or1980v2pt1

Sports Facilities of the
Northwestern Planning
Zone
Leningrad Avenue—the main artery
of the northwestern planning
zone—runs past the oldest stadia of
Moscow, the Dynamo and Young
Pioneers', and a complex of structures
of the Central Sports Club of the
Army. A little further, another multipurpose
arena—the Dynamo Palace
of Sports—was built for the Games in
Lavochkin Street in the Khimki-
Khovrino residential area.
These facilities hosted competitions
in various sports on the Olympic
programme.
Modernisation and renovation of
existing facilities and construction of
new ones in the zone during the
preparations for the Olympic Games
and good transport connections with
the city centre, with the living quarters
of competitors and guests to the
Games, with the Main Press Centre
and other Olympic venues were prerequisites
for the success of Olympic
competitions there.
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Dynamo Central Stadium
The Dynamo Central Stadium was
built in 1928. Eventually, new installations
were added and the stadium was
modernised. Now it includes the
Grand Arena, the Minor Arena, a
training complex, an indoor tennis
court, two—indoor and open —
swimming pools, and open sports
grounds. Situated in the picturesque
environment of the Petrovsky Park,
the stadium is a favourite recreational
area for Muscovites.
During the preparations for the
Games, the stadium was renovated
once again within its existing boundaries
and some of its facilities were
modified to accommodate Olympic
competitions and training needs.
Much was done in 1979 to renovate
the Grand Arena, which was to host
Olympic football matches and training
sessions of the track-and-field athletes.
The playing field, measuring 105 by
68 metres and covered with natural
turf, was left intact. The running track
and sectors for jumping and throwing
events were modernised and covered
with a synthetic surfacing. The roof of
the space under the stands was additionally
waterproofed with selfstressing
concrete. Spectator seats
were replaced. Rooms under the
northern stands were replanned. Lobbies,
lounges for members of the IFs
and NOCs, rest areas and snack bars
for national team members and technical
officials, a press subcentre, and
comfortable locker rooms for competitors
were located there.
Additional platforms for television
and cine cameras were installed on
the stands. Room was reserved for
VIPs, members of the press, and broadcast
commentators. The Grand Arena
accommodates 50,000 spectators.
Four metal latticed towers, 69
metres tall, were installed to illuminate
the playing field. They hold lighting
projectors to provide a lighting intensity
of 1,500 lux, thus guaranteeing
high-quality colour telecasts.
The Minor Arena was radically reconstructed
for the Olympic hockey
tournament. The playing field was
entirely renovated, as were the 400 m
track and athletics sectors, which
were covered with a synthetic
surface.
In addition to the western stands
with 5,000 seats, where sections for
VIPs and officials were reserved, eastern
stands were erected accommodating
the same number of spectators.
Press and broadcast commentator
positions were installed in their
centre.
The space under the eastern
stands houses, in addition to technical