From Kolomna we just received an article on the icerink and this picture, taken by Julia Zybtseva.

Among the unique sports arenas of the Moscow Region and Russia the Moscow Region Speedskating Center 'Kolomna' established itself as a leader. The sports center of more than 70 thousand square meters incorporates athletic-training facility, medical rehabilitation center, health improvement swimming pool, three Jacuzzi baths, bath houses, indoor playground, gym, conference hall that can seat 470 people, luxurious winter garden, café, restaurant, archeological exhibition and administrative halls. The icefield of over 11 thousand square meters is surrounded by platforms for more than six thousand spectators.

All experts come to one conclusion: speedskating center Kolomna is the one of the perfect ice quality and outstanding infrastructure, being the best in Europe. At the annual All-Russia competition «Russian Sport Industry 2006» the sports center was favoured with the special prize and diploma "For the unique architecture and functionality".

The Moscow Region Speedskating Center Kolomna is built on the place of the old Central Speedskating Base, which was the first artificial ice track in the USSR. In the course of 40 years Kolomna Speedskating Base has brought up a range of unrivalled speedskaters - Olympic Champions, World Champions and World prizewinners. However, 40 years is a considerable period as for maintenance characteristics. By the end of this time the track gradually got out of order. Its reconstruction became the actual problem.
In December 2000 the Government of the Moscow Region together with the Russian State Sport Committee signed a joint decree "On the reconstruction of the Central Speedskating Base with artificial ice track". Since then Boris Gromov, the Governor of the Moscow Region, took care of the building of the speedskating center.
Distinguished guests came to Kolomna very often to see the building-site of the speedskating center with their own eyes. In December 2003 Vladimir Putin, the President of the Russian Federation, visited the building-up of the sports center. In spring 2005 the sight of the new speedskating complex took away the breath of Ottavio Cinquanta, the President of the International Skating Union. He couldn’t but say that "the speedskating center in Kolomna will become one of the major sports arenas in the world".
The new speedskating center was accomplished in Kolomna in 2006. On 31 May 2006 it held the opening ceremony to mark the revival of the Central Speedskating Base and the new stage of Russian speedskating development.

Ottavio Cinquanta
President of the International Skating Union:
"When I was here for the first time I saw the first activity, but the result is better than I expected. The quality, the style, the elegance, the work of architects and builders is just striking. It is a wonderful sports center. I see that its infrastructure is of top level and consider Kolomna and Russian Speed Skating Union ready to be a capable host of the ISU European Speed Skating Championships 2008."