Medeo
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The Medeo outdoor speed skating rink is one of the most famous ice rinks in the world, located on the mountainous outskirts of Almaty, Kazakhstan. It sits 1,691 metres above sea level and utilizes a sophisticated freezing and watering system to ensure the quality of the ice. It has seen many world records in all the speed skating distances from 1951 through the 1980s: 500m, 1000m, 1500m, 3000m, 5000m and the 10000m. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the costs to uphold the arena as a top speed skating rink have proved too costly for the independent Republic of Kazakhstan. The last great championship event on this ice rink was held in 1988 -- the Men's World Speed Skating Championship -- which was won by the American skater Eric Flaim.
Its future status as a competition rink is uncertain; however it is proposed as the speed skating venue in Almaty's bid for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. In this case it would be covered for the Games.
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