Ilia Averbukh played hockey at the stand of Crimea and spoke about the fate of the Ice Age show

Famous Russian figure skater, Olympic medalist and ambassador of Crimea Ilia Averbukh opened the week of sports at the stand of the region.

There was a time when almost no one believed that it was possible to develop winter sports in Crimea due to the climate. But everything changed when the Heritage winter sports school started working in Simferopol a few years ago. A special artificial ice surface allows figure skaters and hockey players to train any time of the year. The school is run by Ilia Averbukh, the author of the project.

Now there are already four such schools in the republic, yet new ones will be built. After all, the interest in hockey and figure skating is very high, and there are already results. For instance, last year Crimean hockey players won the tournament Golden Puck — this is a truly historic event. Averbukh is sure that the triumph of figure skaters is not far off.

The residents of the republic appreciated the contribution of the famous figure skater and coach. In gratitude for the popularization and support of winter sports, they chose him as an ambassador of Crimea.

"It is great that Crimea is represented so brightly and sunny at this wonderful RUSSIA EXPO. From the first pavilion, from the first moment, you are filled with pride for our country", — Averbukh specified.

At the Crimean stand Ilia Averbukh played table hockey with Olga Torubarova, Minister of Sports of the region, and then talked to the visitors. And while young guests were most interested in how the skater’s sporting path began, adults were in a hurry to ask when the filming of Ice Age would start again, because a whole generation has already grown up on this show.

Averbukh noted that the production is still on pause, but it is possible that in the future the project will be resumed. In parting, the figure skater made memorable photos with the participants.