The port of Murmansk is always happy to give hospitality to ships of all flags. The International Seamen's Club takes care of crews' free time and offers them good opportunities for sightseeing in Murmansk, the capital of Russian Zapoliariye, which is the region beyond the Polar Circle. Foreign seamen can, with the aid of the Interclub, make excursions by bus about the city, visit the Murmansk District Museum of Local Lore, call at various enterprises. The Interclub's cosy atmosphere is good for rest and friendly meet- ings. In the evening, one can sit around in the bar, watch the TV, read newspapers in Russian or foreign languages, play tennis or billiards. "Russian Samovar" night parties are very popular with guests. Meeting interests of sports fans and amateurs, the Interclub arranges chess tournaments, volley-ball, football and basket-ball games, as well as skiing promena- des. Each summer an International Maritime Sports Week is conduct-ed jointly with the "Vodnik" sports Association. During these events, foreign and Soviet seamen can compete in track-and-field, football and other sports. Murmansk is city of seamen, fishermen, shiprepairers and builders, Polar pioneers and a base of the uclear-powered ice-breaker fleet. It is rightly called the capital of Soviet Zapoliariye. Murmansk is a major economic and cultural centre in Russia. The city beyond the Polar Circle is also called the "Gate to the Arctic". It is from this place that people started conquering vast northern territories of our country that are so rich in minerals. It became possible due to a powerful fleet of transport vessels and ice-breakes of Murmansk Shipping Company and to the commercial port and shiprepair yerd. Nowadays, Murmansk is not only a large port and industrial centre. Much attention is paid to the city's cultural progress. It now has higher education institutions, theaters, movie-theaters, concert halls. Murmansk is a wold-renown sport centre.