Russian Schools Merge IT Education With Competitive Sports
At the region’s largest school in Arkhangelsk, officials are expanding digital infrastructure and launching hybrid programs that combine athletics with emerging technologies.
School No. 7 in Arkhangelsk has become one of the sites developing a so-called “phygital” model—blending physical activity with digital platforms. A new center integrating sports and technology has opened on campus as part of the federal project Biznes-Sprint (I Choose Sport), launched at the initiative of regional authorities.
Esports and Traditional Athletics
The facility includes dedicated areas for esports and conventional sports disciplines. A computer lab equipped with high-performance gaming PCs operates alongside gaming consoles and virtual reality systems. A VR simulator has been installed, enabling training sessions and competitions in hybrid formats that mix physical and digital elements.
According to Arkhangelsk Region Governor Alexander Tsybulsky, the new center is expected to increase the number of students interested in phygital programs.
The school’s infrastructure supports the development of esports, laser tag, drone racing, competitive programming, and digital biathlon.
IT Cube and Digital Skills
At the same time, the school hosts a digital education center known as IT-Kub (IT Cube). The program focuses on hands-on skills in information technology, including programming, robotics, and hardware engineering.
Students develop their own applications, explore virtual and augmented reality, and work with large datasets. The school has acquired modern equipment designed to simulate real-world IT challenges and support in-depth study of programming languages.
During a visit to the school, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko said that Arkhangelsk Region is also building an interuniversity campus and upgrading its broader education infrastructure.
