Almaty awaits Speed Skaters

ALMATY – With less than a month left until the start of the 2^nd World University Speed Skating Championship, the WUC Organsing is busy preparing the event.

The City

Modern Almаty is a major cultural, scientific and student center. Almaty remains the largest commercial and financial center of Kazakhstan. It is not a coincidence that the country’s former capital regularly hosts major international exhibitions, trade fairs, seminars and business meetings as well as international sports competitions.

Almaty is situated at the foothills of beautiful and high mountains of Zailiiskiy Alatau. The mountains make up a breathtaking scenery: green hills of the foothill belt, dark-green Tien Shan spruces on the steep mountain slopes, blossoming alpine meadows and snow-white peaks covered with eternal ice. What is more, usual regular buses get passengers to the start of high-altitude routes. Just half an hour to go – and here you are at the legenday Medeu Alpine Ice Arena, half an hour more on the cable ropeway and you will find yourself at the Shymbulak Alpine Sports Resort.

Till recently, apples were considered as a second big attraction after the mountains in Almaty. The best of them you could find in a large assortment at the main market of the city – the Green Market. The leader of local apples, in terms of popularity, is the famous «Aport» type.

Athletes Meet & Greet

Upon arrival the WUC participants will be met by the OC volunteers in the international arrivals lounge of Almaty airport.

Transfer

The Organizing Committee provides round-trip «Airport – Hotel» free transportation for all participating teams from Monday, 15 December. A «Hotel – Ice arena» shuttle bus will be available from Tuesday, 16 December.

Accommodation

Athletes and delegations will be lodged in the KAZAKHSTAN Hotel, which is a unique historical monument of Almaty city. A 26-storey building representing a triumph of design and engineering of the 20th century builders remains its symbol for over 20 years now. The hotel is situated in the upper part of the city. The distance between the Kazakhstan Hotel and Medeu Alpine Ice Arena will take up to 30 minutes by car. Breakfast and Dinner for the athletes will be served at the hotel, while lunch will be provided at the Medeu Alpine Ice Arena.

Sightseeing close to the hotel

One of the most beautiful and surprising places of the city is the mountain Kok-Tobe, which is located at an altitude of 1,100 meters above sea level. You can travel to Kok-Tobe either on a ropeway in the air tram, walk, or take a Kok-Tobe minibus. The ropeway connects the downtown of Almaty and the Kok-Tobe Park. Starting point is a station, which is located on Dostyk avenue (situated 10 minutes away from Kazakhstan Hotel, right behind one of the oldest cinemas in the old town – “Arman” cinema.

An amazing panorama on the mountains and the city opens to view from the very top of the mountain. It is especially beautiful at night when the city is lit with multi-colored lights.

If you take a walk around the Kok-Tobe Park, the view, the fresh mountain air and an unforgettable atmosphere will amaze you. The park has a fountain of Desires executed in the form of the famous sort of apple «Aport», a Fast Coaster, a mini-zoo, an art gallery and souvenir shops, a teahouse, and “Yurta” restaurant.

(Source: OC WUC Speed Skating)