The new law “On physical culture and sport in the Russian Federation” signed

On December 4, 2007 the President of Russia V. Putin signed a new law “On physical culture and sport in the Russian Federation”. The law was adopted by the State Duma on November 16 and approved by the Federation Council on November 23, 2007.

The document created the appropriate legal foundations for the development in the current social and economic conditions of the sport, the sport of the highest achievements and for the sport reserve training. A public organization of a new type was introduced – the sport federation. Its objectives are the development of one or several sports, their popularization, sport events organization and the sportsmen of the combined teams training.

The law regulates the distribution of powers between the federal bodies of the state power, the state power bodies of the Russian Federation constituent territories and the institutions of local government in the field of physical culture and sport (including the financing area), the order of creation and the legal status of physical culture and sport organizations, the status of the Olympic, Paralympic and Sourdlympic committees of Russia and the Special Olympics of Russia, the organization of physical and sport events, the forming of the Russian combined teams, the development of the military-applied and service-applied sports.

The document determines the notion of the professional sport and for the first time establishes the measures against the stimulants in sport, the norms of sports and sport disciplines acceptance, the order of sports’ rules work out. Also the law concentrates on the order of creation and the activity of the all-Russian, regional and local sport federations, their rights and obligations.

In accordance with this law the all-Russian sport federations are allowed to organize and carry out independently the championships and cups of Russia, work out and approve the regulations of these competitions, form and train the combined Russian sport teams, work out the rules for different sports, hold the trainers’ and referees’ attestation and to realize other rights stipulated by the legislation of the Russian Federation.

Lit.: О физической культуре и спорте в Российской Федерации // Собрание законодательства РФ. 10.12.2007. № 50. Ст. 6242.