#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. Together with the Norilsk residents beyond the Arctic Circle, guests of our city, members of the national hockey team and the Night Hockey League team, legends of domestic sports Alexander Yakushev, Alexey Kasatonov, Valery Kamensky voted in the presidential elections in Russia today.
The stars come to Norilsk for the sixth time and admit that it has become completely native to them. It is especially pleasant for famous athletes to observe how the city changes from year to year, taking, by their own definition, an increasingly modern look.
To the question about the need to vote on long trips, as now, Vyacheslav Fetisov replied that the legends of world and domestic hockey were among the first to vote for the president today.
“The opportunity to vote in elections in the Arctic zone of our country, in Norilsk, is an honor. After all, the northern city is very important, first of all, for the economy of our country. Over the years, we have visited mines and production, and seen how quickly Norilsk is developing. New schools, housing, kindergartens, sports facilities are being built, and a professional hockey team has appeared here. But the main thing is that we communicate with people and see: they understand that Norilsk is a place where they want to live”, noted Vyacheslav Fetisov.
According to hockey players, the Arctic is a very important region for the country. Here, in difficult conditions, production is being modernized, the social sphere of the territory is developing, and people who live and work in Norilsk understand what it means to be one big family and work as a team. And to vote here means to send a message to the whole country that in this difficult time the fate of not only the state, but also the whole world is being decided, and there should be a shared responsibility for this.
Answering questions from journalists, Vyacheslav Fetisov also spoke about the upcoming charity match with the participation of the Hockey Legends team and the Norilsk national team. Legends such as Vyacheslav Fetisov himself, Alexey Kasatonov, Pavel Bure, Valery Kamensky, Alexander Mogilny and many others will take to the ice of the Arctica sports palace.
“We are playing a charity match today for the seventh time. In order for the proceeds to go to children’s sports schools, so that boys and girls can get what the times require today: modern equipment and everything related to provision”, added the eminent athlete.
“We are happy to come to Norilsk because it is a unique city. Unique people live and work here; they are real heroes!” added Alexander Yakushev.
Let us recall that the initiator of such matches in Norilsk is the Nornickel’s president, the Night Hockey League amateur hockey development fund’s trustees board’s head Vladimir Potanin, who implements projects aimed at developing hockey in Russia as a mass sport.
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Text: Denis Kozhevnikov, Photo: author
