Mass media representatives visited construction sites near the Krasnaya Polyana settlement as part of a press tour to the Olympic infrastructure facilities of Gazprom.
“This is a Finnish technology: the snow is gathered and covered with forty centimeter deep layer of special sawdust. Even at the temperatures of around 35 to 38 degrees centigrade only 10 to 15 per cent of the gathered snow thaws,” Vladimir Makarenko said. At the same time, Vladimir Makarenko noted that snow conservation was not an urgent measure. It was aimed at ensuring an absolute guarantee of snow in 2014. “Snow is always available in this area in February. We also have snow cannons efficient at sub-zero and even nearly zero degrees centigrade. But to be on the safe side, we decided to use this technology as well. If the experiment is successful, it will ensure a 100 per cent guarantee of snow even in case of abnormal warming in February.”
As part of the tour around Gazprom’s Olympic infrastructure facilities the mass media representatives were informed about the progress with the sports venues construction on the Psekhako Ridge. The Biathlon and Ski Complex construction activities on the Psekhako Ridge in the Krasnaya Polyana settlement are at the final stage. “The key construction and assembly activities at the Biathlon and Ski Complex are 80 per cent complete,” Vladimir Makarenko stated.
Matvey Geller, Head of the Special Projects and Studies Division under the Information and Communications Department of Gazprom also noted that, “The venues to be used for the sports competitions will be commissioned in late 2011 and first trial competitions will be held here as soon as in 2012.” The entire complex will be commissioned in 2013 when the workers finish construction of a motorway and a hotel complex for sportsmen.
The Biathlon and Ski Complex comprises: biathlon and ski stadiums, start and finish zones for each event, two isolated track systems, a biathlon shooting range and other sports and service infrastructure facilities. The complex can simultaneously receive 9,600 spectators. Moreover, the Program for Construction of Olympic Venues and Development of Sochi as a Mountain Climate Resort stipulates that a Mountain Olympic Village will be built in the vicinity of the Biathlon and Ski Complex on the Psekhako Ridge for accommodation of 1,100 sportsmen participating in ski and biathlon competitions.
Last year’s snow conservation technology: snow is covered with 40 centimeter deep layer of special sawdust