 More than 50,000 trainers and instructors worked there in these institutions.The system of the Volunteer Sports Societies arose out of the established sports societies of the Russian Empire of 1721-1917.As early as the end of 17th century a system of military-fitness training started to form in the Imperial Russian Army (officially founded in 1721), while the military and selected civilian educational institutions introduced participation in complexes of fitness exercises such as gymnastics, shooting, fencing, and other sports.