On Tuesday, May 27, 2025, a meeting of students with the Minister of Sports of the Samara Region Lidiya Rogozhinskaya took place at the Regional Centre for the Development of Public Diplomacy and International Relations named after Yevgeniy M. Primakov. The discussion was held in an open-dialogue format as part of the Russian Society’s project “Znanie”
One of the key topics was the upcoming XIII International Sports Forum “Russia – a sports power,” scheduled for autumn 2025 in Samara. According to a presidential decree, the event will take place at „Solidarnost Samara Arena“ stadium, hosting strategic sessions, roundtables, and athletic competitions.
During the meeting, students asked a wide range of questions — from the future location of sports clubs at the forum and the construction of new sports facilities in the region to opportunities in volunteering programs and the emergence of new sports disciplines, including those at the intersection of science and athletics. The conversation also touched on historical reenactment. Although not officially a sport, this activity is gaining popularity among youth and is supported by authorities.
Special attention was given to the “Spartan Games” — a sports project for freshmen organized by the Samara State Social-Pedagogical University with the support of Rosmolodezh. As the Minister noted, such initiatives not only promote a healthy lifestyle but also help strengthen connections between students from different universities.
At the end of the meeting, Lidiya Rogozhinskaya emphasized the important role of Samara University named after Korolev in the region’s sports development: “Sports need not only coaches and athletes but also engineers, IT specialists, translators, and managers. We’re counting on you as future professionals, volunteers, and organizers. Samara University trains strong specialists, and we see them in a variety of fields , including sports. At the meeting with students, it was important for me not just to talk about the work of the ministry, but to show: we are open to students, everything starts with you.”
The Minister also encouraged students to take a more active role in university sports clubs and not to stay away from the events that shape the face of the Samara region in the sports sphere.
Source: Samara University.
