Tatarstan President on physical health of youth

Improvement of physical health of the rising generation in the republic has been a priority objective for Tatarstan leadership, President Shaimiev told Interfax. He recognized that this problem due to objective reasons of the transition period fell out of the view of the state and specified that physical health to a substantial degree determines spiritual state of a personality as well.

"The concept of forming healthy life style has several components, first of all, it means the increasing role of mass, sports actions. In our republic we take it very seriously" emphasized M.Shaimiev.

The problem, as he sees it, is an inactive life style of teenagers which, according to experts, prefer to spend most of the time in front of TV sets and computers.

Within the framework of the improvement program, an optimal scheme of physical culture lessons has been developed. Outdoor games on fresh air for children and teenagers are being popularized in the best way. In many districts, municipal services have organized special sports grounds.

M.Shaimiev recollected that in his childhood all school lessons started with exercises. "At that time it was a shame not to pass sports tests. Despite nutrition problems, physical health of the post-war generation was rather high".

He concluded by saying "the future of the country depends on the health of the rising generation".