Keywords: youth and children, sports card, Pushkin Card, federal project, sport, state policy

 

Introduction  

The Russian Ministry of Sport is currently discussing and developing the possibility of launching a sports card aimed at increasing access to and participation in sporting events. This initiative must not only draw on the practical experience and challenges encountered during the implementation of the federal “Pushkin Card” project, but also demonstrate conceptual clarity, detailed planning (Gorbatenko et al., 2024), and sociological monitoring of intermediate indicators and outcomes through the analysis of motivation, preferences, and satisfaction among the direct beneficiaries of the project.

 

Research objective  

The aim of this study is to identify and analyse youth preferences regarding the creation of a sports card modelled on the “Pushkin Card”.

 

Methodology and research organisation  

To achieve the research objectives, an online survey (n = 346) was conducted among Russian university students aged 18 to 24 years. The sample consisted of 61.3% males and 38.7% females, with 85.3% residing in cities within the Siberian Federal District.

 

Results and discussion  

Analysis of the collected data indicates that young people prefer the following:

 

– Not to create a separate card, but rather to expand the existing “Pushkin Card” to allow its use for both cultural and sporting events;  

– If a distinct card is developed, it should be named the “Olympic Card”, rather than being named after a specific athlete or champion;  

– The nominal value of the sports card should vary according to social group affiliation—for example, for children with disabilities and other vulnerable groups (Zimina and Kishinskaya, 2020; Novikov, 2019);  

– The card should serve not only athletes but also spectators attending sporting competitions and events;  

– The programme should be voluntary, avoiding mandatory enrollment targets for schools and universities to prevent fictitious attendance;  

– The optimal age range for coverage is from 5 to 23 years, ensuring accessibility for both children and university-aged youth;  

– Multiple usage formats should be supported, including payment for fitness centre services, sports clubs, swimming pools, and purchase of sports equipment.

 

Conclusion  

Respondents positively evaluate the initiative to create a sports card. Overall, incorporating the perspectives of beneficiaries will enhance the effectiveness of this initiative in achieving the goals of state policy in the field of physical culture and sport.

 

References