It is intended to build about 100 new sports facilities in Moscow

Before 2010 it is intended to build about 100 new sports arenas with a total area of 1.2 million square metres in Moscow. This is envisaged by the long-term programme of development of physical-culture and sports facilities in the city, which was considered by the government of the Russian capital on Tuesday.

In the city authorities' opinion, there is pressing necessity to adopt such a document. According to the data of the Moscow government, the number of sports facilities in the city now makes up 50 per cent of the social norm.

To develop mass sport in Moscow it is planned to build 52 physical-culture and health-building complexes, six swimming pools, seven stadiums and ten fast-to-erect sports facilities. To further top-flight sport it is planned to build a speed-skating stadium, several Alpine-skiing courses, tennis courts and an aquatic sports centre. If the Olympic Games of 2012 are held in Moscow which Russia has been working for it will be necessary to put another track-and-field stadium, a tennis centre and a water-slalom course in operation.

So, as chief architect of Moscow Alexander Kuzmin believes, by the year of 2010 "every Muscovite will be able to go in for sport in his district, and the city itself will be in a position to host major competitions.

According to preliminary calculations, the cost of the programme will amount to 43 billion roubles (about 1.4 billion dollars