Medeu

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Updated On :08 Apr, 2021

Full Name
Medeu

Capacity
8,500

Type
Outdoor

Location
Almaty, Almaty, Kazakhstan

Surface Type
Ice

The Medeu is located in a mountain valley, on the outskirts of Almaty, Kazakhstan (1,691 meters above sea-level). It is an outdoor speed skating and bandy rink. The Medeu is spread across an area of 10.5 thousand square meters of ice and has a sophisticated freezing and watering system. Built in 1951, the arena has been named after Medeo, a wanderer who established a village at the site in the last century. The arena is owned by the City of Almaty and has been renovated three times (in 1972, 2003, and 2009).

Trivia

Near the ice rink, there is a dam known as the Medeu Dam which was built in the late 90s. It protects the venue as well as the city from mud flows. Moreover, the viewpoints on the top of the dam provide an excellent view of the skating rink.
Originally, Medeu was a natural ice rink which was transformed into an artificial rink in 1972.

Significance

In between 1951-1980, the Medeu has seen several world records in speed skating of distances 500 m, 3000 m, 5000 m, and 10000 m.
The stadium hosted its first competition on 4th February 1951.
In 2011, it hosted the Bandy tournament of Asian Winter Games.
The arena is the home for the bandy team Dynamo Alma-Ata. The team won the Soviet Championship in 1977 and 1990. The Dynamos also won the European Cup in 1978.
The stadium was the main arena for the 2012 Bandy World Championship. In the final game, Sweden won over Russia by 5-4.
The Medeu is also one of the best-known tourist spots in Kazakhstan. It is open throughout the year for the public where skating can be done both during the day and night.
The Medeu has been selected to host the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2017 Winter Universiade.