On October 22, a working meeting took place between Vyacheslav Yershov, First Vice-President of the All-Russian Sports Federation of Sports of the Deaf, and the leadership of the Ministry of Physical Culture and Sports of the Novosibirsk Region.

The meeting was attended by Ivan Dovgal, Deputy Minister of Physical Culture and Sports of the Novosibirsk Region; Svetlana Lebedeva, Head of the Department for the Development of Physical Culture and Sports; Dmitry Sedov, Director of the state institution "Center for Adaptive Physical Culture and Sports"; and Yuri Izmailov, Head Coach of the Russian and Novosibirsk Region national deaf sports (hockey) team.

The meeting discussed key areas for the development of deaf sports in the region, including:

• Establishment of a regional branch of the All-Russian Sports Federation of Sports of the Deaf (OSFSG) in the Novosibirsk Region;

• Involving deaf people in regular physical activity and sports;

• Training of coaching staff and professional development of specialists;

• Participation of the region's athletes in official all-Russian competitions.

Special attention was paid to involving veterans of deaf sports in the mentoring system, as well as to issues of cooperation with the "Defenders of the Fatherland" Foundation for the implementation of joint programs for social adaptation and rehabilitation of people with disabilities through sports.

As part of the visit, the constituent assembly of the OSFSG regional branch for the Novosibirsk Region took place. Following the vote, Dmitry Sedov, Director of the Center for Adaptive Physical Culture and Sports of the Novosibirsk Region, was elected Chairman of the branch. The assembly was held at specialized correctional school No. 37, one of the leading educational institutions in the region for deaf children.

After the meeting, Vyacheslav Yershov visited the school and noted its uniqueness: it is not just an educational institution, but a true educational and sports center where learning, upbringing, and sports are combined, creating conditions for the comprehensive development of the individual.

The school has 280 students and more than 150 employees, including teachers of the deaf, Russian Sign Language interpreters, and coaches. It features modern gyms for wrestling and judo, game courts, and an ice arena. Many champions of the Siberian Federal District in deaf sports are graduates of this school.

Special gratitude was expressed to the school principal, Irina Zaitseva, for her professionalism, heartfelt attitude towards children, and creation of a truly warm and developmental environment. Thanks to her personal attention and systematic approach, School No. 37 has become a model for integrating education and sports for children with hearing impairments.

"Institutions like this are the foundation of the deaf sports system. Personalities are shaped here; athletes and leaders grow here. The example of Novosibirsk shows how teachers, parents, and coaches can be united in one goal – to unlock the potential of every child," noted Vyacheslav Yershov.

Following the visit, the parties agreed to consider the possibility of holding OSFSG official events in Novosibirsk in 2027. Special attention will be paid to the participation of the Novosibirsk Region team in the GTO (Ready for Labor and Defense) festival among deaf athletes.

The First Vice-President of the OSFSG emphasized the high potential of the region and expressed confidence that the Novosibirsk Region would become one of the key centers for the development of deaf sports in Siberia.

Text: Olga Troynikova

PHOTOS: Ministry of Physical Culture and Sports of the Novosibirsk Region, Vyacheslav Yershov

Translation: Daria Kudelina