Lokomotiv

the all-Union voluntary sports society of the railroad transport workers’ union; one of the first workers’ sports societies in the USSR. It was established in 1936.

Lokomotiv is an association of production and office employees in railroad transport, transport construction, and the subway system. Athletes of Lokomotiv have made significant contributions to the formation and development of Soviet sports. Well-known athletes of the 1930’s and 1940’s who were members of Lokomotiv include la. G. Kutsenko and I. B. Mekhanik (weightlifting), A. K. Kapchinskii and N. N. Kudriavtsev (skating), V. A. Zimina, N. N. Markova, and A. V. Rudakov (skiing), N. S. Razumovskii and V. A. Granatkin (soccer), A. V. Kazanskii (wrestling), S. A. Emel’ianov (boxing), P. I. Denisenko (track and field), K. Travin (basketball), and F. I. Duz-Khotimirskii (chess).

In 1972, Lokomotiv included approximately 7,000 physical fitness groups (more than 1.3 million members), engaged in more than 40 sports. About 300,000 individuals participated in team sports, 140,000 in tourism, 90,000 in track and field, 116,000 in skiing, 100,000 in chess, and approximately 80,000 in shooting. There were also 220,000 public instructors, coaches, and sports referees. Among Lokomotiv members are 2,000 masters of sport, 68 honored masters of sport, 58 international masters of sport, and over 360,000 individuals with sports rankings. In the period 1970–72, athletes of Lokomotiv won more than 30 USSR championships, 24 championships of the International Sports Union of Railroad Workers (founded in 1947; Lokomotiv became a member in 1957), 11 European championships, and 22 world and Olympic championships.

Athletes of Lokomotiv who were champions of the USSR, Europe, the world, and the Olympic Games include L. E. Belousova and O. A. Protopopov (skating), N. I. Pankin and V. V. Bure (swimming), V. A. Didenko, Iu. N. Stetsenko, and Iu. I. Filatov (kayak), R. Eroshina (skiing), V. S. Krepkina (track and field), S. G. Grinberg (table tennis), R. E. Mament’-eva and E. P. Riapushkina (basketball), T. V. Sarycheva and V. I. Sviridova (volleyball), G. G. Tsareva (cycling), V. F. Mamatov (biathlon), L. Kauniste (speed skating), B. V. Spassky and L. A. Polugaevskii (chess), V. I. Shchegolev (checkers), and V. P. Iakushev (ice hockey). Nine teams of Lokomotiv compete in USSR championships, including seven in the major leagues of soccer, hockey, field hockey, volleyball, basketball, water polo, and rugby. The Moscow soccer team has twice won the USSR Cup. More than 100 athletes from Lokomotiv have been honored with government awards (as of 1973) for achievements in sports.

As of Jan. 1, 1973, Lokomotiv had 247 stadiums, approximately 500 gymnasiums, 260 skiing bases, 197 shooting ranges, 36 swimming pools, and 600 sports-health camps and tourist areas, as well as about 8,000 playgrounds and soccer fields.