By Gary Anderson

August 23 - The Shayba Arena in Sochi which will be used during the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games next yearThe Shayba Arena in Sochi, which will host events during next year's Winter Paralympic Games, saw a master class being held by Russia's ice sledge hockey head coach Sergey Samoylov and leading players on the team, ahead of the Four Nations test event which takes place from August 27 to September 1.

Members of the media had a unique opportunity to try on equipment and to understand the differences, specifics and nuances of the sport, as well as practice with the team and assess the quality of the ice at the arena.

The 7,000 capacity Shayba Arena (picture top) has been specifically designed to meet the needs of disability athletes, including transparent barriers in the training and reserve player areas, and access system from the dressing rooms to the competition area for players by moving on artificial ice, bathrooms and showers in the changing rooms for athletes with disabilities, as well as manual exercise bikes in the warm-up area.

The "Four Nations" Ice Sledge Hockey Tournament will be the last international test event that Sochi 2014 will hold before the Paralympic Games which is due to take place from March 7 to 16 next year.

Reigning ice sledge hockey world champions Canada will be taking part in the Four Nations tournament in SochiReigning ice sledge hockey world champions Canada will be taking part in the Four Nations tournament in Sochi



























Joining hosts Russia are defending world champions Canada, along with the Czech Republic and former world champions Norway.

A total of then matches will be played over the course of the tournament with a round-robin stage first before the semi-finals, bronze medal match and the final.

Members of the Russian team that won bronze at this year's World Championships in Goyang, South Korea, attended the media master class including team captain Vadim Selyukin and Dmitry Lisov.

Dmitry Lisov (left) was present at the ice sledge hockey media master class held at the Shayba Arena in SochiDmitry Lisov (left) was present at the ice sledge hockey media master class held at the Shayba Arena in Sochi





















"I am very pleased that just six months before the first Paralympic Winter Games in Russian history, we held a master class for media representatives," said Samoylov.

"The journalists will after all be a knowledge guide about the Paralympics and ice sledge hockey, which is only just gaining popularity in our country.

"Today's master class at which they learned more about the rules of ice sledge hockey will certainly contribute to promoting the sport and the Paralympic Movement in general."

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