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Putin stresses importance of mass sports as major military aspect

According to Vladimir Putin, one of the most important tasks for Russia is to make sport a fashion trend for people of all ages

Russian President Vladimir Putin during a meeting with members of the Association of Students Sports Clubs Mikhail Klimentyev/TASS

Russian President Vladimir Putin during a meeting with members of the Association of Students Sports Clubs

© Mikhail Klimentyev/TASS

SOCHI, October 23. /TASS/. Development of mass sports in the country is a vital military aspect giving Russia an advantage in the competitive struggle with other states in the economic and other spheres, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

Putin met with the members with the Association of Students Sports Clubs (ASSC) who are passing a sports test in the Winter Olympics city of Sochi, similar to the GTO (Russian acronym for "Ready for Labor and Defense") physical training norms for people in the Soviet Union.

“I want to focus mainly on the military aspect as it is important, but of course, the health of the nation is more important,” Putin, who earned a black belt in judo, said.

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