Students were given the opportunity to take to the new ice field along with Turin 2006 Olympic ice dance champion Tatyana Navka (pictured in red), a Sochi 2014 Ambassador.

The venue will stage figure skating and short track speed skating during Sochi 2014.

The arena is also set to stage the Grand Prix figure skating final this December, the first test event in the Iceberg Skating Palace.

The 12,000 capacity venue will also host the short track World Cup in February.

The Iceberg Skating Palace is situated in the coastal cluster of Sochi venues, and was constructed by Olympstroy.

Work began on the venue in 2009, with some 1,000 workers undertaking work on the stadium, made up of 15,000 tons of metal, 600 tons of glass and 500 tons of bolts.

The total thickness of the ice surface of the venue is between four and five centimetres, and special sensors have been installed to monitor any changes in temperature.


Navka accompanied 700 students from the Sochi School of Winter Sports, which was founded in December 2010.

The school teaches the range of winter Olympic sports, including bobsled, skeleton, luge, ice hockey, figure skating, skiing, downhill skiing, snowboarding and curling; delivering a key part of the Sochi 2014 legacy.

"It was a special feeling, going out on the Olympic ice for the first time," said Navka.

"In less than two years, I hope to see Russian figure skaters win [more than] one gold medal on this ice.

"My task is to do everything I can to ensure the rebirth of sport in Russia, to encourage everyone to become more involved in sport, especially disadvantaged children from across Russia.

"It was great to see the students of the Winter Sports School in Sochi on the ice today, and I hope they will fulfil their potential."

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