V. S. Maksimov Olympic Sports Complex

The V. S. Maksimov Olympic Sports Complex stands at 30 Polygraphistov Street, where the town’s sporting life centres on indoor games rather than the open-air pitch. Built to replace an older venue, the complex opened in 2003, and one year later the handball club moved into its new home. The arena inside carries a wooden parquet floor, a surface that sets the rhythm of the matches played there.

The stands hold 3,000 spectators. The complex also includes an ice arena and a swimming pool, but the central hall is where local football training sessions and youth tournaments are staged.

The venue was renamed in 2021 after Vladimir Maksimov, the former water polo champion who coached the handball team for many years and helped shape the town’s sporting culture. The change followed a decision by the regional authorities to honour his contribution to sport in the area, though the name had already been familiar to residents through the club he built.

Visitors pass through the main entrance and find themselves in a space that feels more like a community hub than a professional arena. The handball team still plays here, and the football teams use the training halls when the weather turns cold.