Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- ICE ARENA, the second largest ice palace in Uzbekistan after Humo Arena, will open in Samarkand on 20-21 March.

The multifunctional ice arena will be opened within the framework of the Family Park thematic entertainment center with the assistance of the Ice Hockey Federation of Uzbekistan. This is the first ice arena in Samarkand that meets international requirements and standards for various sports events, including hockey matches, as well as concerts and other entertainment and social projects.

The implementation of the global initiative of the President of the Republic on the physical recovery of the nation, the development of sports and physical education, in the past 5 years has resulted in an unprecedented increase in attention for the Republic of sports in general and to winter sports, in particular, from the state, private business and, as a result, the growth of their popularity among the population. During this period, such flagships of winter sports as the capital’s Humo Arena and the Amirsay ski complex appeared in the country, the Yubileiny ice palace in Tashkent is being reconstructed.

Popularization of hockey in the country is one of the main tasks of the Hockey Federation of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The new ice arena will become part of the plans announced by the Federation in 2018 to create ice rinks in all major regional centers of the country. Unlike most ice rinks located in shopping centers, in Samarkand the project is implemented as a full-fledged ice arena capable of accommodating up to 2 thousand spectators, with all the necessary infrastructure that allows not only the training process, but also the competition of professional hockey teams at a fairly high level.

The arena includes a VIP box, a fitness room, a choreography hall, an entrance area, and auxiliary facilities that meet international hockey arena requirements. The grandstand has a capacity of 1900 people. Note that in the near future, a children’s hockey school will be opened in this arena, under the patronage of the FHU.

“We start our work in Samarkand with the creation of a children’s hockey school, because the development of children’s hockey is a strategic priority for the Federation. Attracting as many children as possible to our sport, laying the foundation for the future of Uzbek hockey through the upbringing of the first generation of our national hockey players are plans that should become a reality in 12-15 years,” says Bakhodir Gafurov, First Vice President of the Hockey Federation of Uzbekistan. “We really hope that hockey will come to Samarkand for a long time and win the hearts of the inhabitants of this beautiful ancient city”.

The program of the ceremonial opening of the ice arena in Samarkand is designed for two days and includes performances by hockey players from children’s hockey clubs in Tashkent, an ice show from the famous Olympic medalists Povilas Vanagas and Margarita Drobyazko, Uzbek pop stars, as well as a long-awaited concert by specially invited artists - Jony, Elman and Andro.