Moscow is sporty.

Victoria Golovina

Since the mid-20s of the last century, sports facilities in our capital have been welcoming not only Soviet (and then Russian) athletes, but also representatives of the sports community from all over the world. Moscow sports complexes have repeatedly opened their doors for European Championships, World Championships, various festivals and even the Olympic Games, not to mention various events of a cultural and mass nature.

Despite the huge number of sports facilities, both existing and under construction, today in Moscow we can conditionally distinguish several of the largest, so-called, «sports zones»: the Luzhniki Olympic Complex, the Krylatskoye Sports Complex, the Olympic Sports Complex, the CSKA Universal Sports Complex and the Dynamo Sports Complex, Sokolniki-Izmailovo (the Izmailovo Universal Sports and Entertainment Complex and the Sokolniki Sports Complex), the Bitsa Equestrian Sports Complex.

Luzhniki Olympic Complex

Today, Luzhniki is one of the largest sports and entertainment complexes in the world.
Located in a picturesque area of ​​Moscow, it occupies an area of ​​over 145 hectares and consists of 140 different sports facilities that serve a total of over 3.5 thousand people.

The transformation of the Luzhniki bend of the Moscow River, which had previously housed warehouses, barracks, vacant lots and dumps, began in April 1955. In two years, first-class sports facilities were built in their place, and a vast park was created.
The project for the sports complex was developed and implemented by a large group of architects and engineers (I. Rozhin, A. Khryakov, N. Ullas, V. Nasonov, N. Reznikov, V. Polikarpov) under the leadership of A. Vlasov. All participants in the project were awarded the Lenin Prize for this work. Despite the scale of construction, the project was completed in record time (1955–1956).

However, by the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games, when it was decided to use Luzhniki as the central arena for wrestling, the sports facilities of the complex were reconstructed and modernized. The opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games were held at the Grand Sports Arena.

As already mentioned, the stadium complex includes about 140 different structures, but the main ensemble consists of: the Grand Sports Arena, and on its sides are the Small Sports Arena and an open-air swimming pool.
The Grand Sports Arena is the largest structure in Luzhniki. Oval in plan, it includes a football pitch, a running track, and sectors for jumping and throwing projectiles.

The stands can simultaneously accommodate more than 100 thousand spectators. The football field has a natural grass cover, and the running tracks and athletics sectors are covered with synthetic materials. After the relatively recent reconstruction, the stands for spectators and commentators' booths have become more comfortable and beautiful. 86-meter masts for floodlights have been erected. Light boards (of the latest design for the duration of the work) and information and communication equipment have been installed.
Numerous rooms intended for servicing athletes have been updated.

Since even during competitions their life consists not only of training and performances, Luzhniki has a network of cafes, restaurants, a sports equipment store, a sports museum, a cinema and other related facilities that allow you to play sports in the most comfortable way.

The largest reconstruction work was carried out on the Small Arena, which is now open all year round. Based on the old frame, a new indoor hall was created — the Small Sports Palace — with a four-story extension designed for 9 thousand spectators. Summer sports competitions are held on the green carpet, and the installed refrigeration devices allow it to be turned into an ice rink for hockey and figure skating. Two training halls are also provided.

The second largest building of the stadium is the Sports Palace. It hosts world, European, and Russian championships in various types of competitions, as well as competitions in basketball, volleyball, boxing, wrestling, artistic and rhythmic gymnastics, track and field and weightlifting, figure skating, hockey, and fencing. During the operation of the Sports Palace, more than 50 million spectators have visited it. Its stands can accommodate 12 thousand spectators, not counting the parterre, which can be transformed into an ice field or an arena for track and field performances. The Sports Palace is perhaps the most popular building in Luzhniki.

It serves with equal success for mass films, film screenings, concerts, ice ballet performances, and variety programs. The swimming pool has also been reconstructed. Thanks to this, it has become possible to hold water polo competitions. The diving pool has also been expanded.

The infrastructure of Luzhniki can be described endlessly: it includes the indoor training rink «Kristall» for year-round use, and a tennis town with courts and training walls. Next to the courts is the universal sports hall «Druzhba» for competitions in 12 sports, with a hall whose stands can be transformed depending on the type of competition and can accommodate from one and a half to three thousand seats. Below are training rooms, saunas with massage rooms and other auxiliary services.
Young athletes were not left without attention either – the area behind the Sports Palace has been given over to children’s playgrounds.
All sports complex facilities are constantly updated in accordance with market trends. This includes not only scheduled repairs, but also monitoring trends related to technical re-equipment and their subsequent use at the facility. In particular, in pursuance of the requirements of the Federal Law «On Energy Saving», a decision was made to develop a program to improve energy efficiency and manage the implementation of the «Luzhniki Olympic Complex» program.

Based on the concluded contracts, the following work was carried out:
– energy audit of the «Luzhniki Olympic Complex» facilities (the survey made it possible to determine the level of energy efficiency of the facilities, obtain data on the energy saving potential and determine the most effective ways to use it).
– an energy passport of the enterprise was compiled (the passport was compiled in accordance with GOST and describes the functioning of the energy sector. Selection of areas for improving energy efficiency, their definition and ranking by level. An assessment of the economic efficiency of the measures was carried out).
– a Program for improving the energy efficiency of OJSC «Olympic Complex «Luzhniki» for the period 2006-2010 was developed.
– a concept for the Program was developed, goals and objectives were formulated, the content was compiled, initial data and forms of data presentation were determined.
– fundamental (organizing) documents (letters) to the relevant organizations have been prepared and signed.
– principles of work and interaction in the areas have been defined. Formation of a working group.
– agreement on the relevance of the Program and its approval.

Based on the results of the implementation of the Program projects in 2006 – energy audits to assess the actual energy efficiency achieved and correction of the Program in order to continue implementation until the completion of the work.
There is no doubt that the work being carried out to develop the facility requires significant capital investment, which will pay off sooner or later. And, you must admit, the end result is worth keeping up with the times with the title of the largest sports and entertainment complex in the world.

Sports Complex «Krylatskoye»

The sports complex «Krylatskoye» includes several large facilities.
Indoor Cycling Track (authors: N. Voronina and A. Ospennikov). It is a large-span structure, the size of which can be judged by the fact that two football fields could be placed under its roof. The structure resembles a giant butterfly.

The expressiveness is given by two saddle-shaped membrane shells, fixed on arches that do not have internal supports. The stands can accommodate 6 thousand spectators. The referee rooms and the press center are located under them. The Krylatskoye Cycling Track has a surface (333.3 meters long and 10 meters wide) covered with larch wood. This allows cyclists to reach speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour.

The sports zone complex includes a circular bike track. Its surface is laid on the hills (the track is 13.5 km long, 7 meters wide, and twice as wide at the finish kilometer). Cyclists will have a field day here – they can train or just ride to their heart's content. Cars are not allowed on the bike track.

For fans of this kind of sport, a car track for “survival races” has been built on the territory of Krylatskoye relatively recently. On this track, racers must make maximum efforts to overcome it. The Olympic archery field is a flat lawn with almost 100 targets at distances of 30, 50, 60, 70 and 90 meters.

Nearby is the Rowing Canal with covered stands, where Olympic competitions in rowing, kayaking and canoeing were held. The Rowing Canal in Krylatskoye was built in 1973 for the next European Rowing Championship. It immediately won recognition in the sports world (authors of the project: architects V. Kuzmin, V. Kolesnik, I. Rozhin, A. Yastrebov). Its length is 2300 meters, width — 125 meters. In the finish zone, stands for 3400 seats are built with a canopy. In addition to the main track intended for competitions, the Moscow Rowing Canal also has a return track (a rare detail for such structures) 75 meters wide. You can go along it to the start, warm up or train without disturbing the participants of the races.

On the picturesque hills adjacent to the tracks there is a skiing center – “Moscow Elbrus Region”.
In mid-September 2004, a new ultra-modern indoor speed skating complex was added to the Olympic facilities of the 80s.

The indoor skating rink of the Krylatskoye Sports Complex is one of the largest ice stadiums in the world, meeting all modern requirements for holding speed skating competitions of the highest level: the Olympic Games, World Championships, European Championships and World Cups. It is the first and, at present, unique facility in Russia.

The rink was designed and built as a universal facility for training and competitions in six ice sports. However, its construction was justified, first of all, by the need to create a rink in Russia for the implementation of training and competition processes for speed skaters, which is not inferior in ice speed indicators to the leading European flat rinks.

In order to imagine the scale of this facility, it is enough to cite just a few impressive figures:
– the total area of ​​the facility together with the adjacent territory is 7.7 hectares;
– the total area of ​​the Ice Arena building is 37,000 sq.m;
– construction volume is 394,000 sq.m;
– roof area is 26,000 sq.m;
– hall volume is 297,000 sq.m;
– area of ​​spectator stands is 4,200 sq.m;
– the complex consists of 5 levels: 0 (1st floor), 3.9m (2nd floor), 13m (3rd floor), 18m (4th floor), 21.5m (5th floor);
– the height of the “L” shaped support with high-strength ropes supporting the roof is almost 72 meters;.
– the internal height of the roof is 27.6 m;
– the area of ​​the ice rink is 12,000 sq.m;
– the ice rink includes: a 400-meter track, a 250-meter children's track and a hockey box (30x60m) and an ice circle for practicing turns, as well as two uncooled zones;
– ice thickness is 3-4 cm;
– the total capacity of the refrigeration machines to ensure optimal ice temperature is 1.7 megawatts;
– number of seats for spectators: along the start-finish line there is a single-tier large (3 storeys high) main stand with a total capacity of about 4,000 seats (31 rows).

The grandstand contains VIP seats, press seats and a glass judges' box. At the opposite straight there is a grandstand with 10 rows with a capacity of about 1,800 seats (including 33 seats for wheelchair users). On the two bends there are grandstands with 5 and 6 rows with a total capacity of about 1,700 seats. Initially, the grandstands on the bends were designed to be standing, but just before the end of construction it was decided to install seating on the bends, and the total number became 8,000;
– an open parking lot for 1,500 cars.

The first skating rink in Moscow, the country, and the largest in Europe has become the embodiment of all the latest technological developments. One of the most important criteria for the level of the stadium is the quality of the ice being poured. During the construction and design of the complex, the most modern and latest innovations in the technology of refrigeration and water treatment of the complex were used.
Even during the construction, before commissioning (July 24, 2004), the first test ice pouring was carried out. The potential of the complex allows it to be compared with the fastest ice arenas in the world, such as: in Nagano, Salt Lake City, Calgary.

Another feature of the arena complex is the ability to simultaneously fill all components of the ice field (400-meter track, 250-meter track, hockey box (30x60m)), hockey field for bandy (100×70 m), and each separately.

The high sports results achieved depend on many important factors: the human factor, the complex of refrigeration equipment used, the ventilation and air conditioning system, the well-coordinated operation of numerous electronic equipment, and much, much more.

The sports arena of the Krylatskoye complex was built using the latest technology and has already received a number of awards and prizes.
The complex was recognized as a laureate of the main architectural award of Russia «Zodchestvo 2004», and became the winner of the Grand Prix according to the results of the competition «Sports Industry of Russia — 2004».

Its track record includes the first victory of Russian tennis players in the World Team Championship (FED CUP-2004), the European Junior Games, the World Cup qualifying tournament and the Russian Speed ​​Skating Championship, the apotheosis of which was the 2005 World Championship among the strongest all-rounders of the planet. A number of presentations and other corporate events of leading Russian and foreign companies and organizations took place here. Since the opening of the ice complex, training sessions of the Russian national speed skaters (including preparation for the 2006 Olympic Games) and training camps of bandy teams from many regions of the country are regularly held on the ice. And the coaching staff already has the opportunity to plan the training process on the ice for the future.

In addition to what has already been done on the territory of the sports complex, new golf courses are planned to be built in Krylatskoye in the near future.

Olympic Sports Complex

The sports complex is an important social facility for the city and its prestige. It was built for the XXII Olympic Games in 1980.
The giant indoor stadium «Olympic» is located on an area of ​​20 hectares. The stadium has an oval shape (its largest diameter is 224 m, the smallest is 183 m). The peculiarity and uniqueness of the object is in the engineering solution for creating the roof. This is done with the help of a membrane made of a thin steel sheet (the idea of ​​the outstanding Russian engineer V.G. Shukhov), which is supported by a reinforced concrete contour ring, reinforced with metal columns along the entire perimeter of the building. The membrane area is 33,000 sq.m. The entire sports complex on Mira Avenue was designed by a team of architects and engineers headed by B. Thor under the general supervision of the architect M. Posokhin.

The stadium can accommodate up to 45 thousand spectators.

The arena, with an area of ​​about 11,500 square meters, can accommodate football. Track and field competitions can be held, and the installed refrigeration units will quickly build up ice for a hockey match or figure skating competition.

The arena is divided to the ceiling by a sliding acoustic partition, which helps to create two isolated sports halls, where different types of sports events can be held simultaneously.

The indoor swimming pool of the same name is almost directly adjacent to the stadium. Inside, in two halls separated by a permanent partition, there are two baths: for swimming (50×25 m) and for diving (23×25 m). The stands in the swimming competition area accommodate 10 thousand people, and in the diving hall — 5 thousand people.

The building has gyms, heating baths, two channels with regulated water flow for training top-class masters, 3 baths for children, etc. More than 600 people can work out in the pool at the same time.

The sports facilities of the complex host competitions from city to international level in 22 sports. Its portfolio includes such major competitions as: «Olympics-80», «Friendship-84», «Goodwill Games-86», World Underwater Swimming Championships, European Synchronized Swimming Championships, World Youth Ice Hockey Championships, World International Bandy Tournaments, World Short Course Swimming Championships, National Artistic Gymnastics Cups and Championships, World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, international tennis tournaments «Kremlin Cup», «Davis» Cups, including semi-finals and finals, International Fitness Conventions, etc. Its arena has set 35 world records, 12 Olympic records and 33 European records. «Olympic» is the base for Olympic training in 6 sports.

The complex has also gone down in history as a unique venue for various stage performances.

Universal Sports Complex CSKA

Initially, the CSKA sports complex was an army sports town, in addition to the existing sports facilities (gymnastics arena, indoor skating rink, indoor swimming pool), in anticipation of the 1980 Olympics, the CSKA Sports Palace (for 5 thousand spectators) and an indoor football and track and field complex with two arenas were built. The authors of the project are a team led by the honored architect Yu. Krivushchenko, who took an active part in the design of the entire CSKA sports complex.

The Palace building has very impressive dimensions. Its length is 320 m, width is 120 m, the height is comparable to the height of a five-six-story building. The sports arena meets all the requirements for holding international competitions of the highest rank and allows for competitions and training in basketball, mini-football, volleyball, handball, tennis, gymnastics and artistic gymnastics, boxing, wrestling, fencing, martial arts and other sports.

The arena is being transformed to host dance sport competitions and other spectacular events. It is a recognized venue for all matches involving the Russian Champions – the CSKA men's basketball team. The sports complex has excellent conditions for spectators, athletes, judges and members of the press.

The complex includes two sports halls, primarily intended to provide training for students of the CSKA Olympic Reserve Children's and Youth Sports School.

Today, the indoor CSKA Track and Field and Football Complex (LFK) is a unique sports facility. Under its roof are two large indoor arenas: one for track and field and one for football. The arenas are multifunctional and can be transformed to host competitions in virtually any sport that is held indoors.

The athletics arena is equipped with the latest generation of MONDO type flooring, which allows for holding international level athletics competitions (200-meter running tracks and sectors for throwing and jumping). The winter qualifying athletics tournament was successfully held here in March 2003, and in January 2004 and 2005 the indoor athletics competitions «Russian Winter» were held, and Russian championships and youth indoor championships are held here.

The Football Arena is a sports ground with a synthetic surface. Mini-football is played here. The stands of each arena can accommodate 4,000 people, the balcony – 1,850 people. Both arenas are equipped with light boards.

It is also necessary to mention the Ice Complex. The sports ice arena hosts figure skating championships: in September 2003, the third Russian championship in jumping elements (figure skating) was held here. A press center is equipped.

The complex also has indoor tennis courts. During the renovation in 2003, the indoor courts were equipped with a taraflex surface, and fans of outdoor games can train on 6-year-old tennis courts (covering: clay — 4, asphalt — 2), each measuring 40×20 m. All courts are illuminated.

The arenas are combined with the administrative building, where changing rooms, showers and other auxiliary facilities are equipped.
There is also a handball and mini-football hall, a rhythmic gymnastics hall, a weightlifting hall, a karate hall and a conference hall (for 150 seats).

Dynamo Central Stadium

The Dynamo stadium was built back in 1928. Over 70 years, it has hosted 120 million spectators. Almost 30 thousand tournaments and competitions of various levels in 20 sports have taken place here, with over 30 million athletes taking part. The project by architects A. Langman and L. Cherikover was clearly influenced by constructivism, which is evident in the composition of the structure, which is devoid of any decorative ornaments.

Later, the stadium was reconstructed several times. Particularly large-scale works were carried out for the Olympics-80. Lighting masts with rows of powerful spotlights rose high, allowing the broadcasting of competitions held at night. During the next reconstruction, the latest information equipment was installed, and the stands for 54 thousand spectators were updated.
The complex includes the Small Sports Arena, designed for 10,000 spectators. During the modernization process, artificial grass was laid for playing field hockey. Next to it, a large indoor arena was put into operation for training sessions in gymnastics, team sports, figure skating and ice hockey.

And finally, the Dynamo Sports Palace, which opened in 1980 (the work of architects I. Mikhalev, V. Milashevsky, E. Rozanov, E. Chivikov). An innovative design solution helped to create an expressive, dynamic, original architectural image. The silhouette of this hexagon resembles wings raised in flight. Under its roof on hanging trusses, in addition to a demonstration arena with stands for 5 thousand seats, training halls and other premises were located.

Sports Complex «Sokolniki»

In one of the largest parks of culture and recreation in Moscow «Sokolniki» in the early 70s, the walls of the sports complex «Sokolniki» were erected. The palace was built according to the design of architects V. Nesterov, A. Polovnikov and B. Shapiro.

The roof of the structure, supported by metal tubular columns, seems to float above the complex. Wide approaches, gallery stairs-ramps, light supports and the ceiling that unites them, aluminum exterior finish create a memorable image of a modern sports facility. The stands can accommodate 11 thousand spectators. Glassed-in sports commentator booths and equipment rooms rise above the western stand. On the eve of the 1980 Olympics, it was completely reconstructed.

The palace is a multifunctional structure and can be used to host competitions in various sports:
from boxing to volleyball.

The technical capabilities of the complex attracted everyone's attention and made it possible to hold such important sporting events as:
Russian Hockey Championship among teams of the major league masters; the international «Spartak Cup» in hockey; the Moscow City Hockey Championship and Cup; the Russian Championship, Championship and Cup with exhibition performances of Russian, European, World and Olympic champions in figure skating; as well as the Moscow City Championship and Cup in this sport.

Today, the modern, re-equipped Sokolniki complex includes:
– an ice palace (capacity 4,710 seats), including an ice rink, a health complex and gyms equipped according to the European model;
– an indoor training skating rink;
– an outdoor hockey rink;
– a handball court;
– tennis courts.

In just a few hours, the ice arena can be transformed into a concert hall or re-equipped to host any event. Every year, more than 500,000 people visit about 150 open events held at the Sokolniki Sports Complex.

The main objective of the Sports Palace is to promote physical education, sports and a healthy lifestyle. The Sokolniki Sports Palace hosts sports and concert events, entertainment programs aimed at raising the moral and cultural level of citizens, sports education of the younger generation, and provides an opportunity for active family recreation for Muscovites and guests of the capital.

Sports complex «Izmailovo»

To the east of Sokolniki there is another sports complex – “Izmailovo”. A number of sports facilities are concentrated here. Among them are a universal sports hall; a stadium designed for 26 thousand spectators; and a sports and educational complex. The project of the unique sports hall was developed by architects I. Gunst and N. Smirnov. After the end of the Olympic Games, it became part of the sports and educational complex of the Institute of Physical Education, which includes buildings for various purposes – educational buildings, sports halls, dormitories.

The universal hall is designed for 5 thousand spectators. After the XXII Olympic Games, it was equipped with an arena for playing mini-football and a hall for choreography classes. The hall has a medical center, saunas, swimming pools, connected to the premises where athletes perform, train and relax. The sports complex perfectly fulfills its function of preparing future athletes, being a «home» site for young champions.

Equestrian Sports Complex «Bitsa»

And finally, we got to, probably, one of the most interesting complexes, located near the Severnoye Chertanovo district, the Equestrian Sports Complex «Bitsa». And it is interesting, first of all, because its arena hosts sports competitions not only between people, but also with the participation of representatives of the animal world.

Light, graceful buildings fit perfectly into the picturesque landscape. The main entrance is decorated with a monumental bronze composition — a trio of horses taking an obstacle (the work of the sculptor Z. Tsereteli).

The center of the architectural ensemble is the stadium for show jumping competitions. Its stands are designed for 5 thousand spectators (during the Olympics, their number was increased to 12 thousand by temporary structures).
The complex also has a steeplechase circle with open training arenas and warm-up areas, an indoor arena with stands for 3,000 seats, a hotel, a swimming pool, a gym, a shooting range for training, performances and competitions. It was designed by architects L. Dyubek, Yu. Ivanov, A. Kegler, A. Shapiro. Construction began in 1977, and the official opening took place on July 4, 1980.

The Bitsa Equestrian Sports Complex is the largest equestrian complex in Europe located within the city limits and covers an area of ​​about 50 hectares.
The Specialized Children's and Youth Olympic Reserve School (SDYUSHOR) «Bitsa» in equestrian sports operates on its basis. It specializes in both the development of mass youth sports and high-performance sports in two types of equestrian sports: dressage and jumping. The third discipline, vaulting, is actively developing.

The Equestrian Sports Complex «Bitsa» regularly hosts competitions of various ranks in jumping, dressage and vaulting (from amateur tournaments to Championships and Cups of Russia, Stages of international competitions). All categories of riders take part in the tournaments:
children, young people, juniors, professional and amateur athletes. In May 2004, the Bitsa Sports Complex hosted the show jumping and track and field cross-country competitions of the World Modern Pentathlon Championships, which ended with a brilliant victory for the Russian team.

Also, in addition to specialized facilities, the complex has a 25-meter swimming pool with 6 lanes. The maximum depth of the pool is 1.65 m, the minimum is 0.85 m, which allows you to safely teach children swimming, starting from 7-8 years old.

And in conclusion

Of course, it is impossible to list all the stadiums, sports clubs and sites of Moscow, just as it is impossible to tell about all the records, world achievements and major victories set and won in their arenas. One thing is certain — sport has become an integral part of the city's life, firmly entrenched in the life of every family.

Moscow is the address of the largest competitions, Spartakiads, world championships and continental championships (it is not without reason that the title of the capital of the Olympic Games came to Moscow naturally and inevitably, as a missing link in the chain of historical sporting milestones of our people).
Moscow's sports facilities are very numerous, spacious, diverse, and meet the high technical requirements of our time.
They have honorably passed the tests of the VI and XII World Festivals of Youth and Students in 1957 and 1985, the World Spartakiad, the international competitions «Friendship-84», the Olympics-80 and many, many other competitions.

Today, the construction and reconstruction of sports facilities of various sizes (from fitness centers to high-tech ice palaces) is proceeding at a particularly rapid pace. This is due not only to the realization that many facilities are morally and technically outdated. An important role was also played by the state policy, aimed primarily at improving the health of the nation as a whole, and confirming the glory of a sporty and strong state.

Victoria Golovina