OREANDA-NEWS. On May 31, 2008 President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko attended the ceremony of opening of Belarus’ biggest ice arena in the town of Bobruisk, reported the Official website http://president.gov.by. 

The new sports complex Bobruisk-Arena, which seats 7,000 spectators, is a unique facility in Belarus. It is possible to hold not only nation-wide and international events in more than 15 types of sport there, but also to stage cultural and entertainment events.

The President deems it remarkable that this big sports facility has been completed and commissioned in the Year of Health. This temple of Health has come in due time: Children, the youth and the older generation will visit it. Everyone will be able to train there and spend time to their benefit, said the President. A great opportunity has been created here for cultivating new sport starts and sporting traditions.

The President had a tour of the sports complex, visited the sports gym and choreographic gymnasium, sports cloak-rooms and the cafe.

According to the Head of State, the new ice arena should have its own ice hockey club whose members could train here. Later on the arena could run on its own financial resources, without any financial input from outside. In this respect, it is necessary to study the history of the world’s leading ice hockey clubs and invite foreign teams to give training sessions here.

The opening of the new up-to-date sports complex will give a powerful impetus to the development of sport in the town of Bobruisk and in the entire region, the President said.

Alexander Lukashenko was awarded a symbolic key to the complex, which he handed over to young ice hockey players who together with the Head of State participated in the ceremony of burring a capsule with a message to descendants in the foundation of the palace in October 2006.
Later in the day the President visited the territory adjacent to the Bobruisk-Arena to see the progress in developing the sports infrastructure in Boboruisk.