The badge represents "Ready for Labor and Defense of the USSR" (Готов к труду и обороне СССР - ГТО / GTO), which was a Soviet physical education program and a set of physical fitness standards for the population, from children to adults. The badge has the shape of a fluttering red flag, superimposed on a white/beige, semicircular lower section, framed by a golden laurel wreath (symbol of victory and achievement) on the lower and lateral edges. The predominant color of the flag is red, symbolizing patriotism and the communist/Soviet movement, and the white serves as a background for the acronym. The outlines, flagpole, and laurel wreath are gold, suggesting superior quality or honor. On the red background, a stylized, white silhouette of an athlete/runner in a lowered starting position is depicted, symbolizing training, speed, and physical activity. The lower section bears the acronym ГТО (GTO) in large, red capital letters, in a massive, Soviet-style font. Below the acronym, in a small red rectangle or shield, is the Roman numeral "I" (first), in gold. The Roman numeral I indicates the Level (Class) of the badge's performance. In the GTO system of various periods, there were several levels corresponding to different age and performance standards. The badge with "I" could have represented either the First Class or the First Level in the specific scheme of those years (possibly from the period after 1972, when the system was reformed and standardized into six age levels, or from an earlier period). Historical Context: GTO badges were awarded in the USSR for promoting mass sports and physical training of the population. Level "I" (as indicated on the badge) represented a significant achievement, attesting that the holder had met the state's required physical fitness standards for his or her age category, with an emphasis on Labor and Defense. Writes for Viorica Dunaf