CRIMEA MUST BECOME THE SPORTS CAPITAL OF RUSSIA: regional representatives on the republic's sports infrastructure

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The Minister of Sports of the Republic of Crimea Olga Torubarova assessed the prospects of sports development in the region.

"Today, the region has the Crimean Football Academy, created by the decision of the country's President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. For four years it has been bringing up new young footballers, who - I am sure - will be in demand not only on the Russian sports Olympus, but also on the international arena. Crimea has broken absolutely all stereotypes by developing winter sports. So far it is only figure skating and hockey. Ilya Izyaslavich Averbukh, who came to Crimea with his ice show, has become a great help here. For four and a half years we have been successfully implementing the 'heritage school'," said Olga Torubarova.

Russian Paralympian swimmer, multiple champion and medalist of world championships, master of sports of Russia of international class in swimming among athletes with locomotor apparatus defects Andrei Granichka spoke about the opening of the new Aquatics Palace in Sevastopol.

"We have already started training in the new palace. It is gorgeous: there are infrastructure, parking lots, elevators, ramps. In this palace you can do not only sports swimming, but also diving, water polo, triathlon. Medical facilities are also present on the territory of the sports complex. In other words, a great ecosystem has been created, we are very grateful for it. We have never had such facilities before," said the athlete.

Olympic champion Dmitry Solovyov, commenting on the development of winter sports in Crimea, emphasized that the opening of two schools in Simferopol and a skating rink in Kerch testify to the growing popularity of figure skating in the Republic.

"Since 2020, two schools have opened in Simferopol near Yevpatoria, and a skating rink in Kerch will open at the end of the year. The popularity of figure skating in our country is growing every year. This is due to the great projects led by Ilya Averbukh. Young figure skaters and hockey players show results in all-Russian competitions. There are plenty of people who want to do sports. Thanks to these opportunities, thanks to the head of Crimea Sergei Aksyonov, subsidies that are allocated from the budget of the Republic of Crimea, children can practice regardless of their parents' income. This is an opportunity to show their desire to become champions. It is very important when we start to hear that young athletes from the Crimean land have become world champions," Dmitry Solovyov is convinced.