Tomsk hosted today the official opening of a track and field facility built as part of the Gazprom to Children program.

Participating in the opening ceremony were Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee, Viktor Tolokonsky, Plenipotentiary Envoy of the Russian Federation President to the Siberian Federal Okrug, Viktor Kress, Governor of the Tomsk Oblast and Vitaly Markelov, Director General of Gazprom transgaz Tomsk.

 “It is a pleasure to give presents on New Year's Eve, especially so large and significant presents. Gazprom is a socially responsible company that cares about the younger generation to grow up strong, healthy and comprehensively developed. This is the idea behind the Gazprom to Children social program. Over the recent years Gazprom has built more than 600 sports facilities throughout the country within the program.

At that, the track and field facility in Tomsk is the largest and most versatile of them. Wonderful conditions are created here for sports activities. It is a good opportunity for many Tomsk children to receive a start in professional sports, breakthrough sports. I would like to wish them to glorify our country, their region, their town.

Gazprom will expand its presence in the Siberian Federal Okrug. We've got new projects and extensive plans. To the citizens of the regional towns and settlements this means other sports facilities to emerge in the Okrug within the Gazprom to Children program,” said Alexey Miller.

Background:

The track and field facility worth RUB 713 million has been built at Gazprom's expense. Gazprom transgaz Tomsk, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gazprom was the project customer. The construction lasted from September 2008 through December 2010.

The facility is equipped with a 200-meter race track, laps for sprint and hurdle races, sectors for long jumps, high jumps and pole vaults as well as a shot put sector. The facility is designed to host 100 athletes at a time, while the stands hold 284 spectators.

The stadium ring may be converted into a volleyball, basketball or futsal ground, or a tennis court.

The Gazprom to Children program is the Company's social project of a nation-wide scale. From 2007 to July 1, 2010 Gazprom allocated RUB 9.37 billion to execute the program. 624 sports facilities in 69 regions of the country have been built as part of the program including sports grounds, courts, football grounds, recreation complexes, culture and sports centers, swimming pools and other facilities.

More than 200 thousand children are attending Gazprom's sports courses and amateur clubs.