More than 360 ice rinks for public recreation will be flooded in the Vitebsk region

December 15, Vitebsk / Sergey Kochetov - BELTA/. More than 360 rinks for public skating will be organized in the Vitebsk region during the current winter recreational season, the regional educational and methodological center for physical education of the population informed a BELTA correspondent. Compared to the 2008/2009 season, their number will increase by almost one and a half times. As specialists noted, frosty weather allows for significantly intensifying the work on flooding rinks and hockey boxes. A total of 70 hockey fields will be organized in the region, including 13 in the regional center. Such fields will mainly appear near schools, sports educational institutions, as well as in densely populated areas. In addition, speed skating tracks will be opened in Vitebsk, Verkhnedvinsk, and Orsha. Furthermore, comfortable conditions will be created for cross-country skiing enthusiasts. In total, more than 300 ski trails are planned to be laid in the region. This is more than 1.5 times the number in the past winter season. The increase in the number of sports facilities for mass recreation is mainly due to the increase in ice rinks and trails in rural areas, specialists emphasized. In total, about 60 rental points will be organized in the region. Already today, there are almost 2.9 thousand pairs of skis and skates available for outdoor enthusiasts. In the regional center, a public skating rink has been organized for the first time on the renovated Victory Square. The first visitors were able to try out the ice last weekend and appreciate the quality of outdoor recreation in the city center near Vitebsk's main New Year tree. According to the department of physical culture, sports and tourism of the city executive committee, over two days, the rink was visited by more than 3 thousand residents and guests of the regional center. -0-