Almaty, KAZ
31 October - 3 November 2014
Late October, a flying visit to meet Dr Vissarion Kim, to inspect the Ski Jumping and Cross Country stadia in Almaty, and generally prepare for the World Nordic Junior Championships next February.
A long flight, but with British Airways - and with room to spread out, at least on the way. Arrived at 9am to be met by smiling faces - Dr Kim and his wife Alla, who I came very quickly to recognise as a soulmate. I was given a couple of hours to get over the jet lag, at the Hotel Alpen Ville (bears, wolves and stags of the properly stuffed variety guarding the entrances), and was then taken out to visit the local hospital, and the clinical staff.
I was also treated to a magnificent Kazakh feast of a lunch, meat based, and largely of the equine variety.
The Ski Jumping Stadium is truly state-of-the-art, and whilst the CC arena is far from completed (and is to be temporary), it is starting to take shape. The views from both over the city of Almaty are truly stupendous.
Vissarion and Alla also ensured that I saw something of Almaty itself - I found it to be a modern, leafy town, with little in the way of high-rise building. We found good shopping malls, good coffee shops, and a beautiful cathedral made entirely of wood.
Almaty is a candidate for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, and having seen many of the necessary facilities on this visit, I am impressed with its chances of success. I visited Tabagan, proposed site for Fresstyle/Snopwboard, and also Chimulak, the Alpine area no more than 30minutes drive from Almaty where it is proposed that the Alpine events will take place.
Could these be the views from the DH course in Almaty 2022???
And below the brand new cable car, a glimpse of one of the city's ice rinks, teeming with people:
An interesting and enjoyable site visit! Finally, we played table tennis in Alla's club. I failed this test, but had a thoroughly good time trying!! Back in February 2015....
