The first demonstration performances were held this week at the Complex Sports School of the Volga University of Sport and Tourism. The Gymnastics Centre, one of the facilities of the sports university, was the venue for the sports events for the prizes of Father Christmas.
The day before, on December 24, competitions in general physical training among novice athletes were held. On that day, 85 young students of the Comprehensive Sports School aged 6 to 8 competed in two programmes: tumbling and artistic gymnastics. The first programme was contested by Lyudmila Talova's trainer, the second by Igor Beluzhenkov who also teaches in the gymnastics theory and technique department of the sports institute.
According to Natalia Alkaeva, Director of the All-Russian Combined Sports School, a panel of judges was formed from students of the Volga Region University of Sports, Department of Gymnastics Theory and Methodology. "In the future we plan to involve our students not only in the competitions, but also in the training process," Natalia Alkaeva said. During the three outdoor sessions almost 160 students of the Volga Region University Artistic School put their skills to the test. More than 140 parents of young athletes were the most loyal fans in the stands these days.
