Kolomna Ice Palace is known far beyond the Moscow region. This is one of the best sports facilities in Russia. World-class competitions are held here. Well-known athletes train here and their shift is being prepared. The doors of the speed skating center are open to all sports enthusiasts.
Ice in Kolomna has always been loved
The inhabitants of the city in the XIX century were not upset by the lack of sports centers. They were not there at all then. But the rivers flowed as many as two: the Moscow River and Kolomenka. In winter, adults and children poured onto the ice, organizing mass skating.
In the USSR, much attention was paid to the sports and health development of people. Often competitions were held both within an enterprise, and between different organizations and cities. In 1932, workers of the Kolomna Locomotive Plant, conducting the Spartakiad, included in competitions and ice skating. The townspeople liked it so much that soon they needed platforms with ice rinks, and five years later the Kolomna participated in regional competitions.
The Kolomna Ice Palace was still very far away, but the city needed the first sections already in the 50s of the last century. The first real ice track was created at the Trud Stadium, which belonged to the machine-tool plant. Here, work continued with the children's and youth sections in speed skating.
The first skating rink near the Kolomenka river
The Kolomna people were very lucky that at that time Boris Ivanovich Shavyrin, a famous designer of rocket weapons, an influential person lived and worked in their city. On his initiative, the first special track for skaters was built on the banks of the Kolomenka River, and in 1960 the first ice palace in Kolomna opened its doors. Officially, it was called the Central Base of Speed Skating.
Five years later, they began construction of the country's first artificial track, which allowed athletes to train year-round. And in 1969, the Center received it for its use along with the obliging title: “Base for Olympic training of high-class skaters”.
Many famous athletes of the country grew up and trained here: V. Muratov, I. Kuleshova, D. Dorofeev, E. Lobysheva, N. Shilenko, A. Ilyin and many, many masters of sports of the USSR and Russia, participants and prize-winners of world championships, Europe and Olympic Games.
Reconstruction of the Ice Palace in Kolomna
In 1994, equipment on an artificial ice track was turned off. Over 25 years of active use, it has physically worn out. And the whole Center has long been in need of reconstruction. Training athletes required a completely different, modern level, including equipment, but they had only natural ice at their disposal.
In June 2002, they began construction of a new, ultramodern skating center. Four years the work was under the control of the Governor of the Moscow Region B.V. Gromova. Visiting the site, he promptly resolved many issues and problems.
Solemnly opened the Ice Palace in Kolomna at the end of May 2006. Athletes and residents of the city have at their disposal a genuine palace, equipped with modern technology, comfortable lounges and locker rooms. A sports training complex, a medical center with rehabilitation and restoration functions, a pool with saunas and a jacuzzi, sports halls for various purposes are located on an area of 70 thousand square meters.
A convenient conference room is provided for the work of the commissions. For visitors to the center there is a winter garden, a cafe, as well as museums of ice skating and speed skating.
New Ice Palace
Athletes finally got the opportunity to train at home rather than travel abroad. The Kolomna center still holds high places in the world ranking of sports facilities so far, and in Russia it is one of the best. It belongs to the “fast” skating rinks worldwide.
The largest competitions are held here almost every year: world championships, Europe and Russia. World-famous athletes speak of him as "fantastic" and "the highest class." They celebrate not only the arena, but the building itself, and active spectators. By the way, the latter feel at home here. Residents of the city are offered many services. In the Kolomna Ice Palace, the schedule is designed in such a way that the athletes do not interfere with each other.
The work of the ice skating center
In the Ice Palace events gather more than 6 thousand spectators. But they are invited not only to watch sports.
The sports school "Comet" for children and youth and the health section for kids "Orlyata" are working on an artificial ice rink . Sets are regularly held in sections, for example, short track or speed skating.
Visits to the sports and gaming rooms and the aerobics room are welcome. For lovers of swimming, there is a swimming pool with countercurrents, side and bottom hydromassage, as well as a sauna.
Residents of the city can use the services of a well-equipped medical center, a gym or a game room.
But the greatest interest of all is the invitation to the arena in the Ice Palace of Kolomna. Mass ice skating all year round with friends or family is a great pleasure. The event is in demand not only on weekends, but also on weekdays.