A museum of the region's sports glory has opened in Irkutsk, with about 200 photos and more than 250 exhibits linked to the area's outstanding athletes. Visitors can see medals, cups, uniforms and awards of famous champions, and the museum was created mainly for children and young athletes. Admission will be free, and group visits are already being accepted.

“We have something to be proud of. Our fellow countrymen forged the sporting glory not only of the Irkutsk Region, but of all Russia. We have the highest achievements at all-Union, all-Russian, and international competitions. The museum is opening its doors precisely for children and young athletes, who will in the future have to multiply the sporting glory of our region. I hope that the museum will live and develop. New exhibits will appear in it,” said Ilya Reznik, First Deputy Minister for Physical Culture, Sports, and Youth Policy of the Irkutsk Region, at the opening.
“A museum is a repository of priceless history. By coming to the museum, we can see the faces of the people who were involved in the formation of the Soviet system of physical culture and sports, as well as great athletes. Many thanks to everyone who took part in preparing the museum — sports veterans, employees of the ministry for physical culture, sports, and youth policy of the region, the Trud sports complex, and many others,” said Alexander Shirshikov, Honored Worker of Physical Culture of Russia and museum curator.
The museum features about 200 sports photographs and more than 250 exhibits. These include medals of well-known athletes of the Irkutsk Region, cups, sports uniforms, and more. Among the exhibits are awards of the champion and bronze medalist of the Olympic Games in Greco-Roman wrestling Konstantin Vyrupayev; Honored Master of Sport in shooting and Honored Coach of Russia Galina Korzun; Honored Master of Sport and silver medalist of the Olympic Games in taekwondo Natalya Ivanova; Honored Master of Sport and champion of the Deaflympic Games in Greco-Roman wrestling Vladimir Zaitsev, and others.
The museum will be open free of charge. Applications for group visits are accepted by phone: 8(3952)20-33-72, or by email – sport222828@yandex.ru.
Based on materials from the press service of the Ministry for Physical Culture, Sports, and Youth Policy of the Irkutsk Region