From February 6 to 9, 2023, the Academy of Physical Culture and Sports of the Southern Federal University, with the support of the Beijing Sports University, the Gerontological Society of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Daoyin Association of Russia, is holding an international scientific conference "Antistress and geroprotective potential of the health systems of Russia and China". This scientific event is included in the action plan of Russian-Chinese cooperation for 2022-2023 of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.

The plenary session of the conference was held on February 8 in the meeting room of the Academic Council in the Main Building of the SFedU. Anatoly Metelitsa, Vice-Rector for Scientific and Research Activities of the Southern Federal University, addressed the conference participants with a welcoming speech.

Director of the Academy of Physical Culture and Sports of SFedU Tatiana Stepanova thanked everyone who showed interest in the conference as a participant or listener and noted:

"The topic we are discussing should be of interest not only to the professional community of doctors and trainers, but also to everyone who wants to maintain health, vigor of body and strength of mind at the age of 120," Tatiana Stepanova stressed.

The plenary reports were delivered by Professor of the Southern Federal University, member of the Presidium of the Board of the Gerontological Society of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alla Lysenko, reflexologist, president of the "Daoyin Association of Russia" Vladimir Butrimov, specialist in physical culture, fitness and sports at Oxford College Wycombe Abbey in Shanghai Peter Grigoriev, doctor of the highest category, allergist-immunologist, associate professor of the Rostov State Medical University Dmitry Lyubimov University, Ilya Cherkashin, Professor of Hainan Pedagogical University, and Zhuang Yongchang, Deputy Head of the Daoyin Yangsheng Gong Department of Beijing Sports University.

There were theses in the reports that the psychological attitude to the aging process significantly affects the indicators of longevity. Speakers from China noted that in eastern countries older people are more actively engaged in physical exercises, dancing, because they are considered the heads of their families: they have a great responsibility for the well-being of their children and the upbringing of their grandchildren, so they can only afford a very active old age.

"There are so—called "blue zones" on our planet - regions where people are statistically much more likely to live to the venerable age of 90, 100 or more years. Upon careful study, we will see that these are territories where folk health-saving systems have been preserved. These are practices that include motor activity, physical culture and sports in the folk tradition: for example, yoga and qigong in the East. But the health systems of the peoples of the world can also be found in Russia — in the Caucasus, in Yakutia and even among the Don Cossacks," Professor Alla Lysenko shared.

The conference was attended by participants of the Olympiad of students in the specialty "Physical Culture and Sports" taking place at that time in SFedU — students from almost twenty federal universities and specialized sports universities of Russia.

During the conference, the speakers also discussed how the prevention of premature aging in sports, active longevity and training for the digital economy correlate, why psychological, pedagogical and biomedical aspects are equally important for building training and wellness programs, as well as much more.