An active work was carried out in the Republic of Kalmykia in the period 1996 ïî 2002 with the purpose of popularizing and developing the physical culture and sports, promote healthy way of life, reduce minor criminal activity, organize active recreation of population.

Football, chess, heavy athletics, equestrian and weight-lifting sport, wrestling, boxing, table tennis, martial arts are rapidly developed in the republic. Large international, all-Russian and interregional competitions and festivals are hosted in the republic.

Ts. Balzanov and R. Malakhbekov

The further development of the mass sports is supported by the following acts: targeted complex program "Development of national and ethnic wrestling in the Republic of Kalmykia" #83, 21.03.2001; targeted complex program "Development of football in the Republic of Kalmykia" #1, 5.01.2001, decrees of the President of the Republic of Kalmykia: #20, 1.02.96 "On the state policy for promoting healthy way of life"; #70, 19.05.97 "On the state support for the development of mass football in the Republic of Kalmykia"; #32, 14.05.97 "On first Jangariada in national sports"; #133, 21.07.97 "On the state support of horse breeding and equestrian sport in the Republic of Kalmykia"; #129, 19.06.95 ã. "On the state support of the chess movement", Direction of the President "On measures for preparation of athletes of the Republic of Kalmykia for international competitions and Olympic games" #90-rp, 23.09.96, Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Kalmykia #112, 21.04.2000 "On necessity of creating social club institutions (local and juvenile clubs)".

In 1993 the President invited the Honored Coach of Tajikistan Tseren Balzanov and his disciple Raumkul Malagbekov with the purpose of further development of boxing. They were given good conditions for preparation to large Russian and international competitions. The work results of the duet are impressive: Raimkul won the Russian championship 7 times, twice became European champion, won the bronze at the Good Will Games in 1994, World Championships in 1995 and 1997, bronze at the Olympiad in Atlanta in 1996, silver in Sydney in 2000, etc.

In 2001 I. Nastynov won silver at the European Powerlifting Championship.

M. Boglikova-Nazarova won bronze at the Russian track and field athletics cup and became the participant of the Russian track and field athletics Championship in 2002. According to the year results she becomes the candidate to the Russian national track and field athletics team.

Opening ceremony of the World Chess Olympiad

In order to execute the Decree of the President #129, 19.07.1995, "On the state support for the development of chess movement" the Government of the Republic of Kalmykia has adopted the Directive #350, 15.05.1996, "On the opening of the Republic's children's and juveniles' chess school in Elista". Now the school teaches 386 children. Most promising chess players are: the European junior under 16 champion, Russian junior under 20 champion Ernesto Inarkiev; 2001 Russian junior under 8 champion, 2002 Russian junior under 10 champion Sanan Syugirov; participant of the World Champion 2000 Alexander Utnasunov; repeated champions of the Republic of Kalmykia and participants of the Russian national championship Bairta Kharashkina, Baira Kovanova, Nadezhda Dordjieva.

In the period from 1994 practically all the Russian national chess championships were hosted by Elista. Such large chess events as the final match of the World Chess Championship between A. Karpov and G. Kamsky, International Knockout Tournament, 4th Russian Chess Cup have also been organized in Elista. But the main chess event was undoubtedly the 33th World Chess Olympiad, in which competed the teams from over 130 countries.

The Government of the Republic of Kalmykia has transferred the Youth Football School under authority of the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Tourism and Sport of the Republic of Kalmykia. 8 instructors regularly coach 352 juniors. The school jointly with the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Tourism and Sport of the Republic of Kalmykia organizes interregional and republican football tournaments in various age categories, tournaments in court football.

The junior football team "Jangar" from Malye Derbety has twice been the Russian champion winning the prize "Kozhany Myach" in 1998 and 2000. In 1999 the team became the Russian champion among rural teams.

One of the most significant sports event in the republic was the advance of the republic's team "Uralan" to the supreme league of the Russian football championship in 1998 and 2001.

The decree of the president of the Republic of Kalmykia #20 "On the state policy in promotion of healthy way of life" and with the purpose of prophylaxis of delinquency among minors and youths stipulated organization of 3 tournaments in court football, 2 tournaments in football and the Spartakiad among the juvenile social association and informal groups.

By July 1, 2002 there are 35 sports federations and societies, 12 republican clubs, 20 sport schools, 18 municipal clubs registered in the republic. The main work task is the development of mass sport and preparation of young reserve in all sports, attraction to sport and physical culture of the pre school age, school students, working youths, seniors, orphans by organizing complex sports events. By July 1, 2002, 25 512 students attend sports sections, groups of physical culture are attended by 49 515 students, sport schools are attended by 12 957 students.