TALLINN — “A figure skater is like a panther! Gorgeous, gracious, flexible, invincible,“ Anna Levandi, Tallinn’s Rocca al Mare skating school principal once told a sports reporter.

Triple and quadruple jumps, spins and lifts all without slipping — nothing is impossible for these ice-bound ballet dancers. Those who appreciate the beauty of the sport and the skill of the skaters are in luck as this week the ISU European Figure Skating Championships 2010 starts in Tallinn, lasting from January 19 and 24.

Jelena Glebova, Estonia's most famous figure skater, will be competing in the championship.

It’s true that figure skating lacks a long-standing tradition in Estonia, unlike Russia, the U.S. or Canada. Jelena Glebova, who received 16th place in the 2009 ISU World Figure Skating Championships, is the only Estonian figure skater of note. However, those skeptical about the event, especially the 27 million krooni (€1.7 million) price tag, can’t deny its draw. Tallinn’s hotels, typically near empty this time of year, are filling up with the skaters, their supporting cast and thousands of fans from all over Europe.

The championship press spokesman Iveri Marukashvili asserts that this event really is extraordinary for Estonia.

“Tallinn pursued it since 2007 and in the beginning of last year ISU gave its positive response,” Marukashvili told Baltic Reports. “This is a huge promo campaign to Tallinn and Estonia and hopefully it will make figure skating more popular also among Estonians.”

The ticket info can be fount on the event website and Piletilevi.