The Saryarka Velodrome ( kk, Сарыарқа велотрегі, ''Saryarqa velotregi''; russian: Велотрек Сарыарка) is an indoor cycle-racing track or
velodrome
A velodrome is an arena for track cycling. Modern velodromes feature steeply banked oval tracks, consisting of two 180-degree circular bends connected by two straights. The straights transition to the circular turn through a moderate Track tran ...
that is located in
Astana
Astana, previously known as Akmolinsk, Tselinograd, Akmola, and most recently Nur-Sultan, is the capital city of Kazakhstan.
The city lies on the banks of the Ishim (river), Ishim River in the north-central part of Kazakhstan, within the Akmo ...
,
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan, officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country located mainly in Central Asia and partly in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the north and west, China to the east, Kyrgyzstan to the southeast, Uzbeki ...
.
Construction

Constructed in the shape of a
racer's helmet, the velodrome is a unique sports complex that not only houses a
cycling track, but its 58,000 metre square surface area also contains a sports courts, a fitness centre, a swimming pool, a basketball court, an
ice rink
An ice rink (or ice skating rink) is a frozen body of water and/or an artificial sheet of ice created using hardened chemicals where people can ice skate or play winter sports. Ice rinks are also used for exhibitions, contests and ice shows. The ...
, as well as conference halls, a restaurant and a hotel. It is mainly used for
cycling
Cycling, also, when on a two-wheeled bicycle, called bicycling or biking, is the use of cycles for transport, recreation, exercise or sport. People engaged in cycling are referred to as "cyclists", "bicyclists", or "bikers". Apart from two ...
and
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...
.
The seating capacity of the arena for cycling events is 9,270, being able to use only the permanent tiers of seating. Additional temporary tiers of seating can be added around the court area for basketball games, bringing capacity to 10,000.
History
The track hosted the opening round of the
2011–12 UCI Track Cycling World Cup
The 2011–12 UCI Track Cycling World Cup (also known as the 2011–2012 UCI Track Cycling World Cup, presented by Samsung for sponsorship reasons) was a multi-race tournament over a season of track cycling. The season ran from 4 November 2011 to ...
in November 2011.
The arena was used during the
2011 Asian Winter Games
The 2011 Asian Winter Games ( kz, 2011 жылғы қысқы Азия ойындары, 2011 jılğı qısqı Azïya oyındarı) was a multi-sport event that was held in Nur-Sultan, Astana and Almaty, Kazakhstan, that began on January 30, 2011, an ...
for
short track speed skating
Short-track speed skating is a form of competitive ice skating, ice speed skating. In competitions, multiple skaters (typically between four and six) skate on an oval ice track with a length of . The rink itself is long by wide, which is the s ...
. It is the home arena of the
VTB United League
VTB United League (russian: Единая Лига ВТБ) is an international professional men's club basketball list of basketball leagues, league that was founded in 2008. It is made up of mostly Russian clubs, along with one each from Belarus an ...
professional basketball club
BC Astana
Astana Basketball Club ( kk, Astana Basketbol Kluby), commonly referred to as BC Astana, is a Kazakh professional basketball club that is based in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Founded in 2011, it has competed in the Kazakhstan Basketball Championship a ...
.
See also
*
List of cycling tracks and velodromes
This is a list of cycling tracks and velodromes for track cycling worldwide.
Velodromes currently in use
Indoor: all the structures are closed inside
Outdoor: the velodrome is uncovered and in open air.
Outdoor, fully covered: all the structures ...
*
List of indoor arenas in Kazakhstan
References
External links
*
Indoor arenas in Kazakhstan
Basketball venues in Kazakhstan
Sports venues in Astana
Velodromes in Kazakhstan
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