Introduction. Gymnasts Yu. Yermakov, I. Korobchynsky, G. Milutin, L. Podkopaeva, O. Svitlychnyi returned from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics with awards of various kinds, and O. Beresh, R. Mezentsev and O. Svitlychnyi returned from Sydney-2000. Represented Donetsk and Luhansk regions. In general, gymnasts won 2 gold medals, and a total of 4 gold (i.e., 50,0%), 5 silver, 5 silver (100,0%), 5 bronze, 8 bronze total (62,5%). However, at the next Games, this trend is interrupted, which can be attributed to the disappearance of the former, regional gymnastics «coaching school». Although researchers consider the role of the state and federations, but the authors pay little attention to the place of the regional aspect in the development of the sport. Research purpose - scientifically substantiate ways to solve the problem of improving the efficiency of the use of «sports regions» for the development of a particular Olympic sport. Research methods and materials. Methods of theoretical research are used (generalization of literature, materials from the Internet, abstraction, idealization, analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction). Results. The National Olympic Training System (NOTS) is a structural entity integrated into the practice of longterm training of highly qualified athletes, which is a set of the most important interrelated elements of organizational and methodological nature, arranged in such a way as to ensure the most talented athletes in the Olympics. The emergence of the national team, the honor of which they defend, to the leading positions. When analyzing the functioning and development of NOTS, it is necessary to identify regional units that have the priority of independence in choosing management decisions for the development of their territorial entities, which in addition to the selected national Olympic strategy implement this Olympic strategy taking into account the conditions of the region. Objective influence of demographic and socio-economic factors on the success of the Olympic training systems allows approaching the understanding of the limits of subjective (organizational and methodological) impact on improving its quality. Therefore, to plan measures to modernize the systems of long-term Olympic training without a reliable forecast of the return on significant targeted financial investments and time-consuming organizational and methodological changes is irrational. Conclusions. 1. Research has shown that quality training of the Olympic reserve in any country at different stages of long-term sports development should be a full part of the national system of Olympic training (NOTS) and Ukraine is no exception to this recognized approach. 2. It is established that the assessment and use of objectively existing influence of demographic and socio-economic factors on the success of the Olympic training systems allows to approach the understanding of the limits of subjective (organizational and methodological) impact on improving its quality. It is irrational to plan measures to modernize the systems of long-term Olympic training without a reliable justification for the return on additional financial investments and time-consuming organizational and methodological transformations.3. A number of researchers representing the countries formed in the former Soviet Union, mainly from the Russian Federation, have deeply studied the peculiarities of the development of a particular sport in the regions as part of the NOTS. Some approaches and directions to improve the development of sports on the example of athletics were substantiated. The authors include the Republic of Mordovia in the regions of Russia that are advanced in terms of organizational and methodological support for training Olympians in summer sports: it is a clear leader that far surpasses other regions and competitors in terms of Moscow, Tomsk, Volgograd and Rostov regions. Meanwhile, despite the recognition of the important role of martial arts in winning awards at major international competitions, the topic of their modern development in the regions has remained unnoticed by scientists. 4. On the example of athletics it is proved that two main Olympic strategies are currently in conflict. One of them is typical for countries with long traditions in it, which use their competitive advantage in a developed material and technical base, a significant number of people involved in athletics, as well as a well-established system of longterm Olympic reserve training (European and North American countries). Another strategy is in developing countries, which rely on the high sports and genetic potential of their athletes and actively use in their training the organizational and methodological capabilities of traditional athletics centers, which is promising for the development of sports in Ukraine. 5. Submitted with a sufficient degree of evidence indicates the objective need for research to justify the development of martial arts in Ukraine, using the significant sports and genetic potential of our athletes, as well as strengthening the capabilities of ever-growing regions. Keywords: sports region, national system of Olympic training, sports reserve, Olympic reserve, sports and genetic potential of the region.
The Nordic Countries and Russia: an Untouchable Reserve of Strength to Maintain Bilateral Relations