Legendary Medeu Ice Arena in Almaty ready for 2nd FISU WUC Speed Skating

ALMATY – FISU together with the Students Sport Federation of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Organizing Committee, under the patronage of the Kazakhstan Skating Federation and the Almaty Department of Sport and Physical Education will be welcoming athletes, officials and guests to the 2nd FISU World University Speed Skating Championship that will take place in Almaty, Kazakhstan, from 18 to 21 December, 2014.

The competition that will be held under the FISU Technical Regulations for Speed Skating and the ISU Special Regulations and Technical Rules for Speed Skating, is the last event of the 2014 WUC season. The FISU Championship is also a test event in the lead up to the 28th Winter Universiade 2017 in Almaty and will be devoted to the exchange of experience of hosting international competitions for the management of the Almaty Universiade and the administrative departments of the city.

The 1st WUC Speed Skating was held in Zakopane (Poland) in December 2012. Close to 60 participants took part in this inaugural edition, travelling from 12 countries. Top level athletes were amongst them, such as Olympic medalists Martina Sablikova (CZE), Katarzyna Wozniak (POL) and Luiza Zlotkowska (POL). Kazakhstan ranked in 5th place in the event, bringing home 5 medals (1 silver and 4 bronze).

The 2nd FISU World University Speed Skating Championship is going to take place on the legendary and world famous «Medeu» ice arena located at an altitude of 1,691 meters above sea level. Being considered the highest open ice rink in the world, theMedeu winter sports mountain complex comprises facilities for speed skating, ice hockey, figure skating, and other winter sports.

The unique natural conditions of the venue, such as the mild climate in the gorge, the optimal level of solar radiation, low atmospheric pressure and pure mountain water, provide high quality ice that contributes to achieving high performance in speed skating. Close to 100 participants from 15 countries are expected to visit Almaty in order to compete at the Championship. Currently, athletes from Kazakhstan, Belarus, Italy, Germany, Hungary, Mongolia, Estonia, Poland, Russia, Netherlands and Norway are ready to update «Medeu» records.

Additionally, the 2014 WUC Speed Skating participation fee has been reduced from 60 to 45 € per person per night and training is free of charge. The Organizing Committee has strong belief that all of these advantages will attract athletes from other countries in order not to miss a chance to break records on a Medeu’s legendary «fast ice».

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