Ahead of the Winter Olympics opening in Sochi, Russia launched an unusual campaign offering free subway fares to those who met certain conditions.
The campaign involved installing special measuring devices next to ticket machines. If participants could complete 30 squats within two minutes, they received a free subway ticket (worth 30 rubles, about 94 yen). It ran for about a month starting November 8th at Vystavochnaya Station in western Moscow.
It was part of the "Olympic Changes" project by the Russian Olympic Committee to promote sports, implemented jointly with Moscow authorities. The committee stated, "We want to show that the Olympics aren't just a spectator event, but can also be a catalyst for people to engage in sports regularly." It solicited ideas for incorporating sports into daily life. Various initiatives have been implemented, such as converting bus straps into "exercise handles" and installing stationary bikes on streets that can charge mobile phones.
