Star skaters bring Russian winter to Kensington this summer

 
Ice dance: Sochi.Park in Kensington Gardens will feature a “ride” to the 2014 Games site
Matthew Beard21 June 2012

A roll-call of Russian ice skating stars will dance in a London park as part of a £10 million showcase for the next winter Olympics, it was announced today.

Former World and Olympic champions will perform twice daily at a 1,200-capacity outdoor arena in Kensington Gardens to promote the 2014 Games in Sochi.

The “winter wonderland” themed park — which will open during the London Games — will also feature a virtual chairlift ride to the mountains of the Russian resort.

Russian Olympics chiefs said bringing the snow-and-ice theme to London in the height of summer underlined their ambitions for the Sochi Games — the country’s first Olympics in the post-Soviet era. Situated in the shadows of the Albert Memorial, “Sochi.Park” will draw 10,000 visitors a day.

It will comprise the ice-rink, a vast exhibition centre, an Olympic megastore and a VIP lounge.

Using the latest 4-D technology, visitors will be given a virtual tour of Russia ending in Sochi — a seaside holiday resort whose Krasnodar mountains will host the Alpine events.

The ice dance show — the biggest staged outside Russia — will feature 24 Olympic and world champions including Roman Kostomarov and Tatiana Navka.

Tickets, priced £20 for adults, will go on sale soon for two daily shows — one for children and families and an evening spectacular.

To underline Russia’s determination to make its presence felt in London — notwithstanding the likely non-appearance of President Vladimir Putin — its Olympic Committee will also stage a festival on Kensington Palace’s lawns.

Dmitry Chernyshenko, president of Sochi 2014, told the Standard: “Everybody will be welcome, including Londoners and international tourists and sport lovers to enjoy a spectacular ice show featuring the cream of Russia’s Olympic skating champions. Our mission is to showcase the winter Games when the entire Olympic movement is in London.”

Sochi.Park will be open from July 26 to August 12.

Westminster council granted planning permission this week.

The site will shut at 10pm in line with the curfew for the nearby “Africa Village” which will be the party location for fans of the 53 African nations.

The Queen’s helicopter landing pad at Perks Field behind Kensington Palace will, meanwhile, be the site of a Russian “fun park”.

Russia.Park”, expected to attract many oligarchs, is being organised by Sergei Kolushev whose Eventica firm has also won an £18 million contract to provide stands and seating for London 2012. An application for planning consent will be decided by mid-July.

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