E.ON IBU World Cup Biathlon

The organizers of the World Cup Final approved the tickets program and made some useful changes in the system of the tickets purchase.

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Yesterday biathletes of Ugra removed their rifle bags in the improved stadium for the first time in this season.
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The International Biathlon Union established the dates and time of the World Cup Biathlon Final which will take place in the capital of Ugra. Read the rest of this entry »

The International Biathlon Union established the dates and time of competitions which will take place in the capital of Ugra.

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Past

The working meeting of the IBU and RBU Heads with Alexander Filipenko, the former Governor of Ugra took place in 1995. The protocol of cooperation was signed by the participants of the meeting. This protocol has defined the main stages of development of biathlon in Ugra. First of all, it attracted attention to the children and youth biathlon development. For this purpose the constructing of the Nordic Ski Center has begun in Khanty-Mansiysk in June 1996. The constructing experience on the Winter Olympic Games organization, using the most modern technology was used in design and building of the new sports complex. The construction was finished in 2000.

The Nordic Ski Center (NSC) became the whole-year functioning, its structure included children’s sports school for 300 students and 15 coaches. The stadium capacity was 10 000 spectators and shooting range had 30 targets (KES 2008). Total length of courses was 10 km. There rooms for teams, the press center with 2 halls with 200 working places and conference hall with simultaneous translation system and 30 commentary cabins were also built.

The hotel complex ‘On Seven Hills’ (3*), which is located just near to stadium was also joined to the Nordic Ski Center territory. Nowadays, this hotel is the main hospitality center for participants and guests on various competitions held in Khanty-Mansiysk.

Most of all, the NSC in Khanty-Mansiysk became the exclusive biathlon resort in Russia, which got the “A” license. It gave Khanty-Mansiysk the right to hold the Biathlon World Championships. Now the same licence has the sports complex in Ufa (Bashkortostan).

The decision to hold the Biathlon World Championships 2011 in Khanty-Mansiysk was taken at the IBU Congress in 2006. Based on changed IBU requirements and conditions for major international biathlon competitions, there were decided to reconstruct the Nordic Ski Center. It was decided to realize two stages of reconstruction. The first was completed in March 2010, up to the Biathlon World Cup Final 2010.

Reality

As a result of the first stage of reconstruction`s project, there was built not only a new stand for spectators of higher capacity, but also reconstructed the old ones. For example the Northern Stand included 400 seats before. So, today it capacity is 2,500. As a result, the stadium capacity increased up to 12,000 spectators and even more. For the convenient work of commentators their cabins were moved to the Northern Stand and now they are located directly above the seats. The Competition Office rooms and rooms for teams have become more comfortable and additional ones have appeared.

After the first stage of reconstruction the courses have important changes. It became more difficult, especially on the way to the shooting range. Two new climbs of 30 degrees have been added. Most of all now the spectators can see the race mostly in front of them but not on the video because of new course structure.

Future

Now we will have the multipurpose center, where VIP-guests and ‘Biathlon Family Club’ could be accommodated. Its windows will be turned to the stadium. The installation of all external communication networks in accordance with modern international standards will be completed. It will ensure effective use of communication resources.

In accordance with the IBU requirements, courses will be expanded up to 10 meters (6 meters now). The start of relay and mass start competitions will be held behind the shooting range. Thanks to this innovation, before leaving the stadium, sportsmen will have to drive round the spectators at first. No doubts, the race will become more attractive. It was planned to reconstruct team rooms and the southern junction that will connect training zone with the new start zone for the mass start and relay competitions.

The changes will also affect the lighting systems and broadcasting. Nowadays, the power of lighting at the stadium has been brought up to 1200 lux and 1000 lux along the slopes, in places of TV work. The official broadcaster of the Biathlon World Championships 2011 – ‘Ugra’ – is already achieved all the necessary arrangements regarding the location and installation of television cameras. The Spider camera will be used during the Championship Khanty-Mansiysk for the first time.

For television and media workers another Press Center will be built right behind the current Press Centre.

The new building is a full-featured two-floor pavilion with 1200 square meters area. The meeting of the broadcasters (October 2011) helped to adjust the lay-out of the ground floor in accordance with the requirements of broadcasters, which will cover the event. The second floor of the new building will be equipped for the press and photojournalists work, as well as for the press conferences.

There is a plan to install a mobile pavilion for the spectators behind the Northern Stand, where they could have a snack and drink a cup of tea. Installed projector will inform on the events in the courses and stadium. The Southern Stand also will be expanded. The trade pavilion will be built beside the Stands. In addition, there will be also a platform for fans along the courses.

«We follow all requirements of the International Biathlon Union declared in 2009 while construction» – told Dmitry Shapoval (the director of the Ugra Construction Development Institute. – «We are planning the third construction stage too, but it will be realized in case of the necessary adaptation of the NSC for holding ski competitions».

It is worth saying that during the regular meeting of Ugra Government (2th of December, 2010), the Nordic Ski Center has received a new name. The new governor of Ugra Natalia Komarova proposed to give the Alexander Fillipenko name to the NSC, on the 80th anniversary of the Autonomous Okrug. Now, the Ugorian biathlon ‘mecca’ is called ‘The Nordic Ski Centre in Khanty-Mansiysk on behalf of A. Filipenko’.

Do you hear the music of the taiga,
That snow is brought blizzard
That drowning in green foliage.
Lubov Milyaeva

The city of sporting achievements and hopes, the niche space for creative thought, flight of Modern Art, the urge of innovation, the value of national culture and the majestic beauty of the harsh northern nature.

Khanty-Mansiysk  is the capital of the Khanty-Mansiskiy Autonomous Okrug, the total area of which – 338 square kilometers. The city is located on the West Siberian Plain, on the right bank of the Irtysh River, 20 kilometers from the place of its confluence with the river Ob. All times locality – +6:00. The time difference with Moscow is two hours. Today in the Ugra capital lives about 76,100 people.

World ski center

It was here in 2000, 2005 and from 2007 to 2010 were the World Cup Biathlon. And in 2002, 2004 and 2006 – Grand Prix of IBU.

In 2003, Khanty-Mansiysk, first in the history of Russia took the World Cup Biathlon in 2011 – the second one. In 2005 and 2010 world championships were held in a particular discipline – mixed relay. Also in 2000 the city held the World Cup in summer biathlon, and a year later – the Junior World Championships in biathlon.

The capital of Ugra hospitably hosted many international competitions in ski racing. For example, in April 2008 the final stage of the Grand Prix “Sprint Tour 2008”.

Moreover, in Khanty-Mansiysk has a professional ice hockey club “Ugra”. It became twice champion of the Higher Hockey League of Russia and now represents the city in the Continental Hockey League. For the history of Russian hockey, “Ugra” was a real discovery, as the scale of the achievements of the team to quickly and continually increases.

Special feelings of the residents to winter sports is not accidental: the climate and location of the capital are historically predetermined. One-third of the year – it snows, the height of its cover up to one meter. At low humidity (80%) of the temperature in winter drops to – 40 degrees Celsius. Average temperatures range from – 20 to – 25 degrees.

Comfort and culture of the “green island”

Khanty-Mansiysk is on the seven hills on all sides by the Irtysh and its tributaries. The city called the “green island”, because residential areas are scattered in the territory of the natural park “Samarovskiy Tchugas.” The pride of the park is the cedars forests, which occupy about half of the forested land.

Due to the landscape and climatic features in the natural park “Samarovsky Tchugas” formed by the unique beauty of natural systems. The combination of flooded river meadows, and steep banks covered with taiga, many small lakes and swamps are rich in berries, create a picture of unsurpassed beauty of nature in Western Siberia.

The territory of the natural park is 6621 hectares. Besides in “Samarovsky Tchugas” there are three natural and three archaeological sites, ethnographic open air museum “Torum Maa” ski resorts “

” Spruce Urman” and “Cedar”, skiing Sports Junior Sports School of Olympic Reserve “Valley streams “tubing trail and winter sports center on behalf of  A.V. Filipenko.

Sophisticated set of architectural design and historical memory in the heart of the city shines only in Russia and abroad Park Slavic literature and culture. It is possible to see small architectural forms on the biblical Ten Commandments.

Since 2010 created and maintains an active concert “Brass Band of Ugra”, hitting his audience the magic of music. The house-museum of Vladimir Igoshev, Museum of Geology, Oil and Gas, Museum of Nature and Man, and generations of State Art Musuem are making a portrait of a bright bar ideas of enlightenment.

One of the most interesting sights of Khanty-Mansiysk is “Arheological park”  a geological monument, archaeological monument “Samarovskiy butte” and a park of sculptures depicting animals Pleistocene epoch and Paleolithic people.
Annual festivals are always held a variety of areas in the Northern Territory.

The city develops every day. Khanty-Mansiysk  is a place where creative modern infrastructure that blends perfectly with the progress of thought and keenness of spiritual culture.