The ski roller track in Vitebsk has been reopened after reconstruction

On the occasion of the Day of National Unity, a solemn opening of the reconstructed roller ski track took place today at the Vitebsk State College of the Olympic Reserve. The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Sports and Tourism of Belarus, regional leaders, sports veterans, and young athletes.

– Allow me to congratulate you on one of the youngest, but very important state holidays – the Day of National Unity, – said the Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, Alexander Subbotin, addressing the attendees. – This track is a testament to the fact that when we are together, we can achieve anything we plan and desire. It is a wonderful gift not only to the college but also to the city, the region, and, of course, our country. What has been done here in such a short time is simply incredible. Moreover, such a wonderful shooting range has appeared. And it will significantly facilitate the training process and allow us to host competitions of various levels. This is confirmed by the fact that next year this track is already fully booked for training camps and competitions of various levels. I believe that thanks to the landscaping and the newly created infrastructure, a huge number of citizens will use the track for training, recreation, or simply physical activity.

Happy holiday to everyone! Thanks to the builders and our state for this wonderful gift to all of us. We expect new victories and champions from the college.

According to Vladimir Mashnyuk, Director of VGUOR, the track reconstruction began in November 2023. It is quite complex and suitable for training and republican competitions. The track is equipped with a semi-closed biathlon shooting range, which will allow for biathlon training. Fencing, lighting, and asphalt pavement repairs have also been completed. A water intake point for artificial snow production has been set up, which will enable rapid snowmaking and allow competitions to be held even in the absence of natural snow cover.

"The track's terrain features will allow for the effective development of speed-strength qualities in young athletes," emphasized the Director of VGUOR.

The grand opening ceremony featured performances by creative groups from Vitebsk, followed by a mixed relay race with young athletes participating.

"The track has a fantastic surface, and the skis glide well on it," shared Kira Starovoytova, a participant from the winning team and a student at VGUOR. "It's a pleasure to train in sports on such a track. I hope that training in these excellent conditions will allow me to achieve high sports results. We won the relay primarily because my teammates performed excellently."

Photo by Alexey Vronsky