The Nokia Sports Centre is turning into an ice skating denizen. The mega-popular ice show "The Ice Age" known as "Stars on Ice" last year has again conquered a fully sold-out 12,000 seats auditorium. I have had a chance to talk to some of the participants – Olympic, World, and European Champions whom I was able to catch up with during their extremely busy schedule. Their words are presented precisely in the order they were taped.

Irina Lobacheva, 2002 Olympic silver medalist, World Champion (in the doorway of the Nokia Center restaurant featuring a hearty Israeli dinner of jumbo-sized steaks and equally hearty side dishes)

-I am very happy to be here. I missed out on last year's show and glad  I was able to come this year. The audience is fantastic, and the hospitality is sparkling. Hope to come here again next year and see more of this country.

Tatiana Totmianina, 2006 Olympic Champion, 3-time World and 5-time European Champion (holding a beautiful Pekinese dog if I can tell dog pedigree correctly)
-It's as great as it was last year – the audience, the country, the weather.

Alexei Yagudin, 2002 Olympic Champion, 4-time World Champion, 3-time European Champion (still tired of the delayed flight, but getting ready to set the audience on fire)

-It would be great to see the country more. Last year I was able to go on a tour to some places around here. This year I had problems getting to Israel out of Russia, and missed yesterday's excursion. But I am happy to come and do the job I love most – skating to the audience.

Irina Slutskaya, 2002 and 2006 Olympic medalist, 2-time World Champion, 7-time European Champion (kindly helping me stay upright on the precarious stage props)
-I am not a guest here – I have relatives in Israel, and have been visiting the country regularly since 1992. It feels terrific to be back into skating after having my baby, and I am just happy to be able to do it and enjoy the fantastic response of the audience.

Ilia Averbukh, Olympic silver medalist, World Champion (getting away with a huge Shield of David present)
-The show…( a smile, a pause). It's been a success.

And of course, a few words from our skaters that took part in it:

Sasha and Roma Zaretsky, Israel Champions (serious and composed before their dance)
-We are delighted to skate to our home audience

Tamar Katz, Israel Champion (sitting among the ice skating celebrities and feeling at home with them)
-It's beautiful, and I am so excited!

Gili Lustik, Chairman of the Elite Sports Division of the Israel Olympic Committee
-The show is becoming a tradition. It is magnificent, and to see an enthusiastic audience in the jam packed Nokia Sports Centre is just fantastic.

From the IISF:
-We would like to thank the skaters that kindly contributed to this collective interview, and all the others for their mesmerizing performances.