During his visit to the Novogorsk Training Center in Khimki outside Moscow, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin learned how to play curling.
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© RIA Novosti . Alexey Nikolsky
During his visit to the Novogorsk Training Center in Khimki outside Moscow, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin learned how to play curling.
The Russian national curling team gave the prime minister a lesson.
Vladimir Putin was also introduced to the Russian women’s national junior ice hockey team. The young athletes welcomed the prime minister by pounding their sticks on the ice. The prime minister asked them if they are going to win, and the team responded positively, saying that they were going to win the IIHF World Women’s U18 Championships in Dmitrov, the Moscow Region, in March 2011. “And get ready to win at the Sochi Olympics,” the prime minister added.
Next, single and pair figure skaters performed their programs for the prime minister.
Vladimir Putin talked to athletes and coaches and thanked them.
Prominent Russian figure skating coach Tatyana Tarasova gave the prime minister a tour of the ice rink.
At the Novogorsk Training Center, Russian athletes train for global tournaments in 32 sports, including basketball, volleyball, handball, rhythmic gymnastics, competitive archery, marksmanship, fencing, football, ice hockey, figure skating and others. Photo: Vladimir Putin signing an autograph for a figure skater during his visit to the Novogorsk Training Center on January 17, 2011.
