News of the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Minsk and Riga

Belarusian ice hockey federation regrets IIHF's decision to move IIHF WC from Minsk
The country has worked hard: first to prepare a bid to host the world championship and then to organize the tournament, he said. “We still believe that the 2021 IIHF World Championship would have repeated or surpassed the success of the tournament Belarus hosted in 2014,” he said...

Opinion: Decision to move 2021 IIHF World Championship from Minsk is biased, politicized
“It was clear with the strongest pressure on the various sponsors of the championship beginning that certain forces put maximum pressure on the sports community and the International Ice Hockey Federation to prevent the World Championship from taking place in Belarus in 2021. As a result, we see a biased and politicized decision to deprive Belarus of the right to host the championship"...

Details of 2021 IIHF World Championship organizing committee’s meeting with IIHF president revealed
According to the source, the sides discussed preparations for the 2021 IIHF World Championship in an open and constructive manner. A sincere exchange of opinions took place, including opinions about the matters the IIHF is interested in such as certain aspects of the situation in Belarus...

Absence of 2021 IIHF World Championship in Belarusian sports calendar explained
Visa-free entry to Belarus for the 2021 IIHF World Championship participants and fans has been enforced by presidential decree No.10 of 10 January 2020. Therefore, there was no need to include the 2021 IIHF World Championship in the calendar of international sport events to be held in Belarus in 2021...

Fasel: 2021 IIHF WC should not be held as hostage tournament ‘of some political games’
"We still have time to make our decision. We are planning to go to Belarus to meet the people there and have a look"...

Belarus may launch sale of 2021 IIHF WC tickets in 2020
"We are in contact with our Latvian colleagues, with the International Ice Hockey Federation. We have developed a ticket program and plan to launch it this year. Special conditions will be created for Belarusian fans so that everyone could buy tickets at special prices," Dmitry Baskov said...

IIHF's intention to hold 2021 World Championship in Minsk, Riga emphasized
"In any case, we are ready for any format of the World Championship and continue to prepare for it together with our Latvian partners"...

Belarus amends visa free travel period for 2021 IIHF World Championship delegations, fans
The visa-free travel period for participants of the championship was shifted from 20 April-31 May to 3 May-13 June, for foreign tourists – from 1-31 May to 14 May-13 June...

Belarus actively preparing for 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship
Roman Golovchenko noted that this year’s ice hockey world championship was supposed to take place in Switzerland but it was cancelled due to the unfavorable epidemic situation. The next year’s ice hockey world championship, which is scheduled to take place in Minsk and Riga, is still on track. Its timeline has not changed considerably: at present the ice hockey world championship is scheduled to take place on 21 May – 6 June 2021...

Fasel denies allegations of relocating 2021 IIHF WC from Minsk
"We are seeing protests following the election of Aleksandr Lukashenko president, but it is not up for the international sports federation to make any political statements at this time. The 2014 IIHF World Championship in Belarus was a huge success. The attendance was over 600,000. The organization of the tournament was great. We have no grounds to make a political statement on this subject"...