NEWS about Russian team in Canada
Well... if someone do not know, the Russian skaters are preparing and training to the Olympics in the Canadian city Abbotsford - 70 kilometers from Vancouver (Zhenya will not go there, he come directly to the Olympic Village on February 12)
Here are a few articles from local newspapers about the current situation there (of course, no some "exclusive" news from the Russian team )....http://www.bclocalnews.com/fraser_valle ... aters.htmlOlympic volunteers needed for skatersWith the Japanese speed skating team and the Russian figure skating team coming to Abbotsford to train, the hunt is on for volunteers to assist.
The Japanese squad will train from Jan. 26 to Feb. 3, and the Russian team is here from Feb. 1-17.
Both will practise at the Abbotsford Recreation Centre....
"The Russian team has 29 members, both athletes and coaches, and they have requested a host for each athlete,” explained Longshore.
Requirements: Speaks Russian....
If you are interested in volunteering, contact the following person by Jan. 15:
Russian Figure Skating Team Training Camp – Alicia Tjutjunnik,
alicia20t@hotmail.com ...
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http://www.bclocalnews.com/fraser_valle ... 93577.htmlhttp://www.bclocalnews.com/fraser_valle ... 12937.htmlPublic welcome to watch figure skatersThe Russian Figure Skating team will be holding their pre-Games training camp in Abbotsford from Feb. 1-17 at the Abbotsford Recreation Centre (ARC).
The Russian squad has offered a training clinic to the Abbotsford Figure Skating Club as part of their stay.
The public is welcome to watch the Russian skaters train from a designated viewing area on the second floor of the ARC anytime during their training camp. Seating is limited so the public should be prepared to be rotated out every 20 to 30 minutes depending on the demand.
A public meet and greet and community barbecue with the Russian skaters will be held on Feb. 7 from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the ARC.
On this date, during the morning and evening practices, all 380 plus arena seats will be open for the public to watch the Russians trains.
To top off the day, the Torch arrives the same day in Abbotsford and will be coming through the ARC at approximately 4:50 p.m.
The estimated economic impact of the Russian Figure Skating team training camp is $88,000 which does not include spectator expenditures.
“We have received inquiries from all over the Lower Mainland asking if they can watch the Russian figure skaters train and can they buy tickets”, says Allison Longshore of Tourism Abbotsford.
“I wish I could have seen their faces when I told them: yes, you can watch them train and it’s free.”
The public is welcome to watch the Russian skaters train on:Feb. 1 – 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 5-7 p.m.
Feb. 2 – 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 5-7 p.m.
Feb. 3 – 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 5-7 p.m.
Feb. 4 – 10 a.m. to noon and 4-6 p.m.
Feb. 5 – 10 a.m. to noon and 4-6 p.m.
Feb. 6 – 10 a.m. to noon and 4-6 p.m.
Feb. 7 – 10 a.m. to noon, 12;15 to 1:15 p.m, 4:45 to 6:45 p.m. and 7-8 p.m.
Feb. 8 – 9:15 to 11:15 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 4-6 p.m. and 6:15 to 7:15 p.m.
Feb. 9 – 9:15 to 11:15 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., 3-5 p.m. and 5:15- 6:15 p.m.
Feb. 10 – 9:15 to 11:15 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 5-7 p.m. and 7:15 to 8:15 p.m.
Feb. 11 – 9:15 to 11:15 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 3-5 p.m. and 5:15 to 6:15 p.m.
Feb. 12 – 9:15 to 11:15 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and 7:45 to 8:45 p.m.
Feb. 13 – 10 a.m. to noon, 12:15 to 1:15 p.m., 5-7 p.m. and 7:15 to 8:15 p.m.
Feb. 14 – 10 a.m. to noon and 4-6 p.m.
Feb. 15 – 10 a.m. to noon and 4-6 p.m.
Feb. 16 – 10 a.m. to noon and 5-7 p.m.
Feb. 17 – 10 a.m. to noon and 4-6 p.m.
* Practices may be cancelled if athletes become ill, injured or are suffering from jet lag.
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http://www.bclocalnews.com/fraser_valle ... 82142.html February 05, 2010 3:00 PMStage is set for Olympic prideOn Sunday, the Olympic Flame arrives in Abbotsford as part of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay. With the opening ceremonies lessthan a week away, this is a chance for Abbotsford residents to celebrate the Olympic spirit.
.....
The torch will be carried through the city, ending up at Exhibition Park.
To mark the torch’s arrival, a celebration will be held at Abbotsford Exhibition Park from 5:45 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Valley residents will be treated to local entertainment from bands to native dance groups.
.....
TORCH SCHEDULEABBOTSFORD RECREATION CENTRE
2:30-4:30 p.m. – BBQ at ARC (by donation)
2:30-3:30 p.m. – Abbotsford Concert Band
3:30-3:45 – Meet and greet with Russian figure skating team
3:45 p.m. – Hannah and the Inukshuks
3:45-4:30 – Russian figure skating autograph sessions
4:45 – Russian figure skating viewing session....
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... "local problems" and the response of local authorities
http://www.bclocalnews.com/fraser_valle ... 85857.htmlSkaters: Free ice, but not a free rideCity money was not given to either the Japanese speed skating or Russian figure skating squads to come to Abbotsford, say officials. The two Olympic teams have been training at the Abbotsford Recreation Centre in preparation for next week’s 2010 Winter Games.
Allison Longshore, manager of sales and marketing for Tourism Abbotsford, said the squads only received facilities in which to train.
“
We gave them the ice time at no cost, that was part of our proposal. And in return they stayed at our hotels and ate in our restaurants.”
The cost of ice time and staff wages to open the facility and clean the ice has been estimated at $50,000.
“It’s lost revenue from giving up the ice time,” explained Mark Taylor, Abbotsford’s manager of Parks, Recreation and Culture.
The cost breaks down to $15,000 for the Japanese skaters and
$35,000 for the Russian team.
While the city has donated the ice time, Longshore said the economic payback is in the neighbourhood of $150,000.
“I know that because I’ve seen their budgets,” she said.
Both teams have agreed to stay in the city, eat at local restaurants, paid to rent vans for transportation and have been seen shopping in local stores.
The groups have also
opened their practices to the public, something Longshore said is a rare opportunity.
“We have to remember that this is a privilege. They could have said nobody can come and watch and we still would have had the economic benefit.”
While some people have voiced concerns that the free ice time is too high a price to pay, Longshore said for the most part the community has embraced the teams.
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http://www2.canada.com/abbotsfordtimes/ ... 63b8f57e37Jean Konda-Witte, The Times, February 02, 2010Watch the Russian figure skaters in action at ARCRussian pair skaters Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov practice a spin at the ARC Monday morning. More than 350 people packed into the gallery to watch the pair, currently ranked No. 1 in the world. The Russians have landed and are now in full swing of honing their figure skating routines at the Abbotsford Recreation Centre. And on Monday, more than 350 people came out to watch the first mid-morning practice.
"The (figure skating) club is delighted to have the Russian team stay and train in Abbotsford. For many of us, it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to watch this calibre of skating in our very own backyard. Our skaters are pumped - this is a wonderful boost for our sport," said Sandy Dunn of the Abbotsford Skating Club.
The Russian figure skating team has also offered to put on a training clinic for the Abbotsford Figure Skating Club.
Russian pair skaters Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov practice a spin at the ARC Monday morning. More than 350 people packed into the gallery to watch the pair, currently ranked No. 1 in the world. The Russian skaters will be in town until Feb. 17.
When not in practice, the team will be touring around Abbotsford, shopping and taking in some of the sites, including the Abbotsford Heat hockey game Friday night at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre.
The public is welcome to watch the Russian figure skaters train from a designated viewing area on the second floor of the ARC anytime during their training camp. Seating is limited so be prepared to be rotated out every 20 - 30 minutes depending on demand. The skaters will be in town until Feb. 17.
Contact the ARC at 604-853-4221 or
http://www.abbotsford.ca for schedule times.
On Sunday, a public meet n' greet and community barbecue with the Russian figure skaters will be held from 2:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. at the Abbotsford Recreation Centre.
On Feb. 7, during the morning and evening practices, the 380 seats at the ARC will be open for the public to watch the Russians train.
PDFMeet the Russian Figure Skating Team and Community BBQ:
http://www.abbotsford.ca/Assets/Abbotsf ... +Greet.pdfWatch the Russian Figure Skating Team train for Free:
http://www.abbotsford.ca/Assets/Abbotsf ... hedule.pdf2010-01-18 Russian Figure Skating Team Arrives in Abbotsford January 31st:
http://www.abbotsford.ca/AssetFactory.aspx?did=11445---------------------------------------------------
http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/2010 ... 3&sponsor=By Lyndon Little, Canwest News Service - February 5, 2010Abbotsford opens its rink to the world
Fraser Valley city serves as training site for Russian figure skaters, Japanese speed skaters Russian figure skating pairs Vera Bazarova and Yuri Larionov work on a death spiral element during a training session at the Abbotsford Recreation Centre on Wednesday. Photograph by: Les Bazso, PNG, Vancouver SunEver since it was known the 2010 Winter Olympics were coming to Vancouver, the City of Abbotsford has been actively promoting itself as the ideal spot for pre-Games training.
With the high-profile Russian figure skating team as its anchor tenant, Abbotsford believes it has hit a home run.
When it comes to the Olympics the Russians are the New York Yankees of figure skating.
Since 1964 they've won a total of 23 gold medals. That includes four Winter Olympics in which they took home the title in three of the four disciplines.
"We're delighted to have captured both the Russian figure skaters and the Japanese short track speed skaters [who came early and have already left]," commented Mayor George Peary earlier this week. "Watching these athletes train is probably as close to the Olympics as many of our citizens will get. We're very excited to have them here."
The people of Abbotsford seem to have taken Peary's words to heart. The twice-daily Russian practices are open to the public. But due to the limited seating at the Abbotsford Recreation Centre, viewing has been restricted to the glassed-in Mezzanine Level at one end of the rink.
Arena staff have been allowing a small group at a time into the viewing area on a rotating basis. That hasn't stopped many others from watching the workouts from outside the arena through the large windows.
While the Abbotsford Rec Centre offers many of the amenities the Russians were looking for -- such as a gymnasium and weight room for dry land training -- the big attraction is the Olympic-sized ice surface.
The Russian Figure Skating Federation made the initial approach for a pre-Games site to a provincial group known as Hosting B.C., a department of 2010 Legacies Now. From there, Tourism Abbotsford took over and put together a package that included ice time at the Rec Centre and accommodation at the Ramada Plaza and Conference Centre. One specific additional request by the Russians was to see a hockey game. Tonight, the skaters and coaches will watch the AHL Heat take on Chris Chelios and the Chicago Wolves at the new Entertainment and Sports Centre.
In return, the Russians are giving back to the community. Some of the coaches have agreed to put on a clinic for the local figure skating club.
The skaters will also be attending a meet and greet session with the public Sunday afternoon at the Rec Centre. By coincidence, about the time the public greeting session is finished, the Olympic torch relay is scheduled to pass by the arena.
"We've had to dislocate some local groups to clear ice time for both the Japanese and Russians," explains Peary. "But that's been a very small price to pay. It's wonderful the way the community has got behind this. We formed a volunteer group to assist the athletes while they're here and we had over 600 applications for just 55 positions. The excitement about having the athletes here is palpable."
"We're very pleased with everything," says Russian team leader Dr. Sergey Kononykhin, who is also a vice-president of the Russian Federation. "All the facilities have been at a very high level."
Over the next two weeks the Russian skaters will be arriving and departing in groups as they move on to the Athletes Village.
The first to arrive were the pairs skaters, whose event is up first on the competition menu. Working out daily are the three Russian Olympic pairs teams -- reigning world bronze medallists Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov; Maria Mukhortova and partner Maxim Trankov and the third Russian entry of Vera Bazarova and Yuri Larionov.
Defending Olympic men's champion Evgeni Plushenko, however, will not be coming to Abbotsford but will be going directly to the Athletes Village.The 27-year-old Kavaguti and the 25-year-old Smirnov have been having a spectacular season. After winning the Russian title shortly after Christmas they have since won gold at the European championships -- in the process upsetting the two-time reigning world champion Germans Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy.
Legendary Russian pairs coach Tamara Moskvina, who coaches Kavaguti and Smirnov, is also impressed with the Abbotsford setup.
"These camps are very important," says the coach of four different Olympic gold medal teams -- including Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze, who shared the pairs gold in 2002 with Canada's Jamie Sale and David Pelletier. "Because of the 11-hour time difference between here and Russia it takes time to get the body ready for competition. The arrangements here are very good."
The Russian pairs team of Maria Mukhortova and Maxim Trankov practise a twist lift. Photograph by: Les Bazso, PNG, Vancouver Sun--------------------------------------------------------------
http://www2.canada.com/abbotsfordtimes/ ... 6751b8e77dJean Konda-Witte, The Times - Friday, February 05, 2010Russians dazzle crowds
Ladies and ice dancers set to arrive this weekThe excitement at the Abbotsford Recreation Centre is not letting up anytime soon, as more Russian skaters are coming to town Saturday and next Friday to begin their training for the Olympics.
Each day, the ARC has been averaging about 700 people per two-hour training session, for the Russian figure skaters and Japanese speed skaters, as folks crowd into the mezzanine overlooking the arena to get a glimpse of some of the world's best skaters.
And residents have also rubbed elbows with the athletes as the Russians have been making good use of the ARC for dry land training.Marina, a trainer on staff at ARC is from Russia, and she's been working with the skaters.
"She has been fantastic liaisoning with them, giving them orientation to the weight room, assisting them with drills to isolate muscle groups they are wanting to work on," said Steve Kellock, Arena Operations manager.
Residents are not the only ones happy with the arrangement. The skaters are also pleased with the Abbotsford facility.
"They are very happy with their pre-Games training and with the way the city has managed to accommodate them," said Kellock.
One glitch that the staff at the ARC overcome quickly was the temperature inside the arena, which was colder than what the Russians were used to in their home arena in St. Petersburg, which is dedicated to figure skating.
"We've managed to accommodate them by getting some fans and more heating in the facility," said Kellock, adding they were able to adjust the ambient air temperature for them.
The Russian lead liaison Sergei spoke with Mayor George Peary on Wednesday and said he was quite pleased with the reception they've received and accommodations that the city has provided for them, said Kellock.
Area schools have been bussing students to the arena for a chance to watch the skaters, but schools in other districts have had to be turned away due to the high demand for viewing.
"We want to make sure we accommodate our local schools first," Kellock said.
Three sets of pairs skaters and one male single are currently training at ARC and the ice dancers will be arriving on Feb. 12 to begin their training.
Other athletes will arrive in Abbotsford tomorrow."They have not come as a collective group. They come in spurts," said Kellock.
Reactions from the fans have been extremely positive he added.
"[They have said] just how neat it is to be that close and have their own taste of the Olympics . . . they are not even interested in going into Vancouver. This is fantastic and they've had the opportunity here in the Fraser Valley."
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http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/stor ... 7&sponsor=By Bruce Constantineau, Vancouver Sun - February 5, 2010Russian-speaking hosts ensure skaters aren't lost in translationSalmon and vegetables for a hearty Russian breakfast? No problem.
Serve up that special meal in fluent Russian? Not so easy, so bring on the translators.
For the Abbotsford hotel hosting the Russian Olympic figure skating team, meeting special dietary requests for high-performance athletes isn't a challenge because it regularly hosts visiting American Hockey League teams.
But some of the skaters staying at the Ramada Plaza and Conference Centre speak little English, so at least one local Russian-speaking "community host" chaperones the skaters at all times to ensure communication is never a problem.
"The language issue is the biggest challenge for us because typically our international guests speak very good English," hotel sales director Christine Lane said. "The community hosts have taught our staff a few simple Russian words so we can at least say the basics like hello, goodbye and thank you."
She said
13 of the 28 Russian skaters and support staff arrived late Sunday and the rest of the team is expected by the end of this week, as it practises at the Abbotsford Recreation Centre until Feb. 17.The 2½-week stay in Abbotsford is expected to pump about $90,000 into the local economy. The visit comes on the heels of a nine-day stay by Japanese speed skaters, who also trained on the Olympic-sized ice at the ARC.
The Japanese stayed at the local Super 8 hotel because they wanted kitchens to prepare their own meals.
Lane said the Russian team members are a "fantastic bunch of people," very friendly but also very focused on their Olympic task at hand. The team will eat, sleep and receive physiotherapy at the hotel, but will also make time to attend community events.
They are scheduled to attend an Abbotsford Heat AHL hockey game on Friday and a community barbecue and torch relay event on Super Bowl Sunday.
"The community has already embraced them and we will do whatever we can to make their time here as seamless as possible," Lane said.
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http://www.mysask.com/portal/site/pc-sa ... cachetokenDirk Meissner, The Canadian Press - Sun, 7 Feb 2010 10:08:00 CSTOlympic hopefuls showing up throughout BC for some pre-Games training.... The Russian figure skating team has been in Abbotsford, in the Fraser Valley area east of Vancouver, since the beginning of the month. Described as the "rock stars" of the figure skating world,
the team has been drawing crowds to the Abbotsford Recreation Centre, where their practices have been open to the public for several hours a day.
City officials have estimated the Russians' pre-Olympics training camp is worth $88,000 in economic activity for Abbotsford, not including spending by fans who have flocked to town to see them skate for free....