By Fahad Al-Enizi
KUWAIT, April 21 (KUNA) -- Winter sports are very popular and attract many fans from around the world, and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is organizing the Winter Olympic Games every four years.
The winter sports are attracting a growing number of boys and girls in Kuwait who play ice hockey, figure skating, speed skating and curling ice, under supervision of Kuwait Winter Games Club.
Kuwaitis began practicing ice hockey and have formed an amateur team in 1980s.
But, the challenge was lack of an separate ice rink for players to exercise and play games, but the Club and the Public Authority for Sport joined hands to build an rink with IOC standards in Bayan Area.
Feheid Al-Ajmi, Club chairman, said the new rink would contribute to development of winter games in Kuwait.
Speaking to KUNA, Al-Ajmi said the first three stages of the constribution of the rink were supervised by a team from Finland, while the fourth phase, which would be supervised by a German team, would include installion of ice machines.
Vice-Chairman Khaled Al-Mutairi said the new facility would organize the training timings for the teams, who would play in a safe environment.
Jassem Al-Awadhi, Kuwait National Ice Hockey men team player, said they were eager to see completion of the rink because it would contribute to improvement of their game and endurance.
Yara Al-Kharji, Kuwait Figure Skating women team player, said the new facility would ensure sustainability of practices. (end) fsa.bs