Sberbank’s Sport Nearby service earned recognition in the Digital Solution for Government Entity open initiative, taking the Best Integrated IT Solution for Digitization of Gyms award. The ceremony unfolded at the We are together forum, with the bank’s press service sharing the news. Sport Nearby stands out by automating the operations of sports facilities and Russian sports and recreation complexes. It uses online analytics to guide management decisions and helps customers explore services and make purchases through a mobile application.
Mikhail Chachin, Deputy Head of the Public Sector Department at Sberbank, underscored that this marks the first award for the company’s innovative sports service. He noted that more than 70 health improvement complexes across the country are already benefiting from Sport Nearby, and the user base continues to grow. The platform is designed to serve sports organizations of all sizes, from small clubs to large fitness centers. It takes into account the distinctive needs of budgetary enterprises and is capable of supporting municipal tasks and the non-profit activities of such institutions, expanding the scope of its application.
Sber highlighted the core capabilities of the service. It provides controls for facility access, maintains visit statistics, and helps streamline business processes and utilities management. In practical terms, Sport Nearby enables users to discover connected sports facilities within a chosen region, view schedules and service costs, register for classes, and complete subscription payments through the mobile interface. The result is a cohesive, data-driven approach that aligns facility operations with customer demand and public sector requirements. This alignment is particularly relevant for communities seeking efficient management of public sports resources and improved access for residents.
In addition to its operational benefits, the service supports transparency and accountability in the use of public facilities. By consolidating attendance data, class availability, and pricing into a single platform, administrators can monitor utilization trends, optimize staffing, and plan maintenance more effectively. For sport organizations, Sport Nearby offers a scalable solution that adapts to evolving needs, from neighborhood clubs to municipal sports networks. The technology also emphasizes user-friendly interactions, ensuring residents can easily locate venues, compare offerings, and participate in activities without friction. The award serves as a validation of the solution’s impact on public sport infrastructure and its potential to unify disparate systems under one digital umbrella. The award and the ongoing rollout reflect a broader trend toward digitizing public services and making them more accessible to citizens across the country. This development aligns with national efforts to modernize government services through reliable, scalable IT tools that enhance the experience for both operators and participants. The Sport Nearby platform is poised to continue expanding its footprint as more facilities adopt the solution and integrate it with other municipal and public health initiatives. The emphasis remains on delivering practical benefits—simplified operations for administrators, better engagement for users, and measurable improvements in how public sports resources are managed and utilized. In summary, Sport Nearby embodies a forward-looking approach to digital sports management, combining analytics, user-centric design, and public-sector applicability to support healthier communities and more efficient gym operations. Portions of the content are attributed to the press service of Sberbank.