Foundation history of physical culture institutions in Tomsk Province (late 19 - early 20 centuries)

The state level issue of physical culture andphysical education on a large scale was not discussed in practice in pre-revolutionary Russia. The forward-looking intelligentsia initiatedsports and physical culture institutions, but only several of them were granted an official status. The first optional sport societies inTomsk were established back in the 1890s. There were three sports institutions at that time, but two of them had nothing in commonwith physical culture. All the work related to the P.E. was implemented under the public institution auspices, called Physical CultureEnhancement Society. It was set up by a public figure, Dr. V.S. Pirusskiy in 1895. Apart from the above-mentioned society, severalphysical culture clubs were created in early 20th century, that encouraged the youth to join sports clubs and the first enthusiasts ofphysical culture movement appeared. By 1913 the following sports had risen in Tomsk: gymnastics, skiing, skating, football, swimming,tennis, chess, etc., also the first sports events were held then. Alongside with sports activities some certain kinds of folk exercises andcontests were still popular. The revolutionary events of 1917 ceased the citys sports life for a while, it resumed in 1918. Some foreignprisoners of war came to Tomsk, among those were the participants of the Olympiad VI of 1912. It was a prerequisite for the arrangingof the contests called The Olympic Games. A highlighting sports show triggered a genuine interest in physical culture and enhancedthe increase in number of Tomsk physical culturists. Besides, a professional sport promoted to some extent the involvement of youngpeople into taking exercises. During the pre-revolutionary period first Strepetovs and later Izakos circuses were functioning, and wrestlingchampionships with famous fighters were held. The bottom line of physical culture development in the pre-revolutionary periodwas the emergence of a certain amount of enthusiasts, organizers, instructors on various sports and a material base as well. That attractedattention of city dwellers and served as a prerequisite to the physical movement development in the Soviet Union.

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