#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. The world-class athletes arrival in small towns is always a big event. Especially when it comes to the Arctic regions. However, the Murmansk seaport decided to add a twist to the event: a 3×3 basketball tournament with the Olympic medalists participation was held… on the ship deck.
The port employees installed a basketball court, where the official game site was located, on the deck of the diesel-electric ship Talnah. World basketball legends, European champions and bronze medalists of the 2012 Olympic Games Anton Ponkrashov, Evgeny Voronov and Sergey Karasev got acquainted with its internal structure even before the start of the match. The famous athletes were given a tour of the container ship and told about Nornickel’s logistics along the Northern Sea Route and the seaport history.
“This is my first time in Murmansk, in the Arctic. And definitely, my first time on such a vessel. This is some kind of incredible machine, and playing basketball here is a historic event. Moreover, being here next to the guys from the Olympic team, with whom we won bronze in London, is doubly pleasant. This is a special team for each of the twelve basketball players who played in it”, admitted former PBC CSKA player Sergey Karasev.
In addition to the star trio, media basketball players took part in the unique match: former player of the Russian national 3×3 basketball team, popular blogger Victor Pavlenko, the View from Above program author Nikita Zagday and Okko.tv basketball department’s editor-in-chief Marat Araslanov. Two more teams were formed from the Murmansk Transport Branch (MTB) and the Kola MMC employees.
The confrontation outcome was predictable. The basketball stars beat the mass media team in the first match, and in the final they met the Kola MMC team, which turned out to be stronger than the home team. It is not easy to compete with professionals. No wonder that the Olympic medalists, honored masters of sports, and players of the Russian national team took a well-deserved first place. The MTB team was on the third step of the podium.
At the end of the event, an autograph session, an exchange of gifts, and a group photo with fans took place. The guests shared unforgettable impressions.
“Basketball always gives opportunities for discoveries. We love it for this. I have been playing professionally for 20 years, and I can still be surprised, said 2012 Olympic medalist Evgeny Voronov. “Today was my first time playing on a 170-meter vessel, which has a real professional 3×3 basketball court. Great respect to Nornickel, which loves sports, basketball, and holds such events. Thanks to the organizers and our opponents from Murmansk and Monchegorsk. It was phenomenal!
It is worth noting that this is not the first such experience of holding unique sports events for the Murmansk Transport Branch. Thus, last winter, a hockey match was held in the port with the participation of the Russian hockey legend, the Continental Hockey League vice-president Alexander Guskov. The ice rink was made on a special site right on the pier – between two huge cranes.
The Murmansk Transport Branch believes that such sports activities in industrial locations are a real phenomenon that enriches the social life of the enterprise. Moreover, the approach that combines industrial aesthetics with the sports competitions dynamics contributes to the growth of the territory attractiveness.
The sports availability for the territory residents is one of the mandatory criteria for the quality of life. That is why Nornickel is systematically working to develop the sports environment in the Arctic, and the world-class athletes arrival is one of the program’s elements.
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Text: Elena Popova, Photo: Roman Kruchinin
