Belgorod Sports

Sports popularization and development in Belgorod are mainly connected with postwar time. Major sport constructions and mass sport clubs started appearing in Belgorod after the Great Patriotic war. A big role in sport movement creation belongs to Belgorod Area Specialized Sport School for Children and Youth of Olympic Reserve founded in 1946. It has been the place of career start for many famous sportsmen of the city.

Volleyball club» Lokomotiv-Belogorie» can be named the main city sport team. This club is the most famous and titled volleyball team in Russia. The club’s training base is located in the former building of Olympic Reserve School on Shchors street which was transformed to Belgorod Volleyball Center in 1998.

The team sport disciplines are also presented by «Belgorod» hockey club and «Salute» (Russian Football League second division) and «Victoria» football teams.
Many Belgorod sportsmen managed to bring glory to their hometown from the international competitions of the highest rankings. Below are the few most famous names:

Svetlana Khorkina – repeated world, Europe, and Russia champion in free calisthenics, Olympics champion. She became the first in history triple absolute world champion at 2003 USA World Championship.

Alexey Rastvortsev – Russian Handball team player. He was named the best team bombardier of 2003 World Championship. He became a bronze awardee of 2004 Olympics as a part of national team.

Natalia Zueva – a gymnast, 2008 Olympics champion. She became Europe champion twice- in 2006 and in 2008. She won world champion title in separate disciplines as well as in all-around competitions in 2007.

The main sport arena of Belgorod is located in «Cosmos» sport palace built in 1982. Volleyball, tennis, gymnastics, power and combat sports as well as sport dancing competitions take place there.
Football tournaments and local football club «Salute» trainings take place at «Salute» stadium. The first name of the stadium was «Cementnik» and later it was renamed to «Spartak» (1972-1989), «Energomash» and «Salute-Yukos».
«Orange Ice» ice stadium is considered the main winter sports arena. It serves as the training base for Belgorod hockey team playing in Major League and the figure skating club. The ice palace also became a popular place for skating of Belgorod citizens. A lot of attention is paid to constructing new modern sport complexes. One of such facilities is recently built Khorkina’s sport complex. The construction of such objects contributes to citizens’ interest in sports growth and provides opportunity to master the skills for all those participating in sport clubs.