Russian Association for Sport and Leisure Facilities

Dear Colleagues,

Not long ago, there was a desperate need for different types of sports facilities all over Russia. Recently, the situation has changed dramatically; and now Sports and Leisure Facilities industry is one of the most promising and fast-growing in Russia. Choosing Sochi as the site of the Winter Olympics and Paralympics catalyzed the whole process.

Today we face a very important problem – the old Russian Sports Rules and Regulations conflict with the requirements used in the international competitions. RASF is working closely with organizations and national sport federations concerned with building sports facilities based on new standards. It is for the first time the Federal Agency on Technical Regulating and Metrology (Rosstandart) has registered a new system of the voluntary certification of sports facilities conducted by RASF.

Together with the Russian Paralympic Committee, our Association is designing Paralympic training camps. In 2008, there was a contest “Arena” for an exemplary sports facility. The contest was initiated by RASF, and its mission was the betterment of Russian sports facilities that were either under construction or improvement and the adoption of modern sports technologies.

Another pressing problem that we must deal with is training of skilled personnel, equipped with the latest knowledge. Advanced training courses, workshops and conferences organized by RASF and leading specialists for sports venue administration and technical management will help to design, build and manage modern sports facilities effectively and efficiently. RASF enlists the best team of highly skilled specialists known all over the world as well as the members of IAKS, which we represent in Russia, to assist in our projects.

RASF invites all organizations, involved in the sports event industry, such as sports federations, designing, engineering and construction companies, equipment dealers and service providers for cooperation and partnership.

We hope that thanks to our joint efforts we will deliver a game-changing technology for sports and recreation facilities in Russia and raise the bar for facilities around the world.

Vasily Shestakov,
State Duma Deputy
President of the Russian Association for Sport and Leisure Facilities