Medeo

the largest winter athletic complex in the world with artificial ice. Medeo is located near Alma Ata, in the Zailiiskii Alatau Mountains at an elevation of 1,691 m above sea level. Medeo was opened in 1951. From 1951 to 1970, 47 world speed skating records were set in the Medeo rink. After the reconstruction of the complex in 1970-72, the artificial ice tracks and rinks at Medeo covered 10,500 sq m (the capacity of the coolers is 5 million kilocalories per hour); Medeo has a 12,500-seat stadium, a skating area for 1,000 persons, and other facilities. Training sessions and competitions in speed skating, figure skating, and bandy are conducted at Medeo.