The composition of the public council of the Vodnik stadium in Nizhny Novgorod has been announced.

      September 10, 2025 17:43

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      Sport — A public council for the Vodnik stadium has been created in Nizhny Novgorod. Athletes, public figures and local residents have joined it. The order establishing it is posted in the public domain on the official city administration website in the "Documents" section and can be viewed by anyone.

      As stated in the document, the main task of the new body is the participation of its members in the implementation of a comprehensive plan for the development of the Vodnik stadium territory. The council will exercise public oversight of the preparation and execution of activities, and will support them at all stages.

      In addition, the Council will collect and analyze citizens' opinions regarding the work being carried out, as well as develop proposals and recommendations related to addressing current social, cultural and economic issues arising from the use of the stadium.

      The Council includes, in particular, Sergey Gorin, chairman of the city's Public Chamber of the third convocation; Dmitry Gribkov, triathlon coach-instructor at MBOU DO Sports School "Vodnik"; athlete-instructor Elizabeth Abrahamyan of MBOU DO SSHOR No. 13 for table tennis; Oksana Shlykova, head of the "Football Moms of the Nizhny Novgorod Region" community; and others.

      Artur Shtoyan, director of the Department of Social Communications and Youth Policy of the city administration, emphasized that the Council will become a key platform for discussing future transformations concerning Vodnik. At the same time, he said, residents who are not part of it will also be involved in the process. The first meeting is planned to be held in the near future — at it a chairperson, a deputy and a secretary will be elected. Organizational preparations are currently underway.

      Members of the Council say they are ready to actively participate in the work to renovate one of the city's landmark sports facilities.

      Olympic champion, director of Olympic Reserve Sports School No. 1, and chair of the "Athletics Federation of the Nizhny Novgorod Region," Natalya Sadova, noted that she agreed to join the Council without hesitation. In her view, the initiative to create it is timely and necessary.

      She stressed that the stadium should remain a sports venue, not a place for casual strolls or recreation. To achieve this, the athlete believes it is necessary to join efforts and restore Vodnik's status as a modern and comfortable sports facility.

      A similar opinion was expressed by Evgeny Baburin, captain of the basketball club Pari Nizhny Novgorod, who also joined the Council. He pointed out that in recent years the stadium had lost its sporting purpose and had fallen into a state of disrepair, which led to its closure. At the same time, he noted that pupils of the sports school were promptly moved to other venues and continue to train in suitable conditions. According to the basketball player, it is important for adults to do everything possible so that children know Vodnik as a modern stadium rather than as an old and unsafe facility.

      The composition of the Vodnik stadium public council is as follows:

      Recall that the Vodnik stadium in the center of Nizhny Novgorod was declared unsafe and closed. Fourteen hazardous structures there are planned to be demolished.

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