Tournament "Call of the First" commences in Yakutsk, featuring regional participants
On a bustling Wednesday in June, the excitement of the "First Challenge" regional tournament lit up the "Dokhsun" sports complex. Over the following two days, 27 teams from 13 diverse districts braced themselves for intense competition across seven distinct disciplines. This spectacle was a demonstration of agility, strength, and teamwork, drawing a crowd of onlookers eager to witness the young competitors.
The tournament schedule encompassed events like jump rope, hopscotch, gymnastics and flexibility displays, basketball and mini-football matches, and a challenging game of "knockout." Yuri Balagansky, the chief referee, revealed, "This year, we've introduced a few changes to the tournament. Last year, we hosted approximately ten different exercises, but this year, the focus is on three major ones. Additionally, we've included extra events, such as 3x3 basketball and football for girls."
Sardana Androsova, an advisor to the director of Mayagaskaya Secondary School from Ust-Aladan District, expressed her thoughts on the occasion. "Our district is proudly represented by two teams. Most of the kids are competing in the first category. We turned our preparations into high gear, especially during the past three weeks," Androsova shared.
Seven-year-old Ersan Kostromin, the youngest competitor from Ust-Aladan District, spoke enthusiastically about his participation. "I'll be taking part in hopscotch, knockout, and football. I'm hoping our team brings home some awards," Ersan declared.
It's essential to highlight that the "First Challenge" is an integral part of the "First Movement," their largest and most widespread physical education and sports project. This year, more than 6,000 schoolchildren from the republic participated in the municipal stages of this project.
Other notable physical education and sports initiatives include the UNESCO-funded "Stronger Together Project," empowering youth leaders through sport in countries like Namibia, Zambia, and South Africa, and diverse fitness challenges designed to boost physical fitness and community engagement. The "National Guard Youth Challenge" program offers educational and life skills development opportunities for youngsters who may have faltered academically.
However, as intriguing as those initiatives may be, it seems the article is primarily centered on the "First Challenge" project in the aforementioned republic.
The "First Challenge" tournament not only included traditional sports like basketball, but also introduced football as an additional event for girls this year, according to Yuri Balagansky. Sardana Androsova, an advisor from Ust-Aladan District, shared that their district's teams would be participating in various events, with some young competitors focusing on football.
