Spartak was the first and the largest
All-Union Voluntary Sports Society of workers of state trade, producers' cooperation,
light industry,
civil aviation, education, culture, health service etc. Originated in 1925-26 as several physical culture groups by small producers' artels as an
all-union physical culture and sports society it was established on April 19, 1935 on the resolution of the
Soviet government when its statute was approved by the All-Union
Council of Physical Culture. In 1936 Spartak organized and successfully conducted a sports parade at the
Moscow's
Red Square. In 1987 Spartak was abolished and all its assets were transferred back to trade unions. In 1991 the society was reorganized as an international. Currently the society has affiliation in six countries of the former
Soviet Union:
Russia,
Ukraine,
Belarus,
Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan,
Azerbaijan. Each society's affiliation is subordinated to their respective country's government, Olympic and trade unions committees, while participating in collective events organized by the Spartak Central Council. ==Presidents==