75 years of tradition: a jubilee athletics relay took place in Zelenodolsk for Victory Day

      According to tradition, the celebration of Victory Day in Zelenodolsk began with a track and field relay race for the prize of the newspaper "Zelenodolskaya Pravda." This year, the sports holiday turned 75 years old — it still brings together hundreds of schoolchildren and students from the city. Participants of the traditional race gathered on the central street of the city, near Victory Square. The relay was invented by local journalists back in 1951, and today the event is dedicated to the veterans of the Great Patriotic War. — Today, there are only two front-line soldiers left in the Zelenodolsk district — Nikolai Levagin and Akhat Latypov. For schoolchildren and students, participating in the relay is not just a sports challenge, but a matter of honor and an opportunity to express deep respect for the heroes who defended peace, — noted correspondent Tatyana Kovarina. For many participants, the race became a personal dedication to their victorious ancestors. — I dedicate this race to those who participated in the Great Patriotic War, who gave their lives for the Motherland, — shared student Linar Khairullin from the Shipbuilding College. These competitions are among the most anticipated of the academic year. Here, sports are inextricably linked to patriotism. — Today, 10 general education institutions and 3 secondary specialized educational institutions are participating in the relay. Preparation went smoothly. As usual, the organization is handled by school No. 4, which has a track and field department, — said Maria Petrova, head of the sports department of Zelenodolsk. The first to take to the distance were students of grades 6-8. The young athletes had to overcome 10 stages — from Victory Square to the "Ring" and back. This start is a way not only to remember the feat of the Soviet people but also to become part of the city's great history. — 75 years ago, Zelenodolsk journalists became the initiators of the first track and field relay. Back then, it was held in a different format: not only runners participated but also cyclists and even motorcyclists. Years went by, the format changed, but one thing remained unchanged — the team spirit of all participants, — noted Vladimir Vitovsky, head of the Information Center "Zeleny Dol." The second to start were high school students and college students. It was in this race that the main competition for the traveling cup unfolded. — For me, the race was important. It’s not just about running and that’s it, but the main thing is to defend the honor of the school, to show how worthy we are of this place. My grandfather was a participant in the Great Patriotic War, devoted his whole life to sports, and this love has been passed on to me, — shared Malika Valeeva, a student of Gymnasium No. 3. All teams gave their all. This year, the traveling cup of "Zelenodolskaya Pravda" went to the absolute champions — the team of Lyceum No. 3. The guys accomplished the incredible: they broke the twenty-year-old track record, completing the distance in just 7 minutes and 20 seconds. At the finish, each participant received a commemorative medal and a sweet gift — a cake from the Zelenodolsk bakery. The relay once again proved: the memory of the feat lives on as long as it is preserved by new generations. Tatyana Kovarina