/ / News
05.03.2012

Lukashenko not worried about IIHF World Championship 2014 relocation rumors

MINSK DISTRICT, 5 March (BelTA) - President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko is not worried about the talks of relocation of the 2014 IIHF World Championship, which is scheduled to be held in Minsk.

“Those who speak against holding the IIHF World Championship in Belarus have nothing to do with sport. Those politicians or, maybe people from close-to-politics circles, have never seen sticks or pucks or even do not know how they look like. Therefore I do not care much. However, evidently, this is a test for the International Ice Hockey Federation. Let us wait and see whether or not sport and politics are associated with each other,” the President said.

In addition, the head of state commented on the hype which he said was raised by the fifth column about image losses for the President and the country as a whole. “Do you think we will bite the dust if they decide against holding the World Championship in Belarus? No, we will live on. Everything that we have built (hotels, sports grounds) in preparation for the championship will be there, for our people. They awarded us the World Championship because we have built a lot of facilities to develop ice sports,” the President stressed.

“The decision was made. Belarus was chosen as the host of the IIHF World Championship in 2014. Certain individuals will reveal their true colors once again if they overturn the decision,” Alexander Lukashenko is confident.

“Belarus deserves to host the championship. We will do our best to hold it on a high level,” the head of state added.