A snow giant - the mascot of the Olympic Games 2014 in Sochi – rose in the square named after Derunov in Rybinsk. The appearance of the snow sculpture was awaited since the beginning of snowfalls, the press service of Rybinsk Administration reports.

      Originally it was planned to build a seven-meter Father Frost for ‘Nashestvie’. Several attempts to get the necessary amount of snow failed, so the tradition of Rybinsk snow sculptures could be supported only in late January. During this time the idea has changed, Father Frost turned into the Olympic bear. Besides, according to its author, sculptor Yevgeny Tarasov, the bear is made of ice rather than of snow:  “The work took twice as much resource as a snow sculpture. The construction took about six days; of course, I made it not alone, but with assistants”.

      The height of the snow sculpture - a vibrant tourist attraction of the town square - is about six meters. In order to protect his creation from rapid melting the sculptor “strengthened” separate parts which are affected by sunlight first of all. Nose, eyes, letters on the scarf are painted and frozen into ice. Now, according to Yevgeny Tarasov, the Rybinsk bear will preserve eyes and a smile even in thaw.