Kääriku Sports Centre of the
University of Tartu
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During World War II several farms in Estonia remained empty — the households of wealthier farms were deported in 1941 to Siberia, even more people fled from the Red Army in 1944 to the West. Empty farm buildings began to dilapidate, fields were left untilled, meadows overgrew with brushwood.
The Faculty of Physical Education of the University of Tartu had no sports centre of its own for arranging study camps in winter and summer events. Fred Kudu, former elite athlete who became the dean at the end of 1944, believed that a sports centre should be located in a beautiful varying scenery near a body of water where one could ski, swim, go in for sports games and track and field.
In the winter of 1947 an empty farm was found near Otepää that best corresponded to the requirements. On March 26 the Rector applied for the convey of the farm and on April 14, 1947 the Kääriku farm in Pühajärve civil parish was with an act assigned to Peeter Hiob, representative of the University of Tartu. These dates stand for the birth of Kääriku Sports Centre. Peeter Hiob became a long-term warden of the centre who arranged the economic affairs at Kääriku.
A couple of months after the farm’s being conveyed into the possession of the University of Tartu, students of the Faculty of Physical Education arrived to the summer camp. The farm buildings included the house, granary with grain dryer, stable, shed, cattle-shed, smoke sauna, cellar and hay barn by the lake.
The reconstruction of the buildings was begun shortly. The larger room of the house became the refectory that in the evenings was used for socializing. Bunk beds were built in the rooms, students slept on straw mattresses. Oil lamps lighted the rooms, there was no telephone or radio. Newspapers were brought by the warden on his trips to Otepää to fetch foodstuffs. Students went to the winter camp by train, at the nearby station the luggage was put on the warden’s sledge, the students and instructors put on the skis — Kääriku was 14 km away. In summer one got to the camp on a truck, when it was raining the students helped to push the truck from the mud.
Kääriku was “in the middle of nowhere”, within the range of two kilometres no one could show the way, even the place name Kääriku had not been heard of.
Two handimen built the mansard storey of the house, in the rooms there were proper beds now. The granary was rebuilt into a hostel with 9 rooms for 30 students. A sauna was built from the grain dryer. On the ground floor of the cattle shed and hay barn was built a spacious refectory and kitchen that could cater for two hundred people during ski races. On the loft were built hostel rooms.
In 1951 was launched an autonomous power station — kerosene dynamo. Rooms were electricity-lighted until 11 p.m. when the machinery was stopped.
The last building was reconstructed in 1954. Within the stone walls of the stable was built a spacious sauna and garage, another storey was added where 30 more students could be accommodated. The pumping station and water pipes were built, telephone was installed, radio broadcasts were transmitted.
Students and instructors helped the two handimen in the building works. The training sites were built as teamwork. During the first summer camp in 1947 the swimming pool with the diving platform was built on the lake, however, the bridges and platform on rafts were not weatherproof. Some years later supporting beams were rammed into the bottom of the lake and a stationary pool could be built that was expanded year after year. By 1959 there were a 25 and 50 m track pool, water polo court and diving platform, dressing booths and equipment storage rooms on the beach.
The basketball and volleyball court was built near the buildings, the original court on which there was the skating rink in the winter, lasted for 20 years.
The running track posed a problem — there was no 100 m long stretch of flat land, let alone a circle track. Primitive jumping and throwing sites were built as a result of major spadework. The first running track measured 120 m with the curve. The aim was to build the stadium while the basic tools included spade, barrow and push cart, later were applied mechanisms and trucks. In the autumn of 1960 the proper stadium was opened at Kääriku. Elite track and field athletes — Olympic and World champions from the Soviet Union came to train here.
This was the Old-Kääriku — hostels and auxiliary dwellings reconstructed from farm buildings, also called “lower houses”. In 1997 here are hostels No. 2 and 3, flats of the manager of the centre, employees and retired former employees.
At first Kääriku was only the study camp site for physical education students. Soon, however, it became the sports camp. In the winter of 1955 the Soviet Union universities ski competitions were held here with 300 participants. In the summer of the same year the best pentathlonists of the Soviet Union came here to the pre-World championships training camp. In 1956 Estonian track and field athletes and swimmers prepared here for Soviet Union championships. The next to come were elite skiers, Olympic and World champions.
Dean Fred Kudu was considering the extension to the centre. Arnold Green, vice-chairman of the Council of Ministers of the ESSR who was later elected President of Estonian Olympic Committee, was in favour of the idea. Instructors of Tallinn Art Institute, architects Peeter Tarvas and Uno Tölpus designed the New-Kääriku. The buildings on Kodumäe hill are now called “upper houses”.
In 1959 extensive building works were commenced. Besides construction works was built the new road from Otepää to Kääriku. After the main building or study-service block was ready, Kääriku was so in demand that regular bus service from Tallinn was launched.
The main building with the refectory, auditoriums and saunas was opened in the January of 1963, the 160-bed hostel in the next winter. Students from all faculties of the university were helping professional builders.
Kääriku remained the site of study camps for physical education students. Popular sports-health camps enabled university students and staff to go in for sports and have hearty meals for a minimum fee. Kääriku hosted summer schools, symposions, conferences in science fields taught at the university. Internationally renowned scientists have expressed their high opinion of the centre in the visitors’ book.
Kääriku was a Mecca for athletes — from sports school students to the world elite. Before Tokyo Olympics in 1964 the Soviet Union track and field team trained here. Kääriku became the preparation centre of Soviet Union decathlonists, Fred Kudu being the senior coach. Soviet Union skiers trained for World championships at Kääriku for several times. Kääriku fans included the legendary high jumper Valeri Brumel and javelin thrower Janis Lusis, and certainly skiers Pavel and Alevtina Koltchin who settled down at Otepää. Of the University of Tartu athletes Heino Lipp has trained at Kääriku. Although he was not allowed to compete outside the borders of the Soviet Union, he attained better results during the 1948 and 1952 Olympics than the Olympic champions. One should also mention Olympic silver medalist Rein Aun, Olympic athletes Uno Kajak, Hanno Selg, Mart Paama, Anatoli Krikun. Of other Estonian athletes Jaan Talts, Olympic champion and world record holder in weightlifting, has trained here.
In 1968 was built the sports games stadium with 2 basketball, 2 volleyball, 3 tennis courts and a handball court. By 1969 there were two staked ski tracks in the outskirts of Kääriku: Elva-Kääriku and Puka-Kääriku. In 1970 was opened the sports building with two halls and an 80 m tartan-covered running track between them as well as doctor’s offices with medical equipment. On the ground floor there are a shooting range, storage and waxing rooms for skis.
Fred Kudu who had been to several sports centres all over the world has written in 1972, “Kääriku is at the present time equal to renowned sports centres like Vierumäki in Finland, Magglingen in Switzerland …”
In 1975 the stadium was reconstructed: tracks and jumping sites were covered with sportane, synthetic cover produced in the Soviet Union. Before Estonia regained independence, the stadium tracks as well as tennis, basketball and handball courts were covered with a new synthetic cover. The newest facility is a ski stadium with the referees building. The track tractor makes it possible to prepare ski tracks corresponding to international requirements.
The hostel built 25 years ago is currently fulfilling the requirements set for a hiking lodge. Kääriku needs new buildings — hotel, indoor pool, rehabilitation centre; the hostel has to be renovated.
Kääriku in 1997: 160 beds in single and double rooms, as well as in 4-bed rooms. A single room costs 7–8, a double room 6 USD per person. 3 meals a day cost 6–9 USD. The bar is open at noon and at night. One can go in for swimming, track and field, sports games; loan boats, rackets and other sports equipment. In indoor halls one can play sports games, work out on strength machines. In winter ski equipment can be loaned. There are 3 saunas. Regular bus service connects Kääriku with Otepää, Tartu, Valga and Tallinn. One can mail letters, make phone calls and fax messages. In two auditoriums and a movie hall can be arranged seminars and conferences. Once a week movies are shown. Concerts and parties are organized.
Holiday makers, athletes, recreation sportsmen and training groups are welcome to Kääriku.
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