MINSK, 23 January (BelTA) – The ISU European Figure Skating Championships kick off in Minsk on 23 January with the short program in ladies and pairs, BelTA has learned.
The multi-purpose cultural and sports complex Minsk Arena is the venue of one of Europe's oldest event which will be held for the 111th time. The first European championship in figure skating which featured only men took place in Hamburg in 1891.
Best representatives of this kind of sport have gathered in Minsk. Fans have already greeted their idols: Europe six-time champion Javier Fernandez, dance couple from France Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron. But most attention will be focused to Russian figure skaters: Olympic champion Alina Zagitova, Yevgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov.
Ladies' short will begin at 11.45.
Alina Zagitova will hit the ice in the last group, at about 16.15. Group 6 will also feature Stanislava Konstantinova, Sofia Samodurova (both Russia), Laurin Lecavalier, Mae-Berenice Meite (both France) and Alexia Paganini from Switzerland. Prizewinners in ladies' singles will be announced after the free program on 25 January.
The opening ceremony of the tournament at 18.00 will feature famous Belarusian music bands. The first day will end with a short program in pairs. Prizewinners in pairs will be named after free skating on 24 January.
Belarus will be represented by Yakau Zenko in the men's singles, and Anna Kublikova and Yuri Gulitsky in ice dance.
The championships will end on 26 January. A gala performance of champions and prizewinners will take place on 27 January.
