PhD of Philosophy, Associate Professor O.A. Polyushkevich¹
PhD of Historical, Associate Professor R.V. Ivanov^1
1Irkutsk State University, Irkutsk

Keywords: prosocial practices, sports, sports volunteers, social activity.

Introduction. The importance of sports and sporting achievements is important not only for athletes and their coaches [1], but also for those who help organize sports competitions – volunteers. This social group is becoming increasingly important for the organization and conduct of sports competitions at any level. Since the end of the twentieth century, participation in sports competitions as volunteers has become the social capital of many young people [2]. This social activity has become another advantage in obtaining a coveted position, promotion on the career ladder, and new conditions for public realization.
The purpose of the study is to identify the features of the development of the social capital of volunteers involved in the organization and conduct of sports competitions.
Methodology and organization of the study. 1,200 young people aged 18 to 35 years took part in the scientific work, among whom 56% are girls and 44% are boys engaged in volunteer activities during sports competitions (carrying out prosocial activities). The study took place during major competitions at the federal and regional levels in the Siberian and Far Eastern districts. The data array was processed using the SPSS package.
The results of the study and their discussion. Volunteers of sports competitions receive personal experience, which is transformed into social capital (30%). This becomes a guideline for their further life path, since participation in such events indicates their concentration, the ability to work with a large number of people, the ability to manage people, building communication in stressful conditions. These skills become a priority when choosing them, all other things being equal, among other candidates.
Volunteer participation in sports competitions provides important social experience that allows you to adapt to new non-standard situations, make decisions in crisis and stressful situations (28%). This becomes an experience for solving any issues and life tasks in the future.
Moreover, the acquired skills of social interactions among both spectators and athletes, coaches, and competition organizers allow you to relieve tension caused by the social status or fame of a person with whom you need to agree on something (22%). It also serves as a career advancement advantage in the future (as a skill – "open closed doors" (Maria, volunteer, 24 years old).
This is in addition to the fact that new social connections and acquaintances are formed a priori (20%), which in themselves can act as social capital – "it doesn't matter who you know, it's important who knows you" (Nikolay, volunteer, 26 years old).
For girls, an important point of participating in volunteer activities at sports competitions is the search for a potential partner ("sports competitions attract active, interesting men, working as a volunteer – you can easily get to know them and build relationships" (Olga, volunteer, 21 years old). For young people, the gender factor is not so significant (73% for girls, 12% for young people).
Conclusions. The older the volunteer, the more motivated he is by the game itself, and the younger, the more diverse motives of sports volunteering work (finding a partner, new social connections, plus in the resume, etc.). This encourages young people to get more involved in prosocial activities at sports competitions.
Participation in the prosocial practices of sports volunteers develops their human capital and enhances the resourcefulness and versatility of the human capital of the region and the country (combining personal and social motives of prosocial activity). It also acts as a space for obtaining invaluable social experience that expands a person's ideas and capabilities in the future.

Literature

1. Ardashev, R.G. (2021) 'Subjective perceptions of the significance of sporting achievements among youth in team and individual sports', Teoriya i praktika fizicheskoy kultury, № 11, p. 29.
2. Polyushkevich, O.A., and Ivanov, R.V. (2023) 'Prosocial practices in sports activities', Teoriya i praktika fizicheskoy kultury, № 2, p. 50.