Back in the USSR: GTO norms to be revived in Belarus

The norms “Ready for Labour and Defence” (GTO) , a physical culture and patriotic training programme, may be revived in Belarus.

The Ministry of Sport and Tourism of Belarus is going to revive a programme, similar to the GTO programme, Natallya Bataeva, the chief specialist of the physical culture department of the Ministry of Sport and Tourism, said at a press conference in Minsk, Interfax reports.

“We are carrying out activities to revive the analogue of the Soviet GTO norms in the republic,” Bataeva said adding that sports and health complex was being worked out. According to her, involving people in competitions to pass tests will promote healthy lifestyle among students, schoolchildren and other sections of population.”

Ready for Labour and Defence(GTO) is a programme of physical training in educational, labour and sports organizations in the Soviet Union. It was part of the state-promoted patriotic education of the youth. The programme was implemented in 1931–1991 involving people from 6 to 60 years old.