In June, the XXIV international scientific Congress "Olympic sport and sport for all" with the participation of representatives of sports science from more than 20 countries was to be held in Kazan on the basis of the Volga region Academy of sports under the aegis. Unfortunately, the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, which led to the cancellation of flights between the continents, the closure of borders, did not allow the Academy to accept this event. However, according to the Vice-rector for research and international activities of the University, Professor Firuza Zotova, positive results of preparation for this forum are evident:
- First, I want to note that the efforts of scientists from all over the world who were going to take part in the Congress were not in vain. We have prepared and published a 700-page collection with the abstracts of 280 scientific reports. Each speaker will receive a copy. The collection of the Congress is available in electronic form on the Academy's website(https://www.sportacadem.ru/files/2020/sport_norma_zhizni/olimpijskij_sport_i_sport_dlya_vseh_kazan_2020.pdf) Anyone can read its contents. 17 works that are most interesting from the point of view of the specifics of our University, the novelty and depth of study of the topic will be published as articles in our scientific and theoretical journal "Science and sport: modern trends" (https://www.sportacadem.ru/nauka/nauchno-teoriticheskiy_zhurnal_nauka_i_sport_sovremennye_tendentsii/)
We are all, of course, sorry that the forum did not take place. It promised to be unprecedented in terms of the geography of participants. We had intended to bring scientists from Jamaica – the birthplace of a whole galaxy of great sprinters – and tell you about the research in athletics. Representatives of universities in the USA, Japan, and Nigeria… With the exception of Australia and Antarctica all continents would be represented in Kazan! The composition of the Congress speakers is also impressive. These are world-famous scientists: Ukrainian Vladimir Platonov, Swede Hans-Christer Holmberg, German Daniel Memmert, Russian Yevgeny Myakinchenko… And of course, the Congress is important and significant not only in terms of the scientific program. This is a platform for professional and human communication, an opportunity to develop research tandems.
However, all our efforts one way or another have impact. Our colleagues - branch universities of physical culture-provided us with tremendous support. Joint preparations for the Congress have brought our relations to a qualitatively new level. each of the universities has formed its own delegations to participate and speak at the international forum. I hope that these contacts are just the beginning of our joint work, which will give new technologies to world sport… As for the speakers, our partnership has already been transformed into concrete results. American James Skinner plans to visit us for a week - long Fulbright visit. We held a video conference with doctor of pedagogical Sciences Yevgeny Myakinchenko for our graduate students, which lasted almost 3 hours! Questions and topics did not end. We are planning to implement an interesting joint research project with Mr Holmberg in the near future.
We hope to implement one scientific project and I am Convinced that the preparation for the Congress has helped us form long-term relationships that will allow us to implement the long-standing idea of conducting joint international research. The results of the work can become the property of the entire sports community over time. I would like to note that the idea was received with interest in the Russian Ministry of Sports, and it may be followed by the creation of joint laboratories. In any case, the choice of the Volga Academy as the venue for the Congress as the main title event of the International Association of sports universities is a sign of high confidence in the University. And despite the fact that the Congress was not held in Kazan in 2020, I have a feeling that I communicated with all its potential participants here and now…