From the past to the present: the role of voluntary sports societies in Russia

Sport, acting as the universal language of humanity, has always played a significant role in the formation of public consciousness, health promotion and cultivation of collective values. In Russia, this phenomenon has acquired a special socio-political color, where voluntary sports societies have become not only an instrument of physical education, but also a mirror of historical transformations. From the birth at the end of the 19th century as initiatives of enthusiasts to integration into the Soviet ideological machine and further adaptation in the conditions of the market economy of the post-Soviet era, the evolution of voluntary sports societies reflects the complex path of interaction between the state, society and the individual. The emergence of voluntary sports organizations in Russia dates back to the first third of the 20th century, which followed the establishment of Soviet power, and their activities ceased due to geopolitical changes after the collapse of the USSR. This study analyzed the evolution of these societies through the prism of the historical context and applied a comprehensive method that made it possible to reconstruct the stages of their formation - from local initiatives to a national scale. Particular attention is paid to the role of sports associations in strengthening the country’s defense capability during the Great Patriotic War, which emphasizes not only the historical value of the topic, but also its practical significance in the context of a possible revival of such practices in modern Russia. The purpose of the study is to demonstrate the influence of voluntary sports communities on the formation of the physical culture and sports infrastructure of the state. The innovativeness of the work lies in the adaptation of the historical experience of these organizations to solve urgent problems of the development of mass sports and physical culture in the 21st century.