World Cup in Irkutsk: working as a team
On February 20, a press conference was held at the Baikal ice Palace in Irkutsk, which was dedicated to the preparation and holding of the XL world bandy championship for men's teams. The tournament in group B starts next Sunday, March 1. The world's strongest teams (group A) will take to the Baikal ice on March 29.
The speakers were solid: acting Minister of sports of the region Ilya Reznik, Deputy Minister of culture and archives of the Irkutsk region Ruslan Dyachuk, head of the Directorate for the preparation and holding of the world Cup Vladimir matienko, Deputy mayor of Irkutsk-Chairman of the Committee on social policy and culture Vitaly Baryshnikov, head of Shelekhov Sergey Lipin, head of the Department of capital construction of the Irkutsk region Yevgeny Kharitonov, Chairman of the Irkutsk regional volunteer center Anastasia Dubrovina.
Our neighbors are the first to come to the world Cup. The Mongolian national team will take a bus to Irkutsk on February 21. Then, on February 26, the Hungarian national team will arrive in the capital of the Baikal region. Teams want to get acclimated and do more ice training. Their right. On February 28, the Japanese national team will join us. All other group b teams will arrive as planned on February 29.
Ilya Reznik, acting Minister of sports of the Irkutsk region:
– On March 1, matches at four stadiums – Trud, Rekord, Zenit in Irkutsk and Stroitel in Shelekhov – will open the fortieth anniversary world hockey championship. I want to invite all fans of this wonderful sport to the stands of our ice arenas. First of all, the tournament Directorate and the Irkutsk region bandy Federation have done a tremendous job, but of course, we are all trying to hold the championship at a high level. As for group A, the main spectacle for fans, the strongest teams will play in this ice Palace. The opening match will take place on March 29 at 19.00. It will be broadcast by the Federal channel Match TV.
Vladimir Matienko, head of the Directorate for the preparation and holding of the world Cup:
– We prepared the world Cup together, and at the final stage it is worth noting the huge role of the acting Governor of the Irkutsk region, Igor Kobzev. Thanks to him, a breakthrough was made in the preparation of the Baikal arena. We are still working as a team to successfully host this tournament. As for March 1, the main opening ceremony of the world Cup will be held in Shelekhov at the Builder stadium at 11 o'clock. Mini-ceremonies will take place in the morning on the Irkutsk ice of Zenit and Record. According to Russian tradition, guests of the Baikal region will be greeted with bread and salt before the matches. Especially for the convenience of many fans of the Somali team, it will be played at a convenient time in the city center – at 19.00 at the Trud stadium. Here we will also arrange a mini-opening ceremony for the world Cup.
Head of Shelekhov Sergey Lipin said that the city is preparing for an international tournament. It is a great honor and a huge responsibility for Shelekhov residents to host world Cup matches again.
Vladimir matienko showed the participants of the press conference the road maps that were made for each team. These contain the time of departure from the hotel team, the arrival time to the stadium, the match, the players exit the stadium. These roadmaps are very convenient for athletes, bus drivers, translators, hotel staff, and stadium employees.
Ready TV spot on the world Cup in Irkutsk, he goes to the broadcasting company «AIST». Unfortunately, not all Irkutsk TV companies supported the request of the Directorate to place an information video on their airwaves. Some demand money for it. Although, it would seem that the world Cup should unite, because it is held for all residents of the region. One of the information sponsors of the international tournament – mcm Radio - also made videos, and they are spinning on its waves.
Deputy Minister of culture and archives of the Irkutsk region Ruslan Dyachuk said that his Ministry also takes an active part in preparing for the world hockey championship. In total, the city will host about two hundred events. Interesting fact: with a ticket for a hockey match, you can visit all the museums for free.
Now Irkutsk is being prepared for the world Cup. More than 30 information stands with tournament posters are installed at stops in the city center.
Vladimir Matienko:
– Banners are being installed on the streets of the city in addition to the existing ones. There is a banner at the airport near the terminal, just at the site where buses will stand to meet the teams. There is also a beautiful banner inside the airport terminal. All stadiums are being prepared: facades, entrance groups, and stands are being decorated there. Hotels where guests participating in the world Cup will live are issued.
Vitaly Baryshnikov, Deputy mayor of Irkutsk:
– Now in Irkutsk, as in any house, we put things in order for the arrival of guests. We clean the streets, wash the bumpers a little later. We decorate Irkutsk with posters of the world Cup, and the main routes of the city with flags. We also specially ordered large flags with the tournament's symbols. they will be installed in front of the government building, in front of the Trud stadium, and at the music theater until February 29. Volunteers on the streets of the city will distribute flyers with the schedule of matches and the location of all four stadiums of group B. the flyers will indicate how to get to the arenas by public transport.
As for group A, the city administration will open a large Parking lot for 600 seats under the Academic bridge, near the Baikal ice Palace. It will be equipped with video surveillance. Additional Parking spaces in the area will also be used. All of them are free. We will launch free buses to the new ice arena from different parts of the city. The shuttles will arrive at the stadium an hour and a half and an hour before the evening matches. The fifth trolleybus route across the Academic bridge will operate in enhanced mode. People will see the Russian hockey festival and will definitely feel its atmosphere.
The new Baikal ice arena is already 95 percent ready. Now finishing works are being completed here. 1,300 people work on the site every day.
Yevgeny Kharitonov, head of the capital construction Department of the Irkutsk region:
– I would like to note That the center for bandy and speed skating is being built in record time. there is no doubt that we will see it in all its glory by the world Cup. All financial problems have been resolved. starting from February 25, we will start comprehensive testing of engineering systems and equipment. On the eve of the «Baikal» test ice was frozen, in the near future we will melt it, check the drain system and we will freeze the ice for the world Cup matches.
Tickets for group a matches will be of two types: electronic and paper. Their sale starts on March 10. The usual paper tickets can be purchased at the ticket office on the Western stand of the Trud stadium, and closer to the opening of the championship – at the ticket offices of the Baikal ice Palace. E-tickets can be purchased using the website of the world bandy championship, – baikal-bandy.ru. it Should be noted that the ticket price has not yet been approved, it must be accepted at a meeting of the world Cup organizing Committee.
Tatiana Solovyova
Photo by Tatyana Glyuk
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