Russian ice sledge hockey team hold media master class

Coaches and players show members of the media equipment and how to play ice sledge hockey. 24 Aug 2013

"Shayba" Arena will host the Ice Sledge Hockey at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games

ⒸSochi 2014

By Sochi 2014

"I am very pleased that just six months before the first Paralympic Winter Games in Russian history, we held a master class for media representatives. The journalists will after all be a knowledge guide about the Paralympics and ice sledge hockey, which is only just gaining popularity in our country."

On the eve of the international "Four Nations" tournament in ice sledge hockey, the head coach of Russia, Sergey Samoylov and leading players of the team held a master class for media representatives at the Shayba Arena.

Reporters had a unique opportunity to not only try on equipment and to understand the differences, specifics and nuances of the sport, but also to practice with the team and assess the quality of the ice at the arena, which will host the Paralympic Winter Games in 2014 and is fully equipped for the needs of Paralympic athletes.

Russian national team players attended the master class including bronze medalist at the world championships and four-time bronze medalist at the Russian Championships, Dmitry Lisov, and the team captain and bronze medalist at the world and three-time winner of the Russian championships Vadim Selyukin.

Head coach of the Russian national ice sledge hockey team Sergey Samoylov said:

"I am very pleased that just six months before the first Paralympic Winter Games in Russian history, we held a master class for media representatives. The journalists will after all be a knowledge guide about the Paralympics and ice sledge hockey, which is only just gaining popularity in our country. Today's master class at which they learned more about the rules of the ice sledge hockey will certainly contribute to promoting the sport and the Paralympic Movement in general."

The international "Four Nations" Ice Sledge Hockey Tournament will be staged in Sochi between 26 August and 1 September. The tournament will not only open the pre-Olympic season, but will be the last of a series of test events for Paralympic sports before the Games. The competition will bring together teams from Russia, Canada, the Czech Republic and Norway.

The "Four Nations" tournament will allow the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee to fully test Shayba Arena for the readiness to take on the highest level of the first-ever Russian Paralympic Games in 2014.