MOSCOW, November 24. /TASS/. The new winter season began on Friday at Moscow’s Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy (VDNKh) with the opening of an ice rink, a TASS correspondent reports.
This marks the 10th year in a row that the ice arena, set up around a Vostok launch vehicle model, has welcomed guests.
"We prepared a show titled 'Flight to the Dream' about a young boy who dreams of becoming a cosmonaut and his journey through the planets. Of course, there will be master classes throughout the winter season, as well as flash mobs, night rides and morning exercises for our guests. DJ sets in the media room are the specialty of the season," Gahara Sharueva, Director of the VDNKh Public Relations Department, told journalists.
The first session started at 5:00 p.m. local time. This season, almost 2,000 visitors will be able to visit the nearly 9,000 square-meter ice rink at a time. They will enjoy the Space and Soviet Transport historical pavilions, the Main Alley and the new pavilion Atom. The theme of this season is Flight Through Time. Famous athletes, namely figure skaters Anastasia Grebenkina and Vladimir Morozov, rhythmic gymnasts Dina and Arina Averina, skater Nikolay Gulyaev, were the guests of the opening ceremony.
The rink will host artistic performances and costume parties, as well as thematic shows and regional festivals as part of the International RUSSIA EXPO. There are sports equipment rentals and skate sharpening points, six cafes and hot drink outlets. The rink is open from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday to Friday, and from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m on weekends and holidays.
About 450,000 people visited the skating rink last season, from November 25 to February 26. Last winter, the ice rink hosted figure skating master classes by Olympic champions Alexey Yagudin and Evgenia Medvedeva, dance costume programs in retro and disco styles, morning exercises and flash mobs. It was also possible to hold a marriage ceremony there and have a night skating session.
Ice rinks in parks
On Friday evening, about 160 open-air skating rinks with artificial ice opened to visitors throughout the city. One of the ice rinks is operating in Gorky Park, which has five pavilions for guests, as well as rentals, food outlets and a separate children's rink. According to Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin, there will be entertainment for all tastes and ages in parks and squares in the winter, namely skating rinks, ski tracks, ski slopes and snowmobiling sites. For example, there are artificial ice rinks, ten kilometers of ski tracks and snow slides in Yauza Park, including the largest natural slide in Moscow. Two new skating rinks were set up in a park named after the 850th anniversary of Moscow, one more skating rink was built in the North River Terminal’s park, and a ski and biathlon track and in Luzhniki.