The leadership of Gomel region pays great attention to promoting sports and fitness.

4,387 sport-related objects are located in the territory of the region, including 40 stadiums, 2 riding-halls, the Ice Palace, 243 shooting galleries, 846 gymnasiums (including 26 standard ones), 41 swimming pools, etc. in terms of renovated sport objects Gomel region is a Belarusian leader.

The work on training would-be athletes is carried out in 103 specialised schools, the school of supreme athletic skills, Gomel college of Olympic reserve, 22 specialised Olympic reserve schools for children and teenagers, 61 sport schools for children and teenagers, 17 fitness and sport clubs for children and teenagers. 44 kinds of sports and games are practiced in the region. 40.8 thousand secondary school students (15.5% of the total) go in for sports (the Belarusian average indicator is 12.5%).

422 athletes from Gomel region are on the Belarusian national team. 59 residents of the region took part in the Olympic games and won 13 Olympic medals. 3 representatives of the region won the gold; they are Yelena Rudkovskaya, Leonid Geishtor and Nikolai Gorbachov. 48 athletes from the region are the would-be candidates for the 28th Olympic Games in Greece (Athens). The work on encouraging sport, fitness and tourism is carried out by 3,628 experts, including 1,449 coaches of specialized schools.

82.4% of those employed in the sport field have special education. 56 honourable coaches are working in the region. 1,277 fitness clubs with 155.3 thousand members are operating at companies, organizations and farms of the region.

30.3 thousand people are members of fitness clubs operating in their residential areas. 33 fitness clubs and over 400 fitness and athletic groups for children and teenagers are registered in the region.

12.4 thousand residents of the region are amateur tourists. 56 educational tours for schoolchildren were designed in the region.

34 economic entities of Gomel region possess licenses for tourist business and deal in organizing tours abroad and within Belarus.

Tourist-excursion company GOMELTOURIST is the regional leader in the tourism market.

LARGEST SPORT OBJECTS OF GOMEL REGION

The Ice Sport Palace
Gomel, 110 Mazurov Street
The Ice Sport Palace was commissioned on May 22, 2002. The construction was started in August 1998. It features: a hockey rink - 61X30 m, the house for 2,626 seats - 274х64 m, a choreography room - 12х12 m, a gymnasium - 12х6 m, a fitness room - 12х6 m.

In 2002 the Palace was transferred to the sport school for children and teenagers No.5 under the sport, fitness and tourism department of the regional government. The school is training would-be hockey players and figure skaters. 437 students are studying in 24 groups of the school. Besides there operate groups for children and adults that train in modern dancing, yoga, USHU, shaping, acrobatics, athletic gymnastics. In all, 440 people are paid members of the above group.

The Ice Palace meets all technical requirements for hosting international competitions.

GOMELTOURIST
Gomel, 67 Sovetskaya Street

The company comprises the Tourist Hotel (340 accommodations, 2 restaurants, a conference hall, a casino, a parking lot), tourist beauteous in Gomel, Mozyr, Svetlogorsk, Zhlobin, Rechitsa, the holiday and health centre Sozh (Chenki, 15 km outside Gomel).

GOMELTOURIST organizes excursions and tours within Belarus and abroad, recreational tours for families, exotic journeys, etc. It is engaged in hotel and restaurant business, provides visa support, acts as a travel operator and sells tickets and consumer goods.

The company has its own automobile fleet, offers international and intercity transportation.

GOMEL RIDING HALL
Gomel Riding Hall is occupies 52 hectares and is located in the city. It features a covered riding hall (60х70 m) with an adjoining hall (24х12 m), administrative-service premises, 5 stables that can accommodate 110 horses, 8 garages and workshops, a parking lot for 7 cars, 4 grass show jumping fields (from 30X40 to 60X80 m), a sand field for training (60X80 m), 2 round indoor halls (18X20 m), 5 paddocks (20x20 m).

The construction budget of the Riding Hall in prices effective back in 1991 was set at 4,380 thousand rubles.

GOMEL STATE OLYMPIC RESERVE SCHOOL FOR GAMES FOR CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS
The school was commissioned in June 1998. A hall, a cloak-room (123 sq m) and a foyer are located on the ground floor. The area totals 645 sq m. besides, the ground floor features 8 changing rooms, toilets, showers, technical rooms, a canteen for 20 people, a medical cabinet, a gymnasium (36X18X8 - 648 sq m), a sauna with a restroom and a changing room. The main athletic arena with stands for 1,000 spectators - 46х28х16 m - is located on the first floor. It is designated for athletic and fitness events, practicing and holding competitions in badminton, basketball, volleyball, handball, tennis, table tennis, boxing, wrestling, acrobatics, athletic dancing. It features seats for judges and special areas for television cameras. Team changing rooms and showers can accommodate up to 110 people per shift.

The school has its own hotel with the total area of 539 sq m and 9 rooms. A conference hall - 120 sq m - and a safe room are offered to the guests.