Russian ice hockey is turning 80 this year, and this anniversary is marked by a nationwide tour of one-of-a-kind exhibition — "The Vladimir Potanin Olympic Collection: 80 Years of Hockey Glory”. The exhibition will present the public with rare artefacts from Russia's greatest ice hockey triumphs.

Visitors will be able to see over 60 unique exhibits: medals, winner’s diplomas, Olympic torches, and the actual kit worn by celebrated hockey stars. The collection traces the evolution of award design and the development of sports technology over nearly seven decades—from the gold-medal debut of the USSR national team in Cortina d'Ampezzo (1956) to its glory in PyeongChang (2018).

The exhibition kicks off in April in Norilsk, one of the Arctic’s major cities, and concludes in Moscow in December.

The tour coincides with another historic milestone: in 2026, the global sporting community is celebrating the 130th anniversary of the first modern Olympic Games.

Behind the project is Vladimir Potanin – President of Nornickel, Chairman of the Night Hockey League's Board of Trustees, and the man safeguarding this incredible collection, which serves as a bridge connecting the glorious past, vibrant present, and future of Russian sport.

The exhibition is a collaboration with the Russian International Olympic University (RIOU) and Nornickel, backed by the Night Hockey League. TASS is on board as General Information Partner, with Sovetsky Sport acting as Information Partner.

Professor Lev Belousov, Rector of the Russian International Olympic University said:

"The Vladimir Potanin Olympic Collection has always landed in cities with a genuine passion for sport — Minsk, Beijing, Moscow, Kazan, and Sochi. And now it starts a new tour in Norilsk — a city with its own hockey pedigree. The exhibits here tell the story of every Olympic victory our hockey team has ever claimed. For example, the gold medal from the 1956 Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo marks the triumphant debut of Soviet sport at the Winter Games, and not just in hockey but also in the overall team standings. Seventy years later, that same city is hosting the world's biggest sporting event again. The '80 Years of Hockey Glory' national tour is a living tribute to the heroes of the ice – past and present, and it’s a gift to every fan of this game."