The Former USSR Countries in the International Sports and Olympic Movement: History and Modernity

The aim of this study is a comprehensive analysis of the features of the Olympic Movement development in the former USSR countries before and during the existence of the USSR, as well as these countries' participation in the international sports and Olympic Movement at the present stage. The authors examine organisational and managerial structures in the field of Olympic sports and representation in international sports associations, organisation and holding of major international competitions, participation in the Summer Olympics (1996-2016) and the Winter Olympics (1994-2018). The research methods are: study and sys-tematization of the sources, analytical methods (e.g., comparison), induction and deduction. This study is part of a research on the features of the sports and Olympic Movement development in countries and regions of the world. The results of the study will be included in the relevant section of the courses "History of Physical Education", "World Countries in International Sports", and they can also supplement other historical sports courses and special courses in education institutions of physical culture and sports. The USSR, being the largest sports power, was a serious competitor of the USA and of other leading sports countries in the international sports and Olympic arena in the second half of the 20th century. As a result of the analysis and systematization of the sources, a table has been compiled which shows aspects related to the National Olympic Committees in the former USSR countries. Most of the committees were created in the early 1990s and recognised by the IOC in 1993. The exception was the National Olympic Committees of Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. Another table has been compiled on the largest international sports competitions held within the territory of the former USSR republics at the present stage. The data in the table shows that the largest number of major integrated sports events were held in Russian cities: Kazan, Krasnoyarsk, Yakutsk, Sochi. A third table has been compiled on the number of medals won by the former USSR countries. The greatest number of medals at the Olympics was won by the athletes of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Kazakhstan. In general, athletes from all former Soviet republics have effectively participated in the Olympic Games and won medals since 1996. The only exception is Turkmenistan, whose representatives failed to win any Olympic awards. Athletes from Russia have won the big gest number of medals at the Winter Olympics.

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