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“ICE PALACE BAIKAL” – The multi sport arena!Â
Summary in English of the video content:
The impressive stadium “Baikal” in Irkutsk is already becoming the center of world sports. It can accommodate up to 6 thousand spectators in an area of 55,000 m2. President Vladimir Putin said: “Let’s do it!”
It was a defeat of nature in February to pour concrete at a temperature of minus 29oC so special insulated awnings were installed to warm up the concrete.
Baikal is a pearl of the whole world. Beautiful lake, beautiful ice. The world championship in speed skating is not far off in the arena and not least, the arena will be a great place for bandy.
Unique arches made of durable metal-reinforced Angara pine were installed. Twelve wooden arches at the base of the ice palace are real Russian engineering. They are safe, strong and durable as they do not corrode. More than 1,500 people worked at the facility every day. 15Â 000 people and more than 300 companies from the Russian Federation and even foreign companies passed through this facility during construction.
Ice Complex “Baikal” is the largest sports center with fields for bandy and ice hockey, curling, short track, speed skating, figure skating, football, volleyball, basketball and tennis. There are also gyms here. The huge ice arena can be transformed into a concert venue. A training base will open very soon to prepare Russian athletes for the 2022 Olympics in Beijing.
 Vladimir Matienko, President of Bandy Federation in Irkutsk region:
“I think it will be a center for health, sports and celebration!”
NOTE! From 11 to 16 September, Irkutsk and the new arena will host the first stage of the Russian Cup of the 2020/2021 season among the teams of the Vostok group.