"JSC KSK is considering the possibility of creating multi-profile sports and tourism complexes for training athletes on the sites of the all-season resorts Arkhyz, Elbrus and Veduchi. If this initiative is supported, JSC KSK is ready, together with the Ministry of Sports and The Russian Ministry of Finance will work out the concept and sources of financing for the project,” the company’s press service told the Interfax-Tourism portal.
Athletes will be able to train in Russia
General Director of KSK Khasan Timizhev emphasized that the company pays great attention to creating conditions for the development of sports in the region, both mass and professional. Thus, training of the national alpine skiing and freestyle teams has been resumed at Elbrus, and training of regional biathlon teams and mountain bike competitions are held at Arkhyz.
"However, the potential of the resorts is much greater. Now national teams most often train abroad, but many sports federations today are raising the issue of returning the practice of training camps to Russia. The resorts of the North Caucasus are ready to be one of such sites. It is important to develop conditions for our athletes within the country," the press service quotes H. Timizhev as saying.
According to him, in summer, multi-profile complexes can host athletes' training, and in winter, tourists can relax there. In addition, regional and all-Russian competitions, sports and cultural events, and Spartakiads for the whole family can be held on the basis of sports complexes.
Experts' suggestions
The executive director of the Alpine Skiing Federation Valery Tsyganov and the president of the Russian Snowboarding Federation Denis Tikhomirov spoke about the need to create a specialized base on Elbrus for year-round summer snow training of athletes, holding training camps and competitions on the glacier.
“It is assumed that not only Russian national teams will be able to take part in them, but also regional teams, which often do not have the financial means to travel abroad in the summer to conduct training on European glaciers,” the KSK press service quotes experts as saying.
Vice President of the Russian Biathlon Union Vadim Melikhov noted that the optimal altitude for training athletes is 1,700 meters, where the Arkhyz resort facilities are located. In his opinion, shooting ranges should be equipped for training, cross-country courses and roller tracks should be laid out, which will be used by athletes all year round.
Representatives of the triathlon, cross-country skiing and cycling federations, in turn, noted that these same tracks could also be used in the corresponding sports.
According to the Vice President of the Russian Mountaineering Federation, Alexander Pyatnitsyn, Arkhyz is a promising direction for summer sports disciplines, such as skyrunning – high-speed climbing. Among his proposals is the restoration of mountaineering shelters in the North Caucasus.
Representatives of the Russian Handball Federation and the Russian Boxing Federation spoke about the demand for high-altitude training and presented the main requirements for organizing sports facilities: they must include medical and rehabilitation centers, an indoor hall for training, a gym, and a water complex.
"Let's try to create a successful tandem of high-performance sports and mass sports together. After all, winners are not born - to become an Olympic champion, you need hard work and constant training, from childhood. And if at our resorts, where tourists come with children, there are sports bases where the best athletes of the country train, those whom they previously saw only on TV, I am sure that many of the children will be "infected" with this thirst for victories and records," concluded H. Timizhev.
The bases will be in demand among tourists
"The idea is great, today we don't have similar training facilities at such an altitude as in Arkhyz - 1650 meters above sea level. If the complexes are built, then most athletes will be able to replace foreign mountains with Russian ones. Now we have only a few tied to Italy and Austria without the ability to change their training location," Nikolai Krutilin, head coach of the Russian Cycling Federation for mountain biking, told the Interfax-Tourism portal.
In his opinion, the project at the resort should include building high-quality housing, indoor sports and fitness halls, a swimming pool at least 25 meters long, as well as open-plan premises where you can bring your own equipment.
"I think that the quality of everything will correspond to foreign bases. At the same time, nothing will be built exclusively for athletes; tourists will also be able to use the infrastructure - for example, skiers and snowboarders," noted N. Krutilin.
As Denis Tikhomirov, President of the Russian Snowboard Federation, told the Interfax-Tourism portal, multi-profile sports bases in the North Caucasus will be in demand by both athletes and tourists.
"I am for good nature, ecology, air. We need high mountains for training, and the Caucasus offers year-round opportunities for training. In terms of snow, Elbrus is optimal, but you can also find sites at Arkhyz. It is important that regional athletes have a place to train," he said.
In his opinion, the project requires the construction of cable cars, artificial cushions, and "summer snow". It is necessary to design the profile of the tracks and prepare the sites.
"This is quite an expensive job, but it will pay off. If the infrastructure is of high quality, athletes will switch to training in Russia. And not only them: people will start riding at an amateur level. Snowboarding is very popular with tourists, and they will also be accompanied by specialists and instructors. This will be in demand 100%," concluded D. Tikhomirov.
The Arkhyz resort is located in the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, three hours' drive from Mineralnye Vody Airport. It is the most popular ski resort in the Caucasus for family holidays due to its easy slopes and ski instructor school, as well as well-thought-out modern infrastructure.
Elbrus in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic has been considered a paradise for winter sports enthusiasts not only from Russia but also from other countries for over half a century. The resort has 15.4 km of ski slopes of all difficulty levels, accessible by the highest cable car in Europe. You can get to Elbrus from Nalchik or Mineralnye Vody.
"Veduchi" is a young resort in the Chechen Republic with slopes for beginner skiers. The nearest airport to the resort is located in Grozny, you can get there by bus or taxi in an hour and a half. The distance from the airport is 70 km.
Source: tourism.interfax.ru