Sports Palace named after Baluan Sholak

This is one of the most significant sport facilities of the southern capital. In 1967, when the country was preparing for celebration of the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution the Sports and Culture Palace was built in Almaty. It was established by order of the State Committee for Physical Culture and Sport at the Council of Ministers of Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic. The palace was named after Baluan Sholak, a Kazakh wrestler. This was a great project. Its author Vladimir Katsev was also known as an architect of "Medeo" stadium. In 2009, the reconstruction of the Palace had begun for the Winter Asian Games 2011. The total area was increased by 6 thousand sq. meters. Now the palace can hold about 5,000 people. The engineering communications were completely renovated, the area of ancillary facilities was increased, a new up-to-date board was established, and a parking lot was built. The Sports and Cultural Complex is under constant improvement. National hockey championship matches among major league teams are held on this skating rink. Skating courses are open here. Anybody who is interested in learning skating skills is welcomed to participate in mass skating activities every weekend. There is a variety of shows, concerts of world rock and pop stars, exhibitions, fairs, various sports competitions happening on the main stage of the skating rink. Two video-clubs show the details of the performances running on the stage. A colorful outdoor lighting draws attention to the building during the evening. There is a monumental painting of "National Games", made in the technique of graffito by artist Eugene Sidorkin on the east side of the building.