Saint Petersburg confirmed that he really is not in vain claims the status of international hockey capitals in may 2016, the city hosts the matches of the world Cup ice hockey – ice squads of eight countries and hockey fans from around the world arrive in the city on the anniversary of the 80th tournament of the International Federation of ice hockey
This year’s world hockey from two capitals: the matches of the world championship on hockey – 2016 divided between Moscow, which takes the group “A” and St. Petersburg, where the band will play “B”. On the Northern ice fight hockey teams of Canada, Finland, USA, Slovakia, Belarus, France, Germany and Hungary in 28 matches of the preliminary round from 6 to 17 may. And on may 19 in Saint Petersburg will take place and two quarterfinal battles of the playoffs. However, the Russian team will play all the battles in Moscow on arena “VTB skating Palace, which will host the decisive battle of the playoffs. But this does not mean that the Petersburg fans of beautiful hockey will not be able to enjoy the games – broadcasting of any and all matches arranged in a unique fan zone, specially created at the initiative of fans in the stables area (for details see material on page 12).
“If we talk about the distribution of teams participating in the world Cup cities, it may be noted that Moscow will act more Mature teams, and in St. Petersburg – a young, ambitious team. The reigning world champion Canada will bring young players, which the user wants to check before the Canada Cup,” commented the Advisor to the President of the hockey Federation of Russia Valery Fesyuk.By the way, in the provisional national team of Russia for participation in the championship of the 28 players announced to represent a quarter of the St. Petersburg SKA. Defenders – Vyacheslav Voynov, Chudinov Maxim and Anton Belov, forwards – Vadim Shipachyov, Evgeny dadonov Sergei Shirokov.
Capital ambition
In General, St. Petersburg participation in the tournament of such level is an important step in the development of hockey and promote an active lifestyle among the citizens. But the main thing – a serious bid in the positioning of the city as a sports capital of Russia and Europe, capable of conducting significant international competitions of the highest level.
The news that Russia’s bid to participate in the struggle for the main annual international hockey tournament taken into consideration, she flew on 17 September 2010 from the Slovenian town of Portoroz, where took place Congress of the International Federation ice hockey (IIHF). And finally approved the location of the jubilee of the 80th of the tournament 13 may 2011. The main competitors of the Russian Federation were Denmark (Copenhagen and Herning), Ukraine (Kiev) and Latvia (Riga and Ventspils). It is worth noting that St. Petersburg and Moscow taking over from the Czech Prague and Ostrava, and will give – at the same time the French Paris and Cologne German. In 2018 Denmark will host the 82nd running of the tournament, in 2019 the best hockey players in the world will head to Slovakia, in 2020-m – Swiss in Zurich and Lausanne. Thus, Saint Petersburg boldly rises in one sports line with the leading European capitals. And to the credit of our city, not only because well-developed here hockey the sport of high achievements, but also through systematic work to strengthen the health of the nation, lying in the plane of development of mass sports.
“Russia deserves the right to host this championship not only because we need to acknowledge and honor our achievements, which are great, not only because we need to show these achievements, but because we want to promote and develop mass sports and hockey, – said on the eve of the championship the President of Russia Vladimir Putin. – This year, the domestic hockey celebrates the 70th anniversary. These years encompassed hundreds of triumphant events, and a whole galaxy of outstanding athletes, coaches, inscribed literally “Golden pages” in the history of world hockey. They laid the foundations of the leadership of Russia in this sport. Today, our teams remain at the level of clubs and national teams and also in the leading roles”.
The Governor of St. Petersburg Georgy Poltavchenko in April during a joint meeting of the St. Petersburg regional organizing Committee on preparation and holding of the world Cup of hockey in 2016 and world Cup 2018 noted that such major global events reinforce the image of St. Petersburg. Not only as a major cultural center of European and global importance, but also one of the largest sports centers in Russia and Europe. The Governor expressed confidence that the competitions of such level will attract additional attention to the city many tourists from abroad and from other regions of the country.
<blockquote>the President of Russia Vladimir Putin: “Russia deserves the right to host this championship not only because we need to acknowledge and honor our achievements, which are great, not only because we need to show these achievements, but because we want to promote and develop mass sports and hockey”</blockquote>
House and ice helps
In the history of Soviet hockey four inscribed “home of the world championship, which was held in Moscow in 1957, 1973, 1979 and 1986. Also, Moscow hosted the tournament in 2007. And Saint-Petersburg in 2000, however, when Russian national team has occupied only 11 place, but the championship was a real event for the city.The matches were held on two ice arenas. Traditionally, in the sports complex “Jubilee”, built on prospect Dobrolyubova from Tuchkov bridge in the distant 1967 and was named in honor of the 50th anniversary of Soviet power. But the main thing – in a new, purpose-built ice Palace on a wetland vacant lot at Avenue Five. A new sports-concert complex, designed by 12.3 thousand spectators, was built in just two years. Construction costs were estimated then at $ 60 million. Disputes about the construction of the Ice Palace began in earnest, but the past 16 years has shown that this new multipurpose, multifunctional venue in the East of the city very popular. And as a sports arena for competition not only on hockey and figure skating, but short track, Boxing, all types of wrestling, basketball, volleyball, ballroom dancing and gymnastics. And as a modern concert hall where the stars of Russian and world pop stars, Opera singers and Symphony orchestras, circus show, and also hosts exhibitions and fairs, conferences and corporate events.
The matches of the world championship 2016 in St. Petersburg it was decided to hold at the historic ice “Jubilee”. Original estimates for the renovation of the sports complex amounted to 1.5 billion rubles (confirmed after passing the state expertise), but thanks to the import substitution failed to fit into established by the government of the city limit of 900 million rubles. Today the complex with nearly half a century of history not just a monument of Soviet architecture, arena but with modern “stuffing” – the year of the renovation of several inputs and outputs have been equipped for the convenience of people with limited mobility, made a new ticket management system with an electronic access control system with face recognition function and other measures. Today, the arena meets the highest international standards that apply, for example, and FIFA.
“I believe that “Jubilee” has taken a major step in the development of the infrastructure of hockey, without losing its historical value. For the arena team and the world Cup of hockey in 2016 – is a serious challenge, a serious school. But I am sure that at the end of “Jubilee” will be in demand not only as an arena for holding international competitions in hockey, but we will be ready to meet and play in the KHL”, – said General Director of “Yubileyniy” Anton Shantyr.
Also in preparation for the championship of the St. Petersburg government has allocated about 50 million rubles for the organization of the fan zone at the stables area – these funds according to the agreement between the city and CHR will be reimbursed to the city from the proceeds of ticket sales, said the first Deputy Chairman of the Committee for physical culture and sports of the government of St.-PetersburgNikolay Rastvortsev.
Have a ticket?
In General, the organization and conduct of the championship, according to the Minister of sports of Russian FederationVitaly Mutko, had spent $ 25 million. Return on investment can be only by ticket sales, but the level of prices caused discontent among the Russian public. Cheap tickets sold out pretty quickly, and those who did not quickly react, really have to fork out. So, a week before the start of the tournament the podium of the Moscow VTB Ice Palace” on a match involving the Russian team (for example, ice fight Russia-Norway 16 may) was worth from 9 to 20 thousand roubles in sectors and 45 thousand in the bed. In St. Petersburg for the match Canada-Germany on 12 may, the ticket could be purchased for 4-8 thousand rubles, in the quarterfinal for 9 to 15 thousand. “I know that today the price of the tickets of the world Cup has been sharply criticized. But you must understand that the organization of the hockey tournament cost us $ 25 million. And return the big money, we can only at the expense of the tickets,” – said Vitaly Mutko. However, a week before the start of the championship in sales were only a fifth of all tickets.
“To date, sold about 80% of the tickets for the world Cup in Russia. Huge interest of fans to the matches with participation of Russian national team. We are grateful to the Russian fans. I want to note that tickets purchased from 39 countries,” – said in late April, the Deputy Minister of sports of Russia Yuri Nagornykh.
In St. Petersburg the figure was slightly lower. “As of 28 April in St.-Petersburg has sold about 45% of all tickets that do can be sold. According to international experience, strap in 65% of tickets sold is sky-high figure, to which all aspire. For five matches tickets have already been fully redeemed,” – said the project Manager of the championship on hockey – 2016, OOO Expoforum-international” (the official organization-operator of the tournament in Saint-Petersburg), Aleksei Molostov. While less popular matches tickets is not hard to buy today, especially since running a special promotion, and the initial ticket price is only 375 rubles. According to representatives of the St. Petersburg organizing Committee, the tickets are selling well, and the minimum plan established by the city before the company, exceeded. Note that, according to Nikolay Rastvortsev, in the framework of the competition the team Expoforum entrusted to become the operator of the tournament, as they have been able to meet the main requirements: to have experience of holding major events in St. Petersburg and have own financial means to be free in order to start the preparations for the championship without the expectation of receiving advance payments.
Also provides an incentive program for students: the Committee on physical culture and sports of St.-Petersburg together with Federation of hockey of Russia agreed upon a certain number of tickets, which will be used to encourage young athletes. “During the course, we provided the opportunity to as many children as possible to attract into the stands, we’d give schools the tickets to the guys certainly looked like true pros,” says Valery Fesyuk.
Actively participate in the conduct of the 2016 world Cup could be in as a volunteer. “From 4 thousand visitors took 500 people who were professionally trained and coached. They will work on a variety of fronts: directly at the stadium: in a bowl, in the lobby, in the press center and in the zone for athletes, as well as in the fan zone, in hotels and at the airport in meetings and wires,” – says the Director of the Volunteer center at Saint-Petersburg state economic University Marina Linovich. – In fact, we “close” all activities that are present in the organizing Committee of the world Cup. We are very happy that so many people who love hockey and want to help the city in the organization of this Grand celebration, have the opportunity to take part in it. And we are confident that the quality of their work and their kindness will provide warmth this holiday of sport and holding it at the highest level”.
<blockquote>the Official character mascot of the world Cup of hockey in 2016 in Russia was good-natured Husky. In the final contest of ideas for the victory also fought a cat Sailor, the Russian Samovar Smoke and athlete, and the author of the winning mascot Natalia Petukhova from the city of Samara became the winner of the prize of 200 thousand rubles. </blockquote>
From Finland with love
For the convenience of the Finnish fans, by special decision of IIHF, ice hockey team of Finland was specifically included in the group “B”, the game spends in Saint Petersburg. The measure was justified. In late April, it was officially confirmed the arrival of 1.5-2 thousand fans from Finland and informally – to 8 thousand some of them will come in organized groups on buses or fly in for one day on specific matches, others will stay in town longer to enjoy the beauty of St. Petersburg.
“The city in the most responsible attitude to the preparation for the world hockey championship. We were only in St.-Petersburg the right to host the tournament, immediately assessed the state of our sports infrastructure and hotel infrastructure. Many of the hotels are renovated, they increased the comfort level by one star compared to what it was”, – said Nikolay Rastvortsev
To prepare to the maximum
To prepare for the 2016 world Cup in St. Petersburg created a special organising Committee under the chairmanship of Vice-Governor Vladimir Kirillov. It included representatives of all the city’s committees and authorities, and power structures. According to the Chairman of the Committee for physical culture and sportYuri Avdeev, preparation of St. Petersburg to host the championship was carried out in accordance with the approved plan, which includes more than 60 different events. Among the areas of: enterprise events, funding, recruiting volunteers, visa support and customs clearance, transport, communication and broadcasting, security, urban design and healthcare.
As reported by the Committee on development of transport infrastructure of St. Petersburg (CRTI), according to preliminary estimates, each hockey match in the world Cup of 2016 will gather in the SK “Jubilee” of the order of 6 thousand spectators. This is a relatively small figure compared to, for example, with the number of fans attending the stadium “Petrovsky” during football matches. So, the game of football club “Zenit” visited by an average of about 21 thousand people. As you know, after football matches for security purposes, closed the nearest metro station is “Sportivnaya”. However, at the time of the 2016 world Cup this measure is not required – the metro will operate in regular mode that will allow viewers to comfortably arrive in the “Jubilee” and leave the complex after the end of matches.
Also for the period of the championship SPb gku “Directorate of road traffic organization of Saint-Petersburg” has developed a special scheme of traffic organization, which will improve conditions for the passage of motorists on the Petrograd side. The changes will apply from 6 to 22 may, details are presented on the website of CRTI. However, at the time of the championship Petersburgers suggest to give preference to alternative modes of transport, using the subway and surface passenger transport.
“First, we hope that problems with the public transport holding the 2016 world Cup for Petersburgers will not create. Even choosing the location for the fan zone, we have deliberately chosen the center of the city and it is the stables area, as there is not any passenger transport routes. We worked through all these issues together with UGIBDD. Secondly, the important issue is security: it is necessary to observe all measures and requirements that the party would be held”, – says Nikolay Rastvortsev.
“At all sites of the championship were held training sessions with the participation of police officers, administrators and volunteers – said the Chairman of the Committee on law, order and security Leonid Bogdanov SPb. – In order to provide security during the championship involves not only the extra police, and employees of private security companies, as well as folk vigilantes (so, the main activities will involve up to a thousand warriors)”.
His contribution made and the Committee for city improvement of Saint Petersburg. Subordinate to the Committee have put in order the roads and playgrounds to be used during the tournament, landscaped lawns and prepared for planting flowers. Gardeners pruning spent almost CZK 1 thousand trees, repaired a 6.2 thousand square meters of lawns, planted more than 50 trees, 56 thousand tulips. Already by may 1, were planted about 2 thousand bushes of roses and the Park renovated the lawns on the area of 3,7 thousand sq. m. And directly to the duration of the championship, the Committee will provide maintenance and cleaning of territories involved in the tournament – subordinate enterprises are in these days working in emergency mode.
“The tournament will be attended by 400 members of sports delegations (athletes and accompanying persons), 700 journalists (written press, photographers and TV), representatives IIFH 65 guests and 20 judges. The city has a dispatch center that helps ensure the activities of all client groups of the championship. We also organized the work of all necessary services for the fans,” says Aleksei Molostov.
At the end of April during a press conference before the start of the tournament, the President of Federation of hockey of Russia Vladislav Tretyak said that in the year of the 70th anniversary of Russian hockey Russia wants to host the best world Championships in history. Special thanks to Tretiak expressed to the Governor of St. Petersburg Georgy Poltavchenko and the mayor of Moscow Sergey Sobyanin, as well as their teams for the whole year fruitful work on the preparation of this major sporting and public events.
<blockquote>the Preparations was carried out according to plan
Yuri Avdeev, member of St. Petersburg government, Chairman of the Committee for physical culture and sports of St. Petersburg: – the Preparation of St. Petersburg to host the world Cup of hockey 2016 was carried out in accordance with the approved training plan, which includes more than 60 different activities in such areas as corporate activities, funding, involvement of volunteers, visa support and customs clearance, transport, communication and broadcasting, security, urban design and healthcare.
One of the key events of the plan was the implementation of the overhaul of the sports complex “Jubilee”, which is the ice arena that will host matches of the championship in Saint-Petersburg. In all, the facility has a main arena ice, small ice arena and a training ground.
In the framework of the repair works carried out technical re-equipment of engineering systems, modernization of the sports, medical technology, technology of public catering, repair of structures ice arenas, roof repair, halls, bathrooms, facades, landscaping of the adjacent territory, as well as the purchase of equipment and sports equipment. After the reconstruction of the main arena of the sports complex will accommodate about 6 thousand fans.</blockquote>
Multiplier effect
Of course, such major events as the world Cup 2016 in Russia, is the main aim of promoting an active lifestyle among the population, drawing attention to the sport at the youth and children. “The tip of the iceberg, the world Cup is a competition of 16 teams between them played out the championship. But look how many Championships around the people involved! Attention to hockey and is now very high, but it will be even more”, – said the adviser to the President of the hockey Federation of Russia Valery Fesyuk.– Let’s see how to create different leagues, including the Amateur. All sorts of children’s competitions, club competitions, Championships children’s schools – all this as the shaft goes, like a snowball”.
“There is a stereotype that such large-scale events complicates the daily life of the inhabitants of the city, influencing the transport system and security. But, first, the organizers always try to hold events most burdensome for residents. Secondly, from the point of view of the image of the city, the income of the business areas, upgrade infrastructure strategic effect of events such as the world Cup of hockey, significant and long-term, – says the President of club of fans of the Russian team Russia unites” Eduard Latypov. – Also remember, the football world Cup in Germany, after which the country came to a whole new level in football. Because of the infrastructure, the stadiums, the PR effect – the more kids are in sports. So if there’s any difficulties for the city – they are minimal compared to the pros”.
As emphasized in the city sports Committee, as a heritage of the championship will remain only good memories. In the city in the near future there will be a number of new ice rinks, which will train not only young hockey players, but future stars of short track, figure skating and speed skating.
According to a popular ice hockey forward born in St. Petersburg Maxim Sushinsky, the world championship should give boost to the development of hockey: “I Hope in St. Petersburg will be more spaces for playing hockey, which is not enough even for practicing Amateurs. I am sure that the number of people wishing to play hockey, my favorite sport will be more.”
