Running without barriers: VFLA will build 22 free centers for sports enthusiasts

      The key task is to change the perception of athletics, turning it into an understandable practice for millions. A large-scale infrastructure project is starting in Russia, aimed at making running a truly nationwide pastime, rather than just the domain of professionals and individuals forced to train on dangerous roadsides or overcrowded stadiums. On May 18, the chairman of the All-Russian Athletics Federation (VFLA), Pyotr Fradkov, officially announced the creation of a network of modern free running centers. "One of the problems with running is the lack of comfortable training spaces. In 2025, we approached this project and took pilot steps. In two regions, we signed agreements with local authorities to create free running centers. In our understanding, this is a new movement where one can not only train but also become a member of the running community. Now we are receiving applications to create similar centers in other regions of our country," Fradkov stated. This problem has long concerned both ordinary runners and organizers of mass starts. Now it has a systematic solution. New facilities will appear in 22 cities. In choosing locations, the VFLA was guided by two criteria: the presence of an active local community and a sharp shortage of legal, safe places for running. "First of all, we will open running centers in cities where active running communities have already formed and there is a strong need for sports infrastructure," explained the head of the federation. Each center is a quickly constructed year-round complex. Essentially, it is a small sports cluster both outdoors and indoors. The distinctive feature of the project is its free access: the state and private investors (the project is financed by the ANO "Eurasia" from their own funds) will cover all expenses. Visitors will only need to come and train. The outdoor part includes professional running tracks with rubber surfaces, a workout area, and rest areas. The indoor part includes changing rooms, showers, storage lockers, a multipurpose hall for lectures and master classes, as well as recovery spaces. The construction of one center takes 4-5 months, and by the fall of 2026, the first facilities will begin to welcome visitors.

      The ambassador of the project is Olympic champion Yuri Borzakovsky. He will monitor the launch and analyze feedback from the regions. As Fradkov emphasized, the key task is to "change the perception of athletics, turning it into an understandable practice for millions." The first 22 such spaces will open in just a few months.

      Photo: Vitaly Belousov. Provided by the All-Russian Athletics Federation.