RUSSIA-RED SQUARE/ICE-SKATING RINK An ice-skating rink opens on Moscow's historic Red Square

Record ID: 863803

  • Title: RUSSIA-RED SQUARE/ICE-SKATING RINK An ice-skating rink opens on Moscow's historic Red Square
  • Date: 30th November 2014
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) ICE-SKATING RINK VISITOR, KIRILL, SAYING: "It's interesting... (The ice-skating rink) In the centre of Moscow, on the Red Square... it creates a certain mood. There are Spasskaya tower and Kremlin nearby." PEOPLE SKATING (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) ICE-SKATING RINK VISITOR, POLINA TROFIMOVA, SAYING: "It feels like the New Year is very close. The illuminatio
  • Embargoed: 15th December 2014 12:00
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  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVADYSRW6SLVQZ3948N8UK1R69XU
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  • Story Text: Muscovites took to the ice on the city's Red Square, christening a skating rink in the shadow of the Kremlin and St. Basil's Cathedral's colourful onion domes.
    The rink is only a temporary addition to the famed square where the Soviet Union's founder Vladimir Lenin is entombed.
    Since 2005, the Bosco company, which outfits the Russian Olympic team, has built the rink in front of the GUM department store at the beginning of winter to host skaters until spring.
    While Muscovites revelling in the cold weather have a wide selection of skating rinks from which to choose, skaters on the opening night told Reuters Red Square was beyond comparison.
    "It's interesting...In the centre of Moscow, on the Red Square... it creates a certain mood. There are Spasskaya tower and Kremlin nearby," said a skater Kirill.
    "It feels like the New Year is very close. The illumination and music are so beautiful, especially when the live orchestra was playing," said Polina, who came to the rink on its opening night.
    "It was very pleasant to come here, I brought my skates with me. The atmosphere here and the way I was met were very nice and cheerful, it is warm and light here," said Andrei.
    A Christmas fair and a small amusement park, opened next to the rink, offered those who do not skate plenty of opportunities to have good time. A wind brass, clowns, reindeers, carousels created a festive atmosphere on the square which usually hosts official celebrations.
    According to the rink's website it can accommodate up to 450 skaters at once. Thanks to the special cooling system the rink will be open to visitors even if the temperature rises above zero. For those looking for an unusual way to celebrate the New Year the rink offers to mark it on the ice to the chimes of the clock on Kremlin's Spasskaya tower.
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