To the XXII Winter Olympic Games in Sochi: Exhibition “Olympic Reserves” in Saint-Petersburg

The museum "Different ranked Petersburg" on February 11, 2014 opens the exhibition "Olympic Reserves".

In 1908, St. Petersburg skater N. A. Panin-Kolomenkin first among the Russians won the gold medal. The Russian Olympic Committee was originated in St. Petersburg in 1911. Successes of national skating began at the rink in the Yusupov Garden. A Semyonovsky racecourse became not only the basis of equestrian sport, but also the starting ground for the development of cycling and football. Until 1941, Semyonovsky racecourse remained one of the main centers of sporting life of Leningrad. Visitors can see the rare documents and photographs 1914-1930's horse competitions provided by the artist R. B. Popov, whose father and grandfather were directly related to the life of the racecourse.

In Leningrad of the first half of the XX century sports competitions were considered as part of military training and carried out even during the blockade. The history of children's sports will reflected by photographs from the archives of the newspaper "Lenin sparks" items from the museum "History of Children's Movement of the Krasnogvardeysky district".

The entry of the USSR in 1952 in the international Olympic movement has led to the creation of a network of sports in schools, many of which exist today. It is no coincidence that Olympic football matches were held in 1980 in Leningrad. Many of the items on display will remind of those Moscow games.

The exhibition was decorated with art works by students participating in the competition "Sport Petersburg". The exhibition also features themed products of the Imperial Porcelain Factory.