The message reads, in part:
“Your professional holiday is a tribute to generations of renowned athletes, coaches, trainers and fitness enthusiasts who laid the foundation and developed Russian elite sports as well as the mass sports and fitness movement. Building upon these wonderful traditions and experience of your predecessors and sports veterans, you cherish and augment Russia’s rich athletic heritage, revive and improve the national GTO physical fitness testing programme. These massive and multidimensional activities directly promote the values of active and healthy life and contribute to the country’s steadfast progress. Therefore, we will keep upgrading and building modern high-quality and accessible infrastructure – stadiums, training bases, health and fitness centres, and sports grounds.
I should specially note that the Spartakiad of the Peoples of Russia is opening this year on Sports and Fitness Day. I believe that this major eventful tournament will draw fans from all of the country’s regions into its orbit, encouraging young people to take up sports. It will certainly complement the busy programme of the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia and will clearly demonstrate the immense uniting and creative power of sports.”