View source for Medeu

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}}
{{Infobox Stadium
|stadium_name=Medeu
|logo_image = [[File:Medeu logo.png|120px]]
|image=[[File:Medeobanen1.jpg|260px|center]]
|caption            = Medeu – the [[ice rink|skating rink]] of highest altitude in the world
|location= [[Almaty]], [[Kazakhstan]]
|broke_ground=
|built= 1949–1951
|opened            = 1951
|renovated         = 1972, 2003, 2009
|owner= City of [[Almaty]]
|former_names=
|tenants= [[Bandy at the 2011 Asian Winter Games|2011 Asian Winter Games]],<br/>[[2012 Bandy World Championship]],<br/>[[2017 Winter Universiade]]
|construction_cost   =  [[File:Kazakhstani tenge symbol.svg|8px]] 19.4 billion tenge (approx. 131.8 million [[United States dollar|$]])
|seating_capacity= 8,500
}}

[[Image:Medeo.jpg|thumb|300px|The view of the skating rink from the [[Medeu Dam]]]]
[[Image:Bandy in Medeu Kazakhstan.JPG|thumb|right|300px|The final of [[Bandy at the 2011 Asian Winter Games|the bandy tournament at 2011 Asian Winter Games]] between [[Kazakhstan national bandy team|Kazakhstan]] and [[Mongolia national bandy team|Mongolia]]]]

[[File:2012bandy russia-sweden1.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[Russia national bandy team|Russia]] in the [[2012 Bandy World Championship|2012 World Championships]]]]
[[File:Вид на стадион Медео из кабины новой гондольной канатной дороги на Чимбулак.JPG|thumb|300px]]
[[File:1988 CPA 5923.jpg|thumb|300px|Medeu on a stamp]]

The '''Medeu''', ([[Kazakh language|Kazakh]]: Медеу; ''Medeu'') is an outdoor [[speed skating]] and [[bandy]] rink. It is located in a mountain valley (Medeu Valley, or the valley of Malaya Alma-Atinka River) on the south-eastern outskirts of [[Almaty]], [[Kazakhstan]]. Medeu sits 1,691 metres above sea level. Although it calls itself "The Highest Skating Rink in the World",<ref>[http://www.kazakhstandiscovery.com/medeo.html Medeo – The Highest Skating Rink in the World]. Kazakhstandiscovery.com (18 February 2014). Retrieved on 26 February 2014.</ref> some rinks such as the Stephen C. West Ice Arena in [[Breckenridge, Colorado]] (elevation {{convert|3445|m|ft}}) are located at significantly higher elevations.<ref>[http://www.breckenridgerecreation.com/locations/stephen-c-west-ice-arena]</ref>
It has 10.5 thousand square meters of ice and utilizes a sophisticated freezing and watering system to ensure the quality of the ice. The mountain valley was named in honor of Medeo, a wanderer who lived in the last century and established own [[aul]] in this picturesque.    site.<ref name="medey1">[http://medey.kz/en/about.php High-mountain skating rink MEDEU – Almaty, Kazakhstan]. Medey.kz (28 March 2012). Retrieved on 26 February 2014.</ref>

Construction of the stadium began in the fall of 1949, and the first competition took place at the stadium on 4 February 1951.  Medeu switched to its current system of artificial ice in 1972 by a team of Soviet engineers.

The [[Medeu Dam]], built in the late 1960s, stands immediately south of the skating rink, protecting it – and the city of Almaty itself – from potentially devastating [[mud flow]]s. Viewpoints on top of the dam provide great views of the stadium. The dam has 3 successive altitude levels. Special water reservoir allows holding about 6 million cubic meters of water. Stairs known to city inhabitants and tourists consisting of 842 steps leads to the dam. Contests on ascension along this unique stairs are regularly carried out.
<ref>[http://www.kazakhstan.orexca.com/rus/medeo_resort_kazakhstan.shtml Ледовый каток Медео :: Высокогорный комплекс и горнолыжный курорт Медео. Курорты Казахстана]. Kazakhstan.orexca.com. Retrieved on 26 February 2014.</ref>

Medeu has seen many world records in all the speed skating distances from 1951 until the 1980s: 500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m, 3000 m, 5000 m, and the 10000 m. In 1972, the rink made a very successful transition from natural ice rink to artificial ice rink.<ref>Bijlsma c.s. 1978, pp. 59–60.</ref>

The [[bandy]] team [[Dynamo Alma-Ata (bandy club)|Dynamo Alma-Ata]] played its homegames at Medeu and won the Soviet Championships in 1977<ref>[http://akzhajik.ucoz.kz/_nw/5/11184970.jpg Team picture of the 1977 league champions]. None. Retrieved on 26 February 2014.</ref> and 1990<ref>[http://bandynet.ru/files/mimages/dynamoaa-90.jpg Team picture of the 1990 league champions]. None. Retrieved on 26 February 2014.</ref> and the [[European Cup (bandy)|European Cup]] in 1978.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.svenskbandy.se/SERIERCUPER/SENIORCUPER/Europacupen/|title= EUROPACUPEN|publisher= [[Swedish Bandy Association]]|language= Swedish|accessdate= 22 July 2015}}</ref>

After the collapse of the [[Soviet Union]] in 1991, the costs to uphold the arena as a top ice rink proved too expensive for the independent [[Republic of Kazakhstan]]. The last great championship event for a long time on this ice rink was held in 1988—the Men's World Speed Skating Championship—which was won by the American skater [[Eric Flaim]].

In the early years of the 2000s, Medeo's future status as a competition rink was uncertain. However, it was proposed as the speed skating venue both for Almaty's unsuccessful bid for the [[2014 Winter Olympics|2014 Winter Olympic Games]] and the successful one for the [[2011 Asian Winter Games]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120224034820/http://www.ocasia.org/Game/GameParticular.aspx?GPCode=33 7th Asian Winter Games]. ocasia.org</ref> In the end, bandy was the only sport here during the Games.<ref>[http://astana-almaty2011.kz/gis/menu/en/News_Center/news.aspx?pagenum=1&tid=2] {{dead link|date=February 2014}}</ref> Speed skating was held at [[Alau Ice Palace]] in [[Astana]]. Medeo was the main arena of the [[2012 Bandy World Championship]].

Several years in succession (1990–2004) the ice skating rink turned into the large concert ground where the popular international music festival [[“Voice of Asia”]] (“Azia Dauysy”) was carried out in which not only [[Kazakhstan]] performers but also variety stars from all over the world take part.<ref name="medey1"/>

==Medeo in the 2011 Winter Asian Games==
On 4 March 2006, Kazakhstan received the right to host the 2011 Asian Games.  The Winter Asian Games were the largest scale competition ever to take place in Kazakhstan, and took place from 30 January until 6 February.  While a large portion of the events took place in [[Astana]], Almaty hosted a number of the events, including ski jumps, cross-country skiing, and of course, bandy.  
For the purpose of hosting this event, Medeu stadium was renovated during 2009, reopening on 16 December after undergoing 19.4 billion tenge (131.8 million USD) worth of repairs and improvements.<ref>{{ru icon}} [http://www.zakon.kz/156987-stoimost-vkhoda-na-vysokogornyjj-katok.html Стоимость входа на высокогорный каток «Медео» с 16 декабря составит 1600 тенге]. Zakon.kz. Retrieved on 26 February 2014.</ref>

Stadium Medeo and ski resort [[Shymbulak]] experienced major reconstruction during the preparations for [[2011 Asian Winter Games]]. Most of the engineering and technical systems were replaced. The new refrigeration station for cooling the ice appeared. Visualization systems has changed (electronic scoreboard and a photo finish), lighting and sound. Established a new multimedia display area of 200 m² by U.S. company [[Billboard Video]], which shows the results of any sport games, broadcasts television programs and commercials. Capacity of spectator stands increased to 8500 seats. Reinforced concrete plates are built in the ice surface in which 170&nbsp;km cooling pipes are distributed. The system of artificial ice freezing does not have analogs worldwide and allows to maintain the ice surface of the skating rink during 8 months per year.<ref>[http://www.medey.kz/ru/headoffice.php Высокогорный каток Медео в Алмате – Казахстан, ледовый каток,катание на коньках,фигурное катание,азиада 2011]. Medey.kz. Retrieved on 26 February 2014.</ref>

In the course of reconstruction of high-mountain skating rink Medeo and ski mountaineering base [[Shymbulak]] near Almaty almost all infrastructure was changed implementing world level standards, the manager of project on reconstruction of the complex Slavenko Badura has declared. “During half a year it was done a lot at Medeo and [[Shymbulak]], almost all infrastructure was changed, 20 supports of [[gondola lift]] were built at Medeo, we finish upper station at [[Shymbulak]], S. Badura reported at press conference in Almaty. In turn the chief engineer on contract supervision of [[Doppelmayr Garaventa Group|Doppelmayr]] company Hans-Peter Zimmerman at the same press conference reported that “active construction of [[gondola lift]]” continues for delivery of persons having a rest from Medeo till “Shymbulak”.
Delivery of gondolas is taking place every 14 seconds, – he noted. Traffic capacity make up to 2 thousand persons per hour. Time on way is up to 15 minutes.” <ref>[http://medey.kz/ru/news.php?id_news=91 Высокогорный каток Медео в Алмате – Казахстан, ледовый каток,катание на коньках,фигурное катание,азиада 2011]. Medey.kz. Retrieved on 26 February 2014.</ref>

[[Bandy at the 2011 Asian Winter Games|The bandy tournament at 2011 Asian Winter Games]] took place at Medeo from the 2nd to 6 February 2011.<ref>[http://medey.kz/ru/asiada.php Высокогорный каток Медео в Алмате – Казахстан, ледовый каток,катание на коньках,фигурное катание,азиада 2011]. Medey.kz. Retrieved on 26 February 2014.</ref> The final was attended by President [[Nursultan Nazarbayev]].<ref>[http://www.sports.ru/images/object_12.1297268592.00095.jpg Photo of President Nursultan Nazarbayev during the bandy final of the 2011 Asian Winter Games]</ref>

==Bandy World Championship 2012==
On the main stage Medeo from 29 January to 5 February 2012 the [[2012 Bandy World Championship|XXXIInd Bandy World Championship]] took place. The right to host the WCS was given to [[Kazakhstan]] on 28 January 2011 at the regular congress of the [[Federation of International Bandy]], held in [[Kazan]].<ref>[http://www.sport-express.ru/newspaper/2011-01-29/5_4/ ХОККЕЙ С МЯЧОМ• ЧЕМПИОНАТ МИРА• ЧМ-2012 ПРОЙДЕТ НА “МЕДЕО”• ВНИМАНИЕ! Смотрите прямые трансляции решающих матчей на интернет-портале “СЭ” – www.sport-expre ss . ru. СПОРТ-ЭКСПРЕСС: Ежедневная спортивная газета / SPORT-EXPRESS: Daily sport newspaper. Чемпионаты мира и Европы по футболу, хоккею, баскетболу. Биатлон, теннис, зимние виды спор]. Sport-express.ru (29 January 2011). Retrieved on 26 February 2014.</ref> The organizers of the event had planned that initially 15 teams would participate in the championship, but prior to the start of the tournament, Mongolian team refused from tournament due to financial difficulties. Thus, the world championship was attended by 14 teams.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120130025708/http://www.liter.kz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8714&Itemid=2 День до старта]. liter.kz. 28 January 2012</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120201213237/http://bandy2012.kz/ru/istoriya-igr.html История игр]. bandy2012.kz</ref> In the final game, [[Russia national bandy team|the Russian team]] lost to [[Sweden national bandy team|Sweden]] (4:5). [[Kazakhstan national bandy team|The Kazakh team]] won the third place by defeating the [[Finland national bandy team|Finland’s team]] (10:5).

==Current use==
Medeo maintains its status as one of the best-known tourist locations in Kazakhstan.  The stadium is open to the public all year round, allowing visitors to skate at high altitude day or night.  During night hours, skaters can enjoy music and lights in the stadium either from the ice, or from VIP boxes available for rent.  While ticket prices were raised due to the reconstruction for the Asian Games, it still remains a popular destination for groups of friends or couples.<ref>[http://medey.kz/en/?view_result=true High-mountain skating rink MEDEU – Almaty, Kazakhstan]. Medey.kz (28 March 2012). Retrieved on 26 February 2014.</ref>
In addition to this, the Medeu stadium and Dam remain the destination for Almaty's International Medeu-marathon.  During this event, competitors run up from the city  to this famous location, climbing almost 1000 vertical meters before returning to Almaty to finish.  2011 marked the 14th year of this challenging race, with over 150 runners participating.<ref>[http://www.kazinform.kz/eng/article/2383545 Over 150 people took part in 'Medeu-marathon' in Almaty]. Kazinform.kz (28 May 2011). Retrieved on 26 February 2014.</ref>

==Future==
Almaty will be the [[2017 Winter Universiade]] host city, for which Medeo will be used for opening and closing ceremonies and also for speed skating. Bandy was supposed to debut as a demonstration sport.<ref>[http://www.fisu.net/en/2017-Almaty-Winter-Universiade-Dates-confirmed-3133.html?mbID=5692 2017 Almaty Winter Universiade: Dates confirmed]</ref> However, after tightening of the budget, bandy is no longer part of the programme<ref>[http://almaty2017.com/vidy-sporta/ SPORTS]</ref> and has to wait until 2019.<ref>[http://krsk2019.ru/en/universiada/Sports Sports]</ref>

Almaty was unsuccessfully bidding to organise the [[2022 Winter Olympics|2022 Olympic Winter Games]]. If the city was selected, a roof would have been needed to be built over the Medeo stadium in order for it to be used for the speed skating event, a requirement for speed skating in the Olympic Games.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/almaty-beijing-breaking-2022-olympic-bid-files-28213830?page=2 |title=Almaty and Beijing: Breaking Down the 2022 Olympic Bid Files |last= Wilson |first=Stephen |date= January 14, 2015|website=abcnews.go.com |publisher=[[American Broadcasting Corporation]] |accessdate=January 24, 2015}}</ref>

==Hurricane damage in 2011==
Two deadly hurricane-force wind attacks happened in Almaty in July 2011 and caused serious damage to the city itself and to the national park in particular, sweeping down thousands of century-old pine trees, once the pride of the Medeu National Park. Local scientists from the National Park estimate that full restoration of the vegetation to the pre-hurricane condition may take several decades.<ref>[http://tripcook.com/articles/medeo_ski_resort_kazakhstan.html Medeo Ski Resort, Almaty, Kazakhstan]. Tripcook.com. Retrieved on 26 February 2014.</ref>

==References==
===Notes===
Some content on this page was translated from the Russian language page on this subject.
{{Reflist|35em}}

===Bibliography===
* Bijlsma, Hedman with Tom Dekkers; Alex Dumas; Arie van Erk; Gé du Maine; Hans Niezen and Karel Verbeek. ''Schaatsseizoen '77–'78: 6e Jaargang, statistische terugblik''. Steenwijk, the Netherlands, November 1978.

==External links==
{{commons category|Medeu}}
* [http://medey.kz/ Official site]
* [http://www.almaty2014.kz/ Almaty's Bid for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games]
* [http://www.skateresults.com/rink/show/100/ Tournaments Held and World Records Set at Medeo]
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{{S-start}}
{{S-sta|et}}
{{Succession box|
  title=[[Bandy World Championship]]<br />Final Venue|
  before=[[Trudovye Rezervy Stadium (Kazan)|Trudovye Rezervy Stadium]] <br/> [[Kazan]]|
  after=[[Arena Vänersborg]] <br/> [[Vänersborg]]|
  years=[[2012 Bandy World Championship|2012]]
}}
|}

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Sports venues built in the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Speed skating venues]]
[[Category:Speed skating venues in Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Bandy venues in Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Music venues in Kazakhstan|Medeo]]
[[Category:Sport in Almaty]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Bandy World Championships stadiums]]