.
"Our task is to train coaches and educators who could properly educate children, champions of Russia and the world," he said. - Volga Region University appreciates interaction with the Russian Academy of Education. This gives us the opportunity to implement promising and important joint projects, scientific research in the field of pedagogy and education.
