A new ice arena and figure skating center will appear in Vitebsk
The need for a new arena in Vitebsk was discussed at a meeting in the regional executive committee by local authorities, representatives of the Vitebsk region figure skating federation, and Olympic champion Natalia Bestemianova, who, together with her husband, the renowned athlete and coach Igor Bobrin, appealed to the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko in the spring of this year with a request to support this project.
First Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee Oleg Matskevich thanked Natalia Filimonovna and Igor Anatolyevich for their attention to our region. The Olympic champion visited Vitebsk for the "Severnaya Zvezda" competition and has now decided to open her school here with her husband.
Oleg Sergeevich noted that the existing ice palace is heavily utilized, which does not allow for the full development of winter sports. The new arena is intended to solve the problem of ice shortage for both athletes, including beginners, and amateurs.
As explained by the director of the investor company Dmitry Khodos, there is currently no similar ice arena in Belarus or Russia.
This is a multifunctional sports and training complex operating year-round. The building design incorporates all the latest technologies, as well as the specific training needs of top-level athletes. The complex will include an ice rink, a cafe, choreography studios, and a gym.
Of particular interest is the integrated system for preparing, transporting, and utilizing energy resources, which allows for significant savings and rational consumption during the building's operation. This technology will reduce arena maintenance costs by 7-8 times compared to similar facilities. Another important feature will be the ability to quickly adjust the temperature of the ice surface. For professional figure skaters, this characteristic is key when practicing the most complex elements.
In parallel with the construction of the indoor training ice arena in Vitebsk, the "Natalia Bestemianova and Igor Bobrin Figure Skating Center" will be established, where talented athletes from Vitebsk and other Belarusian cities will be able to train. The first intake of children will take place next year. Experienced coaches and choreographers, who are currently in short supply for training talented figure skaters, will work at the center on a permanent basis. Natalia Bestemianova and Igor Bobrin themselves will lead the organization of the entire training process, provide consultations, and conduct joint training sessions.
The construction of the ice arena and the opening of the "N. Bestemianova and I. Bobrin Figure Skating Center," according to the general opinion of the meeting participants, will significantly expand opportunities for children and youth who wish to engage in sports and achieve high results. And perhaps, in the future, skaters trained at the Vitebsk school will ascend to the highest podiums.
At the end of the meeting, Natalia Bestemianova and Igor Bobrin presented their book "Tango of Our Life. A Couple with Three," which they wrote together with Natalia Filimonovna's long-time dance partner, Andrei Bukin.