OREANDA-NEWS. March 29, 2010. Construction of Kurgan ski complex, the object strategic for development, is in progress in Petrozavodsk. The press conference held in territory of the ski center on March 25 was devoted to this subject. It was held by the Chairman of the State Committee on Physical Training and Sports of the RK Maxim Antipov, key specialist of the department of physical training development of the the State Committee Tamara Pushkina, director of the Athletic Center Andrey Sandalnev and coach of Russia's national biathlon teams of the Athletic Center Sergey Bogdanov.

This February there has been completed construction of the first start-up facility which includes illuminated roller-ski line, a 6-kilimeter ski line and a biathlon shooting range (4,000 square meters). Nowhere in the Northwest except for our city centre there is such a semi-closed shooting range. The first competitions have already been held on the new objects.

In the end of this year or in the beginning of the next year it is expected to commission the second start-up facility. It includes an office building, maintenance unit, and heating main. Besides, the road up to the swing gate will be asphalted and arrangement of the area where biathletes start and finish will be completed. Electronic equipment for the biathlon shooting range (board and screen) will be purchased. 100 million roubles will be assigned from the federal budget for these purposes. Builders are ready to start working right now, yet the federal funds will be received only in summer. Only then it will be possible to commence the work. When the constrcution is completed it will be possible to organize competitions of the republican and the All-Russian standard.

Construction project the biathlon shooting range was developed in 2002 according to the building norms and rules. Three times it was amended because of changes made to rules of carrying out of biathlon international competitions. If the biathlon federation decides that international competitions is to be held in Petrozavodsk, the object will be brought into accord with the requirements, they assured in the State Committee on Physical Training and Sports of Karelia. It usually takes a year to prepare an object for the competitions of this rank.

Now it should be noted that within the last year or two significant progress was achieved at construction of Kurgan ski complex in Petrozavodsk. Biathletes also observe it. The roller-ski line and the biathlon shooting range will make it possible for the sportsmen to be in training at home without going to extra team practice sessions.

In the future it will possible to play host to the biathletes properly at Kurgan, as the third start-up facility includes construction of a hotel there.