Khanty-Mansiysk is located in the very heart of West-Siberian lowlands surrounded by old cedar forest. A city with less than 100 000 inhabitants is well-known since the beginning of XXI century as a sport capital of Ugra. Here stands one of the best Nordic Ski Centers in the world. In 2003 Khanty-Mansiysk hosted Biathlon World Championships. Since then international biathlon competitions are hold here on a regular basis.
In 2008 the final stage of skiing competitions Grand-Prix “Sprint-tour 2008” took place in Khanty-Mansiysk.
In 2010 Ugra Chess Academy designed by Dutch architect Erick van Egeraat was built in the centre of a city. A superb building made in a shape of a chess crown, is a worth seeing place in Khanty-Mansiysk. XXIX Chess Olympiad took place here.
Ice hockey team that plays in Continental Hockey League is a special proud of people of Khanty-Mansiysk. The team has started this season under the guidance of a coach and Olympic champion Dmitriy Yushkevich. Citizens and guests of Khanty-Mansiysk are constantly visiting home games of Ugra ice hockey team.
Fans of water sports are supporting local water polo women team. It has become very famous not only in Khanty-Mansiysk but on international level as well. The team has got silver medal in the Women Water Polo World Cup LEN TROPHY. This year the capital of Ugra has hosted Water Polo World Cup and the best national teams from all continents has visited Khanty-Mansiysk.
The city is also hosting annual hurdle racing competitions CSI 3*. Every year a lot of athletes take part in it. This year athletes from 8 countries were participating in this event.
Wrestlers from Ugra have proved their strength many times. This April they were wrestling at home, as Khanty-Mansiysk has hosted Mixed Martial Arts World Cup. Later in June national tournament in mixed martial arts took place in the city. More than 100 athletes from all regions of Russia came here to participate in it.
Since 2009 Ugra capital is hosting national and international sport competitions among physically challenged people. As a part of Paralympic movement the following competitions took place in Khanty-Mansiysk: Powerlifting Open Tournament, International Sledge Hockey Tournament, Skiing and Biathlon World Championships, National Championships in track and field athletics, powerlifting, skiing and biathlon. In 2012 Russian Deaf Volleyball Cup was held in Khanty-Mansiysk.
While preparing for the Deaflympics Khanty-Mansiysk has hosted the international forum “Freedom to move”, dedicated to the non-barrier tourism in Khanty-Mansiysk, recreation of children, new technical appliances for rehabilitation, experience of other countries in individual mobility of physically challenged people, as well as their social adaptation and employment. At the moment the city has a friendly and supportive environment for active life and recreation of people with disabilities, as well as their education and sport.
For more than 10 years Khanty-Mansiysk and its region is hosting a cinematographic festival “Spirit of Fire”. During the festival the audience can see theme-based retro films, as well as films about myths of North nations, films made in ex-USSR countries, etc.
Every year in the beginning of June Khanty-Mansiysk becomes the ecological capital of Russia, During several days it is hosting a festival “To save and to preserve” which is dedicated to national and international journalism on ecological problems. During all the years of its existence the festival has united journalists and film makers from 53 countries. This event, traditional for Ugra, is acknowledged on the highest national level.
Khanty-Mansiysk is a city with a developed sport and tourism infrastructure. Its citizens like sport. This together with a big experience of local organizing authorities is guaranteeing that the Deaflympics will be conducted on the highest level and become a great and impressive sport event.
