On March 23, the Siberian Bear strength sports festival will start in Irkutsk for the first time under the motto Strong men unite. The program includes powerlifting, arm wrestling, mas wrestling and kettlebell sport.

The first power sports festival in Irkutsk, “Siberian Bear,” will begin on March 23 at the “Vesna” sports club, with the festival motto: “Strong men, unite.” The executive director of the Irkutsk Region Powerlifting Federation, Valery Volodko, noted that amateur athletes from Angarsk, Shelekhov, Kutulik, and Biryusinsk will take part in the powerlifting competitions. Most of the registered participants do powerlifting “for themselves” and on Saturday will try competing in sports competitions for the first time.
The president of the Irkutsk Region Armwrestling Federation, Vladimir Alekseev, said that well-known athletes will take part in the mas-wrestling competitions (a traditional Yakut sport): bronze medalist of the Russian Championship Alena Maltseva and medalist of the “Children of Asia” championship Vitaly Zaripov.
The president of the Irkutsk Region Kettlebell Sport Federation, Andrey Solonin, believes that there are no restrictions for participants in kettlebell sport at all. For example, on Saturday the youngest athlete in the Irkutsk Region will compete, lifting kettlebells weighing 6-8 kilograms at the age of 8, as well as the Russian kettlebell sport champion among veterans, who is 73 years old (he began training at the age of 70).
Natalya Ivanova believes that such a major power sports tournament will be held in Irkutsk for the first time, and it is important that a full-fledged sports hall will serve as the venue. The traditional venues for such competitions—small premises of power sports clubs—would not have allowed everyone who wanted to become spectators and participants in the competitions. The Vesna sports center will make it possible to accommodate everyone who wants to compete and watch. Admission for athletes and spectators is free, and registration for the competitions is available by phone at 52-01-93 and 52-01-98.
Competition schedule:
armwrestling
weigh-in 23.03.13 at 11.00
start of competition 23.03.13 at 14.00
awards ceremony 23.03.13 at 17.30
mas-wrestling
weigh-in 24.03.13 at 11.00
start of competition 24.03.13 at 12.40
awards ceremony 24.03.13 at 15.00
kettlebell sport
weigh-in 23.03.13 10.00-10.30
start of competition 23.03.13 at 10.30
start of competition 24.03.13 at 10.00
start of relay competition 24.03.13 at 13.00
awards ceremony 24.03.13 at 14.30
powerlifting
Group I (all women, men 59, 66, 74 kg.):
weigh-in 23.03.13 9.00-10.00
start of competition 23.03.13 at 11.00
awards ceremony 23.03.13 at 14.00
Group II (men 83, 93 kg.):
weigh-in 23.03.13 12.30-14.00
start of competition 23.03.13 at 14.30
awards ceremony 23.03.13 at 17.30
Group III (men 105, 120, +120 kg.):
weigh-in 24.03.13 10.00-10.30
start of competition 24.03.13 at 12.00
awards ceremony 24.03.13 at 15.30
Press Service of the Administration of the City of Irkutsk