Unified Sports Classification System of the USSR

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Unified Sports Classification System of the USSR (Russian: Единая Всесоюзная спортивная классификация) was a document, which provided general Soviet physical education system requirements for athletes. The classification was established in 1935 and was based on separate classifications, which existed for several sports disciplines before. Since 1949 it was revised every four years, the period, which corresponded to the Olympic cycle, to reflect new standards for the physical training. The document contained test standards, principles and conditions, necessary for the conferment of sports ranks and titles, for all sports, cultivated in the USSR. The principle and names of some ranks might have originated from a similar classification for civil servants in 19th century Russia.^{[citation needed]}

As of the 1970s, there were following ranks for athletes of the USSR (listed in descending order of value):

Master of Sports of the USSR, Distinguished/Honoured/Merited/Honourable (equates to international champion who has made valuable contributions to the sport)
Master of Sports of the USSR, International Class (equates to international champion)
Master of Sports of the USSR (equates to national champion)
Candidate for Master of Sports (equates to nationally ranked player)
First-Class Sportsman (equates to regional champion)
Second-Class Sportsman (equates to state champion)
Third-Class Sportsman (equates to city champion)
First-Class Junior Sportsman
Second-Class Junior Sportsman
Third-Class Junior Sportsman

Each of these titles was awarded only for results on the official competitions. Athletes who qualified for the rank were awarded a badge.

This All-Union system existed until the breakup of the USSR in 1991. Meanwhile, some former Soviet republics, for example, Russia and Belarus still maintain similar sports ranks system.

The title of Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR was awarded to foreigners several times. In particular, in 1972, to the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the USSR this title was awarded to the following prominent athletes:^[1]