Information about Deaflympics 2015

(Transcript)

Hello! I am the President of Russian Committee of Deaf Sports (RCDS).

I am delighted to share more news about Deafympics 2015 held in Khanty-Mansiysk.

We have had several working meetings, we all have got the better picture in readiness for Deatlympics.

As I am aware, most of you concern about flight to Khanty-Mansiysk.

First off, all of you will be arriving in Moscow to collect your luggage(s) and go through where your passport will be cleared. Majority of you will be arriving in Moscow first.

Upon arrival, you will be flying to Khanty-Mansiysk directly or Surgut depending on your planning program. Either of you can stay in Moscow for a couple of days for sightseeing tour or elect to fly directly to Khanty-Mansiysk soon. Flying to Khanty-Mansiysk can be from one of three airports in Moscow. Depending on your origin destination to one of Moscow’s airport, you might be transferred to the other airport for flight to Khanty-Mansiysk.

Our volunteers would be happy to assist you. Flying to Khanty-Mansiysk from Moscow only available in the night. If you happen to arrive in the morning,

then you may to spend the day sight seeing such as the Red Square and Kremlin, and/or visiting metro before departing in the night.

Once you arrive in Khanty-Mansiysk, there is very short distance from the airport to hotel.

If you plan to fly to Surgut, then shuttle buses provided by the Organizing Committee to get you all to Khanty-Mansiysk. The driving distance from Surgut is about 3 hours to get “Olympic” hotel, the main place, where many people will be staying.

The hotel can accommodate up to 700 people. In a hall, everyone meet and greet each other - have a buffet-style meals three times per day - some rooms are big enough that was designed for Paralympic athletes.

At this hotel, you all will need to provide ID and be photographed prior receiving your accreditation badge. Some can pay ICSD membership at this location all at once.

On the evening of March 28, there will be Opening Ceremony in other place near the main hotel. The Opening Ceremony will be held in sport arena where the total capacity can be,

if I remember correctly, up to 3000 to 4000 participants. The Organising Committee in Khanty-Mansiysk (K-M) promises that the Opening Ceremony would be interesting and unique one. I don’t have the exact details of what the Organizing Committee is planning.

Most importantly, while there, we will light up the Dealfympics torch in the accordance with the values of the Olympics’ movement. After bring lit, the torch relay will pass to central square of K-M and Magnitogorsk, so everyone can see it.

In K-M, next to the central square along with podium for awarding medals,

there is a hall where everyone can meet up inside, getting acquainted, and socialise every night. Throughout the Games, there will be various of programs including performances of traditional dances, shows, and other entertainment, giving the participants the opportunity to delve into the cultures.

I also want to emphasise that there will be 45th ICSD congress which will be held at Chess Academy in K-M from March 26 to March 28. Itself building is a very modern and fashionably built. Pretty one. ICSD Congress will be 2 full days.

Meals and shuttle buses will be provided for all congress’ participants.

Now, I would like to tell you about cross country-skiing.

In the centre city of Khanty Mansiysk, On the top of hill, there is a sport venue.

It is the Nordic Ski center named “The Alexander Filipenko Winter Sport Centre”, it is a famous sport complex. This Nordic ski centre has press and media facility where it is equipped with broadcasting cameras. The Winter Sport Centre was licensed to the “A” level by the International Biathlon Union, which gives the right to host the most prestigious events. Spectator stand has North, South, VIP and North-East lounges, where everyone can stay warm and mingle with others during the competitions.

On other side of stadium, there are several cabins where athletes and their staff can get prepared and wax their skis for competitions. Also, in the Nordic Ski center, there’s a warm up in the exercise zone and ski test area.

The capacity of the training zone can accommodate approximately 200 athletes.

The total length of the courses is over 15 km.

The another courses are 2,5 km and 7,5 km.

I am delighted to tell you the scenery is beautiful with comfortable stands,

providing unforgettable impression and pleasure both for fans and participants.

There is a huge display set that will be shown by URGA TV.

Now, I would like to tell you about curling as one of five sports disciplines.

Just 100 meters away from the hockey arena, there is the curling sport arena called “Ice Palace”.

The Ice Palace is a multifunctional sport centre and have one side tribunes with capacity of 2000 spectators.

There are four lines for curling, which includes a professional ice rink with synthetic ice.

There also has changing rooms, cafe, gym, and recreational area.

Moreover, there is a mini-aqua park and swimming-pool in the same sport arena.

In this story, I would like to share about snowboard in other sport venue.

The Alpine skiing complex called “Kvoyny Urman” which includes the “standard” two courses with snowmaking system.

The top of the route can be reached by the 8-sitter gondolas and 4-sitter open chairs.

Needless to say, the alpine skiing complex meets in the accordance with International Ski Federation (FIS).

At the bottom of the skiing complex, there is a 2-storey building where spectators can stay inside, keep warm, and mingle each other.

Also at this complex, there are several slope styles - freestyle, halfpipe, and others.

Last year of 2013, this place was hosted World Championship Snowboard, it went well.

I am certain that our athletes can compete in this skiing complex in high standard level.

Now, I would like to share about the ice hockey.

The unique indoor sporting arena called “Arena Ugra” is the home arena of the ice hockey teams play in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

The capacity of the arena is 5,500 spectators.

There is a huge, 4 side monitors, multifunctional media-cube is set under vault of the ice palace where spectators can immensely enjoy watching the games.

This hockey arena reminds me of what I saw in the States and Canada, it’s particularly new.

There are 6 changing rooms for each National team.

Each changing room has washing machines and dryers.

Hockey players can leave their equipments in a locker room instead of bringing it back and forth to/from their hotel.

I am certain that the hockey players can expect comfortable accommodation.

Now I would like to tell you about alpine skiing and slalom.

I would like to have a higher slope to hearing competition, however there is no such higher slope than it should be in Khanty-Mansiysk.

The program will be as following, everybody will arrive in Khanty-Mansiysk for the Opening Ceremony on March 28, 2015.

After this, all skiers and their coaches,

medical staff and other personals will get on board for Magnitogorsk.

We will arrange the flight at no charge.

The duration of flight is about 1 1/2 hours.

All participants will stay there to compete for about 5 to 6 days.

I am certain that terrain and accommodations are well-oriented for athletes and its staff.

There are several storeys of hotel or houses where you can stay.

Buffet-style meals will be served three times daily.

The training and competitions days will be prepared by TD (Technical Directors).

The main slope is about 2,4 km as I myself went there.

I could try to remember if there is another slope for warm up exercise zone and ski test area. These slopes will be reserved for our Deatlympics’ participants and won’t be available to others.

The gondolas can reach the top of the route.

At the top, there is a restaurant and cafes where you can entertain and watch the games.

There will be a timetable (display) showing the results. I also want to mention that at the bottom there are several shops and cafes. From the top of slope to the finishing lane, we will install several digital time displaying athletics’ current competitive time.

There will be four competitive alpine skiing disciplines - slalom, giant slalom, super giant slalom, and downhill. After the competitions, participants will be brought back to Khanty-Mansiysk for the medals awards and Closing Ceremony.

I hope you got it!

In this part, I would like to share about visa procedure.

I wish there is no visa entry requirement to travel to the Russian Federation.

Unfortunately, some foreign nationals are required to obtain an entry visa through local embassy or consulates of your country. To have a visa issued, you will need us the list of names and birthdates in order to proceed the invitations through our government agency. Once the invitations are being approved, they will send the confirmation electronically to Russian embassy or consulates in your area.

The earlier you can do it, the better it is for us to get it done. Put all names on the list if some of them are selected on the team - does not matter if one is able to come or not - no worries - just send the list of names. You can always eliminate some names later in the invitations.

I believe I have shared with you, the most important information about the sports programs as well as the arrangement for accommodations, flights to Khanty-Mansiysk and Magnitogorsk, and visa procedures. When I get more information,

I would be happy to share with you all at a later date.

Now, I would wish to welcome you all to Russia for the 18th Winter Deaflympics!