Matchbox labels made in the Soviet Union, 1959. The text on the labels reads:”Spartakaid People”. Spartakiad (or Spartakiade) was an international sports event that was sponsored by the Soviet Union. Five international Spartakiades were held from 1928 to 1937. Later Spartakiads were organized as national sport events of the Eastern Bloc countries. The games were organised by Red Sport International.
The Soviet Union attempted to use Spartakiads to both oppose and supplement the Olympics. The name, derived from the name of the slave rebel leader, Spartacus was intended to symbolize proletarian internationalism. The event was held twice in four years: Winter Spartakiad and Summer Spartakiad.
The number of participants was 90 million people, including 8,300 Masters of Sports of the USSR, and 20 million in the 3rd Winter Spartakiad.