Moscow Metro Promotes Olympics with ‘Free Tickets’
The rail road service running underneath the streets of Moscow dates back to the Soviet-era when the commuter transit system was seen as one of the regimes’ crowning achievements.
With its imposing platforms and grand station designs the subway system in the Russian capital is part of a rail network which allows around 9 million people a day to access their desired destination.
In less than three months time, an equally illustrious institution will be heading to the nation as the 2014 Winter Olympics are held in Sochi. The games themselves appear to be shrouded in negativity from inside and outside of Russia as reports suggest that the Olympics will cost around £30 billion to hold – making them the most expensive in history – and there have also been suggestions that some athletes are willing to make a stand during the games due to Russia’s stance on gay rights.
Aiming to put a positive spin on the event, commuters on the Moscow metro can ‘earn’ themselves a free ticket by demonstrating their ‘Olympic Spirit’.
Inside Vystavochnaya Station in the western part of the city, the metro has been installed with a ticket machine which accepts passengers carrying out 30 squats in place of the regular fee.
The usual fee of 30 Rubles (around 30p) will be waived for all passengers willing to help raise awareness for the games by taking part in a promotion that will continue until 3rd December 2013. The usual ticket dispensing facility has been fitted with a squat sensor and a camera which tracks passenger’s movements as they carry out the exercises in exchange for a free ride on the metro system.
Squats are carried out using the special machine which is marked with an Olympic logo, and stands next to the regular electronic ticket vendor. Passengers asked to simply stand on a mat in front of the machine and perform the required number of squats before it dispenses the ticket for free.
Alexander Zhukov, President of the Russian Olympic Committee told RIA-Novosti: “We wanted to show that the Olympic Games is not just an international competition that people watch on TV, but it is also about getting everyone involved in a sporting lifestyle”.
Many travelling from the city have already taken part in the scheme and obtained themselves a free ticket demonstrating that commuters are willing to participate and help make the rather low-key Winter Games gain some traction in the Russian capital.
Currently Vystavochnaya is the only station offering the squat challenge, and some commuters will one machine at present inside the station and the terminal at is the only machine offering the service
The Sochi Winter Olympics commence on Friday 7th February 2014.
With its imposing platforms and grand station designs the subway system in the Russian capital is part of a rail network which allows around 9 million people a day to access their desired destination.
In less than three months time, an equally illustrious institution will be heading to the nation as the 2014 Winter Olympics are held in Sochi. The games themselves appear to be shrouded in negativity from inside and outside of Russia as reports suggest that the Olympics will cost around £30 billion to hold – making them the most expensive in history – and there have also been suggestions that some athletes are willing to make a stand during the games due to Russia’s stance on gay rights.
Aiming to put a positive spin on the event, commuters on the Moscow metro can ‘earn’ themselves a free ticket by demonstrating their ‘Olympic Spirit’.
Inside Vystavochnaya Station in the western part of the city, the metro has been installed with a ticket machine which accepts passengers carrying out 30 squats in place of the regular fee.
The usual fee of 30 Rubles (around 30p) will be waived for all passengers willing to help raise awareness for the games by taking part in a promotion that will continue until 3rd December 2013. The usual ticket dispensing facility has been fitted with a squat sensor and a camera which tracks passenger’s movements as they carry out the exercises in exchange for a free ride on the metro system.
Squats are carried out using the special machine which is marked with an Olympic logo, and stands next to the regular electronic ticket vendor. Passengers asked to simply stand on a mat in front of the machine and perform the required number of squats before it dispenses the ticket for free.
Alexander Zhukov, President of the Russian Olympic Committee told RIA-Novosti: “We wanted to show that the Olympic Games is not just an international competition that people watch on TV, but it is also about getting everyone involved in a sporting lifestyle”.
Many travelling from the city have already taken part in the scheme and obtained themselves a free ticket demonstrating that commuters are willing to participate and help make the rather low-key Winter Games gain some traction in the Russian capital.
Currently Vystavochnaya is the only station offering the squat challenge, and some commuters will one machine at present inside the station and the terminal at is the only machine offering the service
The Sochi Winter Olympics commence on Friday 7th February 2014.