History of physical education organization in Tomsk and Tomsk State University in 1920-1930s

Examination of Russianpress of the very first decades of the 20th century allows us to make a deduction that a very broad propaganda of sport was set in, withthe policy of comprehensive education (''Vseobuch'') in Tomsk. New sport clubs and stadiums were created, numerous sport events tookplace and the subject of physical education was included in programs of universities. A healthy life-style was cultivated in Tomsk. Afterdefeating of General Kolchak's forces and the establishment of the Soviet Power, Tomsk sport club, founded in 1913, was working. Newprospects were opening before this club, according to a Russian newspaper ''Znamya revolutsii'' (the flag of the revolution) notablypopularising sport. Within the policy of comprehensive education a new stadium was built near Lagerny Garden. It was solemnlyopened on July 13, 1920. This stadium named the First Siberian Sport Stadium became a place of sport activity of Tomsk students andworkers. Everyday trainings, sport feasts and gymnastics sessions were organized there. Among the most successful athletes of TSU ofthe pre-war period were brothers Valery and Leonid Yakhontov, participating in skiing and light athlete competitions, skier ElenaAbramova and her own sister, skater Ekaterina Abramova, skier I. Bezdenezhnykh, skater Toporov, gymnasts Sandzhak, Zadgenizov,etc. Among TSU faculties, the most active was the Geological-Geographical Faculty. A new light athletic season started with atraditional cross in honour of N. Schvernik, who was a secretary of the national central union of syndicates. It was organized in aLagerny Garden. The University was represented by a big team, by the standards of that time, of up to 300 people. Among the winnersthere often were the athletes of TSU. Repeatedly among the winners were brothers Yakhontov. In running 500 meters in 1935 Tomskathletes Sokolova, Albitskaya and Moiseenko with the time of 1 minute 25 seconds were included in the first ten strongest runners of theUSSR. On June 11, 1938 a new resolution was issued by the All-Union Committee on Higher Education and the All-Union Committeeon Physical Culture and Sports of the Council of People's Commissars. This resolution contained provisions on the initiation ofmandatory daily morning exercises in the dormitories. The decision took into account the need to increase scientific and learning skills,and in accordance with that the creation of a special department of physical education was ordered Tomsk State University did notbecome an exception. A new position of the head of the department was asserted instead of a senior physical education instructor.Physical education was included in the schedule of students in the last hours of classes, and at the end of the semester a compulsoryphysical education credit was introduced. Preparation for sport competitions, Olympic Games and crosses had to be carried out in aplanned manner during the whole year without overloading students with additional physical education classes and interrupting themfrom their studies. Given the urgent need to expand educational facilities of physical culture, the construction of special facilities for thegym with a number of outbuildings was proposed. The control of the athletic work of the students was intensified. Despite the fact thatthe first years after the Civil War were very difficult for the population of Tomsk and for the country as a whole, during this period awide promotion of sport and healthy lifestyle started. A special role in this process was played by the students who actively participatedin all sports activities. It is this period, when universities began to teach physical education, and sport took a special place in the lives ofstudents and citizens of Tomsk.

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